complete blood count (CBC)
blood test for signs/symptoms of blood conditions
white blood cells (WBC)
fight infection and injury; high = fighting infection, low = vulnerable to infection
red blood cells (RBC)
transport oxygen around body; high = thicker blood / blood clots, low = fatigue / anemia
hemoglobin (HB/Hgb)
oxygen-carrying protein in RBC; high = dehydration / low oxygen / blood cancer, low = anemia, cancer
hematocrit (HCT)
proportion of RBC in blood; high = heart disease / pulmonary fibrosis, low = anemia
platelets
cell fragments, assist with clotting; high = excess blood clots / blood flow issues --> heart attack / stroke, low = excessive bleeding
leukemia
cancer caused by production of abnormal WBC in leukemia blasts,
What indicates leukemia?
abnormal WBC levels and low platelet / RBC counts
hematologist
blood disorder doctor
sickle cell disease
prevents oxygen from getting to vital tissues and organs with irregularly shaped RBC (severe pain, joint problems, anemia, blood clots)
cholesterol
waxy substance naturally produced in liver, absorbed from food in the intestines, part of the cell membrane for hormones and vitamins
risk factors
anything that increases a person’s chance of disease or injury
low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
transports cholesterol to the cells, "bad"
high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
removes excess cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports to liver, "good"
high saturated fats
increase in LDL cholesterol
high unsaturated fats
decrease LDL and increase HDL
plaque
a fatty substance that builds up inside the arteries from too much cholesterol (particularly LDL)
How does HDL balance LDL?
gets rid of excess, keeps circulation
metabolism
all chemical reactions and operations in the body
hormones
chemical signals that help communicate info in body
Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)
includes glucose, electrolytes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine
What are examples of electrolytes?
sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride
electrolytes
minerals in blood, urine, tissues
blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine
waste products filtered out of blood by kidneys
biomarkers
signals in the blood that may indicate risk for disease or presence of disease or injury
referrals
written order from a primary care doctor for a patient to see a specialist or to get a particular medical service, such as physical therapy after an injury
phlebotomists
draw blood