VERIFIED CONTENTConsultation: lek. med. Grzegorz Bornstern, specialist in internal medicine

Do you think that only complicated diagnostics will reveal the truth about your he alth? It turns out that a simple blood test is often enough to make an accurate diagnosis. When is it really good to have a blood test?

Do blood tests if you are constantly tired

Excessive duties and hard physical work can cause annoying fatigue. However, if you lead a normal lifestyle, do not eat the night and eat properly, everything should return to normal after two days. Whenfatigueprolongs, check yourselfblood . It is very possible that your body is weakened, it is struggling with infection, which will be indicated by too many white blood cells and a high fallout.

If it turns out thatOBis normal, but you have too few red blood cells and low hemoglobin levels, it could be anemia, or anemia. It often develops with heavy periods. In this case, do not stop at the blood test. Also go to the gynecologist, because the cause of heavy menstruation is sometimes fibroids. Too low red blood cell counts and low hemoglobin levels can be seen as hair loss. This condition proves that you lack iron. However, do not take preparations with this element without consulting your doctor.

Get blood tests if you're losing weight

Your appetite is good and you are still losing weight. In addition, you are nervous, tire quickly and you are constantly hot (even on cold days). In this case, it is worth not only doing a morphology, but also determining the concentration of thyroid hormones: TSH, T3 and T4. Their abnormal levels (too high or too low) and low cholesterol are a sign that the thyroid gland is working poorly. If your thyroid test results are good, see your doctor. Unjustified weight loss can also signal a progressive cancer.

Get blood tests if you have bruises and thirst

When you bruise after a light blow or a firm grip, do a blood test for clotting. Also, ask the lab to check that you have the correct blood sugar levels, as being prone to bruising can be one of the symptoms of diabetes. The same should be done if you are constantly thirsty.

Usually it proves badsugar tolerance, especially if you are weak in addition to thirst and have frequent mucosal infections (e.g. thrush). Too high blood sugar levels usually signal that you have diabetes.

Get blood tests if you like fatty foods

You are overweight, but you still reach for various delicacies, especially fatty meats and cold cuts. To find out if it has a detrimental effect on your body, do the so-called lipidogram. Having an abnormal test result means a serious risk of developing atherosclerosis and heart problems.

The tendency to heart disease and atherosclerosis will also be demonstrated by the loss of the waist, i.e. abdominal obesity. The shape resembles an apple. In this case, have your blood tested as soon as possible. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides increase the risk of developing the disease.

Do blood tests if your joints are bothering you

Joint pain can be caused not only by degenerative changes, but also by bacterial and viral infections. It is then worth doing a morphology and checking the level of the so-called C-reactive protein. If there is more than the norm and ESR also exceeds the acceptable values, it may be suspected that the body is suffering from acute inflammation, and more detailed research is required to find the cause of the malaise.

Recurring pharyngitis should also catch your attention. They can signal diseases of the whole organism, e.g. immune disorders, leukemia. In this case, the blood analysis must be performed along with the smear. The characteristic appearance of lymphocytes will give an answer to what is going on in the body.

Get blood tests if you drink alcohol

One glass of wine a day is good for your he alth, but stronger drinks and, if drunk in large amounts, have a negative effect on the condition and function of the liver. A sign that the liver is failing is the characteristic yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, and the dark color of the urine. Usually, the bilirubin level is measured from the blood serum (an efficient liver excretes it with bile). The presence of liver enzymes is also checked.

A slight deviation from the norm indicates liver damage, significant - progressive cirrhosis. Too low level of proteins (prothrombin and albumin) suggests disturbances in its functioning. On the other hand, the presence of ammonia indicates severe liver damage. The same symptoms and damage to this organ are sometimes caused by the too often taken painkillers. These drugs, even if sold over the counter, can be addictive and can damage your liver. To prove whether or not this is the case, liver enzymes - AST and ALT - should be tested.

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