Blood Tests

General Blood Tests - Types, Purpose, Procedure

General Blood Test: What is a Blood Test?

A blood test is described as a type of laboratory analysis that involves extracting a blood sample from a vein. The extraction during a blood test uses a needle in the arm, or by using a fingerprick. General blood tests are pretty common and are sometimes a natural part of the routine check-up or medical assessment.

General Blood Test: What Purpose does a Blood Test Serve?

A blood test, especially a general blood test serves many uses, both beneficial to the doctor and the patient. Some of the purposes that a blood test serves are:

- Check for your Overall Health - A general blood test, as well as a complete blood count, can be used as part of a regular medical check-up and can be an excellent indicator of how your overall health is doing.

- Diagnose Diseases - Blood tests can effectively show if you are suffering from any condition directly detectable in the blood. Diseases and conditions such as cancer, diabetes, anemia, coronary heart disease and most importantly HIV and AIDS. These diseases and conditions can be diagnosed with a lot of other procedures, but with blood tests, they become easy to diagnose.

- Check for Organ Function - A blood test, especially a general blood test can be used to evaluate how well your heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys and all other organs in your body are doing.

- Check for Medicines in your Body - General Blood tests can be used to diagnose if you have any medicines in your bloodstream, and to diagnose how well they are working or how well they are distributed in your system.

- Blood Clot- general blood tests can check if your blood is clotting properly or within normal limits.

- Heart Disease Risk - Last but not least, blood tests can also diagnose if you are at risk for any kind of heart disease.

General Blood Test: Most Common Types of Blood Test

There are many types of blood test out there, and what your doctor will prescribe for you will largely depend on what your condition is, or what your purpose is for getting a blood test. Although a blood test is a very common procedure and can have more than a dozen varieties, here are some of the most common types of a blood test that are used today:

1. Complete Blood Count - or CBC, is one of the most common types of blood test out there. The CBC gives useful information with regards to the overall state of your blood, including the number of blood cells (both red and white) and the types of it there are in your bloodstream. This type of test is beneficial to the doctor as one single result of a CBC can be useful data for determining many other diseases and conditions you might be feeling.

2. Blood Glucose Test - this type of blood test can be used to indicate if you are suffering from diabetes, and can also determine how well you have managed your blood sugar for the past few weeks or months. This is important as having both low and blood sugar levels can be detrimental to your health.

3. Infectious diseases - A blood test like this is used to determine if the person is suffering from infectious diseases such as Hepatitis, Influenza, HIV, and H-Pylori. This is important if you feel your health has been compromised and you have been exposed to the aforementioned conditions so that you get an immediate confirmation.

4. Organ Function Test - these types of tests are more extensive than a general blood test and can involve multiple processes in order to detect the presence or elevated levels of a certain substance or compound that may indicate a malfunction that organ. Some of the organs that benefit via a blood test are your liver, heart, and kidneys.

General Blood Test: What are the Procedures Involved In a Blood Test?

Simply put, a general blood test is done by taking a blood sample from a blood vessel in any part of your body. However, the most convenient and widely used part for the extraction of a blood sample is your arm, especially in the areas where the veins are closest to the skin.

A doctor will sometimes apply a tourniquet right above your arm, this is to partially cut off blood flow and cause the vein to swell, allowing for easy detection. The area where the blood sample is to be taken will be marked, and will then be cleaned with an antiseptic wipe.

The blood can then be taken by using a needle attached to a syringe. Needle extractions aren’t really painful, contrary to popular belief. After the blood sample has been extracted, a cotton wool will then be applied to the needle wound with pressure. This is to absorb the minuscule amount of blood that will ooze out.

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Questions & Answers

What is the best way to treat permanent back and neck pain and stiffness?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

The best position to lie to sleep is on your back. If you sleep on your stomach or on your side, make sure your pillow is not too thick. It should raise your head no more than 4 to 6 inches. This will keep your neck and head from turning to either side.

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

While you are working at a computer, sit comfortably in your chair with your computer in front of you. Close your eyes and then open them. When you open your eyes, you should see the middle of the computer screen. If your gaze is not in the middle of the screen, adjust the height of the screen using items like books.

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Use a telephone headset

Never hold a phone between your shoulder and your ear. Use a headset or other hands-free system to talk on the phone and avoid abusing your neck and spine.

Neck Pain Tips: Exercise your neck muscles

One of the best neck pain tips is using the chin tuck. You can do this often throughout the day. In addition to helping strengthen the muscles that hold the head in alignment over the shoulders, it also helps strengthen the scalene and sub-occipital muscles.

Age2B

4 answers

What is the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder Pain?

Age2B

One of the best treatment for neck pain and shoulder pain is exercises:

Neck Pain Exercises: Neck Extension

To begin this neck pain exercise, sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the palm of your hand on the back of your neck, at the base of your head
Apply slight forward pressure with your hand, while resisting the forward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

Neck pain exercises: Side bend

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place your left hand, palm down, on the left side of your head (around your ear)
Slightly push your head to the right side with your hand, while resisting the sideways motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat 5-10 times
Repeat the neck pain exercises with the other side.

Neck pain exercises: Neck flexion

Sit up straight in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
Looking straight ahead, tuck your chin slightly (starting position)
Place the tips of your fingers on your forehead
Slightly push your head backward with your fingers, while resisting the backward motion of your neck and head
Hold for a count of 5 and return to the starting position and relax.
Repeat the neck pain exercises 5-10 times

More exercises here: Neck Pain Exercises

Age2B

4 answers

How do I reduce the shoulder and neck pain?

Age2B

Here are some tips:

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep with a cervical pillow

Orthopedic or cervical pillows are made with special contours to support the space beneath the neck and head. They are also more concave for the head and provide more support to the neck.

Neck Pain Tips: Sleep on your back

Neck Pain Tips: Position your computer screen at eye level

To keep your head from gradually drifting forward, take frequent breaks to stretch. Getting up to walk around at least once every half-hour is one of the best neck pain tips.

Neck Pain Tips: Carry weight evenly

Many people make the mistake of carrying a heavy briefcase or their purse on their shoulder or on one side of their body. Doing this causes strain in the muscles and leads to pain.

Remove non-essentials from your briefcase or purse. Consider using a backpack to evenly distribute the weight across your shoulders. If you choose to carry a purse or backpack, keep your shoulders level while carrying it.

Neck Pain Tips: Maintain a proper posture

The most common posture contributing to neck pain is the “head-and-shoulders-forward” posture. In this position, the neck slopes forward, putting the head in front of the shoulders.

In this position, the head pulls the upper back forward also in a slumped position. This places a strain on the entire spinal column.

More tips here: Neck Pain Tips: Sleeping, Posture, Exercising, Hydration & Prevention

Age2B

4 answers