The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:09 AM PST How to read blood and urine test results. I RECENTLY had a medical check-up. I had my blood and urine taken and sent for testing. Over the weekend, I went to check if my results came back, and they did. I was given a little booklet with plenty of readings on it. But my regular doctor wasn't around and I had to wait till he came back on Monday. How can I read the tests myself? Reading tests and understanding what they mean can be tricky without the help of a medical professional. That's why most doctors prefer to be there to explain them to you. If you don't know how to interpret the results, it can cause quite a bit of anxiety, especially if you see that your counts are above or below the normal range. The commonest blood test taken during medical check-ups is the full blood count or complete blood count. What do we test for in a full blood count? During medical check-ups, most clinics, hospitals and labs are quite thorough. These are some of the common components of red blood cell measurements you will find: 1. RBC – this stands for Red Blood Cell or erythrocyte count. This counts the number of red blood cells that you have per litre of your blood plasma. The normal ranges are 4.3-6.2x106/microL (male), 3.8-5.5x106/microL (female) and 3.8-5.5x106/microL (infant/child). Women tend to have a lower RBC than males because of menstruation, but this is considered normal. 2. Hb – Haemoglobin. This measures the amount of haemoglobin in your blood. As we well know, haemoglobin is the component that carries oxygen in our red blood cells. It's what gives our blood its red colour. If you have low haemoglobin, this means you have anaemia. The normal ranges are 13.2-16.2g/dL (male), and 12.0-15.2g/dL (female). 3. Haematocrit (Hct) – this stands for the ratio of the volume of red cells to your whole blood. It is usually 40-52% for males, and 37-46% for females. 4. MCV (Mean Corpuscular Volume) – this is the average volume of your red blood cell. Yes, this means their size (in a way). If you have a high MCV, this may signify a certain type of disease, such as megaloblastic anaemia, where your red blood cells are huge. 5. MCH (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin) – the average amount of haemoglobin you have in your red blood cell. Again, another indice to signify anaemia if it's low. 6. MCHC (Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration) – the average concentration of haemoglobin in a volume of red blood cells. It should normally be 32-36%. What about measuring our white blood cells and platelets? 1. WBC – this stands for White Blood Cell or leukocyte count. This counts the number of white blood cells that you have per litre of your blood plasma. The normal ranges are 4.1-10.9x103/microL. A significantly high WBC count can signify infection, particularly when you have other symptoms of an infection such as a fever. High WBC counts can also denote certain types of blood diseases. 2. WBC differential count – our white blood cells comprise several different types such as granulocytes (polymorphonuclear cells), lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils. These are their normal ratios: > Polymorphonuclear cells: 35-80% > Immature Polys (Bands): 0-10% > Lymphocytes: 20-50% > Monocytes: 2-12% > Eosinophils: 0-7% > Basophils: 0-2% The interpretation of high levels of these is interesting. High polymorphs may signify a bacterial infection. High lymphocytes may signify a viral infection. High eosinophils may denote an allergic reaction, or a parasite infestation. 3. Platelet count – this measures the number of our platelets in a volume of our blood. Platelets look like little plates! They are not complete cells, but rather fragments of a cell called a megakaryocyte. They help in our blood clotting process as the front-liners to repair a wound. The normal ranges are 140-450x103/microL. Low platelets may signify certain disease like dengue fever, especially when you have the symptoms. Low RBC, WBC and platelets together may mean a viral illness, or – if severely depressed – something more sinister like acute myeloid leukaemia. In our next article, we will look at some other tests and what they mean. ■ Dr YLM graduated as a medical doctor, and has been writing for many years on various subjects such as medicine, health advice, computers and entertainment. For further information, e-mail starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:04 AM PST The mounting pressure and stress from a poor work-life balance may hit you harder and sooner than you think. It's time you thought of a plan. ON the surface, Kant Lian, 28, has everything most guys his age could ask for. He owns a thriving IT company, a fancy car, and on top of that, he has a pretty girlfriend. But like most young working adults, Lian is far more concerned with climbing the corporate ladder than any other aspect of his daily affairs. He has also been clocking in more hours at the office in pursuit of a more comfortable life. "I make about RM6,000 to RM7,000 every month," Lian reveals. "I live a simple life and I live with my parents, so what I'm making now is sufficient. But I'm trying to make more as I would like to buy a house in the near future and I'm planning to get married in the next five years." However, in spite of his easy lifestyle, Lian says he is putting his future at stake by not having any form of insurance coverage. He chooses to hold back because he does not want to "burden himself financially". "I don't think it's worth the investment at my age. I would rather use the money to invest in trust fund units or the stock market to generate a higher profit or a return rate. Now is the perfect time for me and I can