Blood reflects a person's state of he alth. If there are malfunctions or problems with metabolic processes in certain organs, then they can be determined by a laboratory study. Most often, doctors prescribe a biochemical blood test to obtain detailed information, which is much more revealing than a simple clinical analysis. You can read about what blood biochemistry is and what this study shows in this article.
Biochemical analysis - what is it?
Few of us have not donated blood from a vein for a detailed analysis. Unlike clinical, biochemical analysis shows a more detailed list of substances contained in the blood and reflecting the state of he alth. Since such a laboratory analysis is the most revealing, doctors prescribe it to every second patient. Even if you do not have serious complaints, it will not be superfluous to check the indicators of the body. After all, there are many diseaseswhich at first are asymptomatic, and biochemistry allows them to be identified. The most common prescriptions are in the following areas of medicine:
- gynecology;
- endocrinology;
- pulmonology;
- pediatrics.
Needless to say, not a single diagnosis, especially a serious one, can do without a detailed analysis of the processes in the body. You can donate blood at a free local clinic or hospital, but you will need a referral from a general practitioner for this. The waiting time for results may vary, but on average it is about a week. If you decide to take a biochemical analysis for a fee, then the waiting period is greatly reduced - the results will be known in three days or even earlier. The cost of a basic study in private clinics is approximately 200-300 rubles. More accurate results can be obtained by taking narrowly focused tests for a particular blood element.
Information from analysis
For a biochemical blood test, there are specific indicators that are considered the norm in the medical world. Deciphering the results of blood biochemistry involves identifying various abnormalities in the human body:
- Protein - its level in the blood allows you to understand whether there are inflammatory processes. Various deviations from the norm can tell a lot about the state of the immune system, the intestinal tract and the lifestyle of a person.
- Blood sugar levels can indicate the presence or predisposition to diabetes.
- Cholesterol – important when considering riskcardiovascular disease, especially in the elderly.
- Urea - shows the problems of the urinary system.
- Hemoglobin - indicates the amount of iron in the blood.
- Enzymes (ALT and AST) help to see abnormalities in the liver and cardiovascular system.
- Elevated bilirubin indicates abnormal liver function and various diseases (for example, hepatitis).
- Amylase is mainly associated with processes in the gastrointestinal tract, its excess can indicate pancreatitis, diabetes or kidney failure.
- Potassium and sodium are the most important trace elements that take part in metabolism.
Indications for analysis
General blood biochemistry is prescribed quite often, but only for certain indications. What factors might be prerequisites for this study?
- Suspicions of a latent current disease. Some illnesses can go years without symptoms, so if a doctor has the slightest reason to suspect it, a blood test is a must.
- During the annual medical examination of the population. Experts recommend doing blood biochemistry at least once a year along with other examinations, even if nothing bothers you.
- To confirm the diagnosis, it is also extremely important to know the blood counts. No CHW should be left without this detailed test to avoid complications.
- Blood donation for biochemistry is also required when making a diagnosis to protect against medical errors.
As you can see, it is extremely useful to take biochemical indicators not only during an illness, but also as a preventive measure. For example, diabetes, considered the disease of the century, can be prevented if elevated blood sugar is detected early.
Transcript
The results of blood biochemistry should normally not go beyond certain parameters. As a rule, this is monitored by a doctor, but many patients still want to know which substances affect the processes of the body. Deciphering blood biochemistry in adults includes the following parameters:
- Total protein (TP) is determined in cases of suspected diseases of the internal organs. Norm: 63-87 grams per liter.
- Urea - too high a level indicates a deterioration in kidney function. The norm is from 5 to 12 mmol per liter.
- Creatinine (Crea) indicates problems with the liver. The norm for adults ranges from 88 to 194 units.
- Bilirubin (TBIL) appears in the body after the breakdown of hemoglobin and is normally utilized by the liver. Ideal indicators: from 0 to 7 units.
- Glucose (GLU) is released into the blood after a meal, utilized with insulin. If the pancreas cannot cope, or a person consumes too much sweets, then blood sugar rises. Indicators from 3.30 to 5.30 mmol per liter on an empty stomach are considered normal.
