OUR BLOOD-A VITAL SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON OUT HEALTH
Our blood vessels carry blood to all parts of our body serving every vital organ and cell. Because of its unique nature, our blood performs many important function and carries a large amount of information concerning the body.
1. TRANSPORTATION OF NUTRIENTS
Transportation of oxygen, glucose and other vital nutrients to cells.
2. EXCRETION OF METABOLIC WASTE
Carry metabolic wastes from the cells to organs for excretion e.g. Carbon dioxide the lungs and urea to the kidneys.
3. TRANSPORTATION OF HORMOVES
Carry hormones produced by the endorrine gland to the target organs or cells for action.
4. REFLECTS STORAGE NUTRIENTS LEVEL
Reflects the level of storage nutrients like Vitamins, Minerals, Cholesterol, Triglycerides etc in the body.
5. REFLECTS THE HEALTH OF BODY'S CELLS
Injured or dead cells will release their enzymes into blood stream causing their levels to increase. Cells which have become cancerous may release abnormal substances called cancer markers into the blood.
THE BLOOD
PATHOGENESIS OF DISEASE
All disease affecting the body follow a similar course of events. The cause of the disease will at first affect a small group of cells. At this stage, the person does not feel unwell and there may be nosigns or symptoms of the disease. The ony abnormalities are found in the blood and in the case of cancerous cells, their cancer markers. As a reaction towards the disease. The white blood cells in the blood may chance in number and types.
As the disease progresses, more cells are damaged and the lesion become bigger due to increase in number of cells, fluids and necrotic debris. The changes in the blood intensifies. The patients will begin to have symptoms such as pain and fever and the doctor may find enlargement of organs or a lump.
If the disease is treated, the changes observed will revert to normal. Again the blood changes will be the first to show improvement. If the disease deteriorates, the blood changes will show it. These objective changes are far superior than subjective feeling or well-being in assessing progress of the disease.
Many disease have long incubation periods. The evidence of disease are already present in the blood for months before the onset of signs and symptoms. A person with diabetes mellitus will have a raise fasting blood sugar level long before the onset of symptoms such as thirst,weight loss or non-healing wounds. Elevated blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels can be observed years before the onset of heart disease or stroke.
The blood is made up of liquid plasma and various types of blood cells suspended in the plasma. The most common blood cells are red cells, or erythrocytes, which carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body, and carbon dioxide from body tissues to the lungs. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are cells fragments that inistate the clotting sequence at an injury site. THe several varieties of white cells. Or leucocytes, defend the body agains foreign invaders: monocytes are large scavenger cells that clear tissues of dead and foreign matter; lymphocytes recognize foreign substances, produce antibodies to destroy them, and are a part of the body's immune response; netrophils engulf and destroy bacteria; eosinophils and basophils play roles still not fully understood in allergic and inflammatory reactions.
SOME COMMON DISEASES WHICH ARE BEST CONFIRMED BY A BLOOD TEST
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Diabetes
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Heart / Atherosclerotic Disease
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Kidney (Renal) Disease
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Liver Disease
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Thalassaemia
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Infections
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Hepatitis B Cance
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Anaemia
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Arthritis / Gout
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Thyroid Problems
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Some Cancer eg. Prostate, Liver, Colon
WHEN BLOOD TESTS MAY BE ORDERED ON A PATIENT
All doctors are able to make a fairly accurate diagnosis by assessing the various signs and symptoms that are presented. However these signs can vary and may even be absent. The best way to confirm the diagnosis would be through blood tests.
WHENEVER SYMPTOMS ARE PROLONGED
If your symptoms do not go way despite repeated visits to the doctors, blood test sholud be ordered to help in the diagnosis or exclude any serious illness. The results of blood tests may sometimes mean life or dealth.
ANY SIGNIFICANT LOSS OR GAIN
IN WEIGHT SHOULD ALSO BE
INVESTIGATED THROUGH BLOOD TESTS
WHY BLOOD TEST ?
Blood Screening tests are useful to all irrespective of whether they are young or old, male or female, well or sick. The frequency the screening tests will be determined by the age of the person and the findings at the first screening. AS most disease are age related, screening test should be done more frequently in the elderly. AS a general rule, a yearly screen is recommended for those aged 35 and above. For the healthy, blood screening tests will provide the folling information.
a) Baseline values
Provide a set of baseline values at the point in time and against which future tests can be compared.
Detect abnormalities or diseases which the person is not aware of and allow for further investigations, treatment or preventive measures.
To prevent over zealous curb on your food intake and extreme change in lifestyle which could lead to deficiency disorders and unnecessary lost in pleasures of life.
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