make more money that way," he reasons. "The entire concept of insurance is based on the fear that you won't have enough money to cover yourself when you fall sick, right? Well, I choose to believe that I can make enough money to cover my medical bills if I were to fall sick." What if ... So far, he says he has accumulated quite a fair amount from his ventures in the share market. "I should be able to help myself if anything bad happens to me. Unless it's something catastrophic like cancer..." The odds aside, Lian reckons he is still at an age where he can afford to "gamble". "I lead a healthy lifestyle, I don't drink or smoke, I watch what I eat and I go to the gym regularly, so I don't think I will fall sick anytime soon." That said, Lian tells us he will consider getting an insurance policy when he turns 30. "Hopefully, I will be more financially stable by then and if I'll have to keep forking out money for insurance premiums, I'll be able to do so. I can probably also afford a better insurance plan at that age." His conceptions may be ideal, but could prove to be unrealistic as stress could hit you harder and much earlier than you think. A recent study by the American Journal of Public Health discovered a marked correlation between high levels of stress at work and depression. Dr Emma Robertson Blackmore, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester Medical Centre in the United States, says anxiety, headaches, insomnia and general dissatisfaction often ensue as a result of depression. The scariest aspect of it is, the build-up of depression and stress combined can lead to a number of chronic and non-chronic health issues such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. While the long-term effects of stress and a poor work-life balance may not have reared its ugly head in someone as young as Lian, the impact will slowly but surely cause damage to one's health and productivity over the long run. Studies have also shown that pressure in the workplace has increased in recent years. Even Lian, who strives to maintain that delicate balance between work and play, could not escape the trappings of modern living. Besides having to navigate through traffic congestions daily, Lian says he is under a tremendous amount of stress from work, especially when his company hit a rough financial spot three years ago. "We had only just started out and it was such a struggle to keep things going. We had to put in long hours so we could develop quicker and the company could move ahead faster." Besides having to deal with his company's troubles, Lian also had to keep track of competitors in the same field. "The amount of work was overwhelming as there was so much to handle. Things are slightly better now, though the struggle will never truly end." A plan that works Overworking does not only lead to stress and physical exhaustion, it could also turn deadly. According to the Health Ministry, one in six deaths in Government hospitals are caused by heart diseases and the two main contributors of heart attack are hypertension and high blood pressure, which are often caused by stress. While we may not be able to escape our commitments (or our bosses), we can surely take preventive measures to ease our journey through our lives. The increasing demands of this urban age calls for a comprehensive healthcare solution to help safeguard our finances, as well as to ensure uninterrupted and continuous access to quality medical care. The most experienced of insurance agents will tell you that you should start protecting your health at an early age to lessen the financial impact a later health problem could yield. And they would be right. It is also worth noting that medical insurance is only available to those who are in good health because an insurance company is required to underwrite one's risk. Besides, the younger you are, the less health problems you are likely to have. Hence, it makes sense to get an insurance plan earlier in life to minimise premium costs as well as to maximise the profits of quality healthcare in the long haul. Most medical insurance plans impose a lifetime limit on customers, meaning there is a fixed limit on the amount of reimbursement you can claim in a lifetime. Plans that do not impose a lifetime limit on the other hand, ensure a continuous and undisrupted access to the medical care you need throughout your golden years. In a sense, an unlimited medical cover is akin to starting a fresh page every year, regardless of the amount of claims you may have made previously. Plans that provide coverage beyond the average lifespan of Malaysians, which is estimated to be 73.8 years, is an added boon as it ensures all the protection you may require well past your retirement years. Also, take into account the annual limit that is offered by a policy. Obviously, a higher annual limit would help you cope better with escalating medical costs. Don't forget to go through the fine print on that glossy stack of paper. Make sure your insurance provider does not impose a co-insurance policy on you. Many insurance companies claim to have a comprehensive policy cover on medical insurance. However, most insurance companies will impose a co-sharing of hospitalisation bill, meaning you will have to pay for a certain percentage of the hospital bill on your own. The result? You end up stressing out even more from having to fork out the extra cash when you should be focusing on recuperating. By grasping the fundaments of your medical plan, you get to pick one that suits your needs best. Remember, a credible medical insurance provider will always strive for the welfare of its customers. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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