- ALT (ALT) is an enzyme that is contained inside cells and is involved in the creation of amino acids. Norm: 28-75 units.
- AST (AST) appears in the blood when the heart is damaged, so it can be considered an eloquent marker of cardiacvascular diseases. Normal readings range from 12 to 40.
- Cholesterol (GHOL) are lipoproteins that protect blood vessels, but can also clog them if a person eats improperly. A low level can indicate exhaustion, and a high level can indicate atherosclerosis or gout. There is no concern about indicators from 2 to 5 mmol / l.
- Amylase (AMYL) - a deviation from the norm of this indicator may indirectly indicate pancreatitis or diabetes. The rate of amylase in the blood allows a wide range of numbers: from 800 to 2090.
- Lipase (LIPA) is involved in digestion by converting carbohydrates into energy to feed cells. The norm is the range from 0 to 83 units.
Norms for kids
With indicators of biochemistry of adults, everything is clear. But what if the child passes the test? It is doubly important to correctly interpret the numbers. The norms of blood biochemistry for children do not differ much. After all, the analysis includes all the same elements as in adults. Only their value differs from the numbers we are used to. Let's focus on the most key indicators:
- The norm of total protein can range from 50 to 85 g/l. The older the child, the more protein can be in his blood. In addition, a lot depends on nutrition.
- The level of glucose should not exceed 5-6 mmol / l, and this is on an empty stomach. Otherwise, you should immediately consult a doctor.
- Bilirubin above 20 mmol per liter is a serious marker of liver dysfunction that you should definitely pay attention to.
- Urea is the most reliable indicator of kidney function. If her level is below 2, 4, or above 7, there is a problem in that area.
If any abnormalities are found after donating blood for biochemistry, doctors prescribe additional examinations. Timely detection of an illness in a child is extremely important, so pediatricians recommend taking a biochemical analysis after each illness or every six months if the child is not sick enough.
Proteins
One of the main indicators of human he alth when deciphering blood biochemistry is the level of protein in the body. It not only supports human immunity, but vital substances, such as amino acids, are built from it. Human blood contains 165 proteins, which are divided into three large groups:
- albumins;
- fibrinogens;
- globulins.
The total protein level in the results of blood biochemistry can indicate various deviations. An underestimated amount may indicate poor nutrition, because it is from food that we get amino acids for our cells. Therefore, people who, for whatever reason, keep a restricted diet, need to regularly donate blood biochemistry and monitor protein levels. There are also specific proteins that occur when ailments appear. Albumin is the main constituent of human blood plasma. It transports useful substances, "forwarding" them from the blood to the cells. An increase in albumin may indicate cancer or kidney problems.or a cookie. Another important protein is ferritin. It creates iron stores in the body. It is the analysis for the level of ferritin that is prescribed if they want to make sure that anemia is present, since a study on the amount of hemoglobin may not always be indicative. The appearance of C-reactive protein in the analysis indicates the presence of an inflammatory process. The reason for its increase can be various diseases: from meningitis to oncology. Myoglobin is tested in cardiovascular patients, as this protein is found in heart tissue. There are many more names, each of these substances plays a role in the body. If you track the deviation from the norm, you can guess what disease a person is infected with.
Enzymes
Enzymes, or enzymes - is another important component of human blood. It is difficult to overestimate their role: they are involved in the breakdown of various elements, turning them into microelements necessary for cells. The most important ones are:
- amylase;
- lipase;
- ALT;
- AST.
Doctors are always very attentive to the decoding of blood biochemistry. Normally, an adult should not experience an increase in any element, otherwise it may indirectly or directly indicate problems with the liver or pancreas. Amylase, for example, is involved in the breakdown of glycogen to glucose. Simply put, in malnutrition or diabetes, this enzyme starts the process of using the body's reserve stores of stored glycogen. Lipase breaks down fats, its increase in the blood is a symptom of diabetes, pancreatitis or cholecystitis. EnzymeALT carries the amino acid alanine and is produced by liver cells. Normally, its blood levels should be low, and their increase may be due to growth, medication, or intense sports.
Pigments
Blood pigments are represented by bilirubin in various states. Allocate direct bilirubin, bound and unbound. Bilirubin itself is a yellow-red substance that is formed in the blood after the breakdown of hemoglobin. Direct bilirubin is a substance that is in a free, unbound state in the blood. Then it is excreted by the liver, where it combines with glucuronic acid and is called "bound". Total hemoglobin is the sum of both indicators, which is used to diagnose certain diseases. A decrease in one of the indicators indicates liver damage as a result of hepatitis, intoxication or injury. But the increase is often associated with cholelithiasis or a pancreatic tumor.
Sugar
When deciphering blood biochemistry in adults, doctors always pay attention to blood sugar levels. The value of this indicator is difficult to overestimate, because it is by it that the amount of insulin produced is judged. If the pancreas does not cope with its function in full, then the glucose level is observed above normal. In this case, doctors prescribe a special diet for minor deviations or drug therapy if the patient has a diabetic condition. Decreased blood glucose levels are calledhypoglycemia and may occur as a result of malnutrition or intense physical exertion. If you do not feed a person in time, then a fainting state may occur, and in rare cases, a coma. Hypoglycemia may also indicate other diseases:
- liver pathologies;
- enteritis;
- meningitis or encephalitis;
- in case of insulin overdose.
Cholesterol
Excess of unhe althy fats is considered one of the main factors in the development of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, doctors make sure that the cholesterol level is normal in blood biochemistry in adults. Lipids play an important role in the construction of new cells, bile and hormones, as well as in the production of vitamin D, without which a person cannot live. Fats can be roughly divided into "good" fats, which benefit the body, and "bad" fats, such as cholesterol. In the blood, lipids can be found in the form of various compounds, the most undesirable are very low density lipoproteins, since they are mostly composed of cholesterol. High and medium density lipoproteins include protein, phospholipids and triglycerides. Depending on what type of fat is contained in the blood in greater quantities, it is possible to determine which disease lies in the body. For example, if triglycerides are elevated in the blood, this may indicate hepatitis, pancreatitis, or heart disease. A decrease in these fats may indicate recurrent obstructive pulmonary disease, malnutrition. elevatedCholesterol levels are also not an indicator of good he alth. Hypertension, alcoholism, pancreatitis, diabetes or pregnancy can cause an excess of this lipid.
The results of blood biochemistry directly depend on the nutrition that a person receives. A blood test reliably displays the amount and type of fat only if the person did not eat fatty foods the day before and complied with the requirements for preparing for the analysis. What other conditions must be met in order for blood biochemistry to be as accurate as possible?
How to properly prepare for a test
In order to get reliable results and avoid unnecessary expenses due to re-testing, a number of rules must be strictly observed:
- You can donate blood biochemistry only on an empty stomach. The fact is that when eating food in the body, the level of sugar, lipids, and hormonal levels change, so for the most reliable results, doctors advise going to the laboratory in the morning, at least after 8 hours of fasting.
- On the eve of the analysis, you need to follow a simple diet: do not eat s alty, sweet and fatty foods, and it is better to stop drinking alcohol 2-3 days in advance.
- Heat procedures before medical manipulation should also be excluded. Bath, sauna, strong physical activity can affect the processes in the body and distort the results of blood biochemistry.
- Before the analysis, it is recommended to drink a glass of warm water in order to make it easier to take blood. But it is better to refrain from taking tea or coffee, even without sugar.
- Cigarette smoking is also better to stop at least an hour before manipulation.
- If you are taking antibiotics, hormonal drugs or other medicines, you must tell your doctor about this before donating blood.
- Unnecessarily strong excitement before the procedure is best avoided. Breathing exercises and meditation will help to cope with anxiety.
Expert Tips
In the modern world, tests are available everywhere: everyone can donate blood at any time of the day and get the results as soon as possible. In this regard, modern paid laboratories even began to give tests with the norms of substances. But doctors still do not advise interpreting them on their own, because in this matter not only numbers are important, but also the overall picture. A laboratory diagnostic doctor or therapist, looking at the results of blood biochemistry, can say with accuracy whether you have a particular disease or not. But it is not recommended to self-diagnose yourself and even more so seek treatment, as your speculation may be fundamentally wrong.
