A normal full blood count (FBC) A full blood count has three main components: Haemoglobin (‘Hb’) 130-170 g/L for men 110-150 g/L for women White cell count (WC) = 4-11 x10^9/L (million per litre) Platelet count = 150-400 x10^9/L (million per litre). Here is more information on these three components. 1. Haemoglobin (‘Hb’) For adults, normal […]
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Kidney blood tests – what’s normal and abnormal? Keep track of your kidney data with PKB Kidney doctors love blood tests. Full stop. Why? It is because it is impossible for them to judge the function of the kidneys solely by asking you questions (doctors call this the ‘history’) and physical examination. So, what is […]
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What is the definition of CKD? Keep track of your kidney data with PKB It is surprisingly difficult to answer. This is partly because chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not a diagnosis. It is a syndrome (group of diseases) with many specific causes (diagnoses). Nonetheless .. here goes. Key points Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is […]
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Mild underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism): who should be treated? Normal thyroid blood tests TSH: 0.5 – 5.0 mU/L. This is the most important test Free thyroxine (T4): 8.0 – 18.0 pmol/L. How is an underactive thyroid gland diagnosed? A high TSH and low thyroxine (T4) indicates an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – and requires treatment with thyroxine […]
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What is normal saline – and how is it used? Normal saline, also known as isotonic saline or 0.9% saline, is a solution of salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) in water. It has a concentration of 9 grams of sodium chloride per litre of water, which is roughly equivalent to the concentration of sodium chloride in […]
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A normal TSH level Normal TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood level A normal TSH is 0.5 – 5.0 mU/L. TSH is the most important thyroid test. But it has to be interpreted with other thyroid tests including thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroid antibodies. Explanation High or low TSH levels can indicate a thyroid problem What […]
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Normal blood thyroid levels Normal thyroid blood tests TSH: 0.5 – 5.0 mU/L. This is the most important test. High or low TSH levels can indicate a thyroid problem Free thyroxine (T4): 8.0 – 18.0 pmol/L Free triiodothyronine (T): 3.8 – 6.0 pmol/L. Explanation Low TSH and high thyroxine (T4): may indicate an overactive thyroid gland […]
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Is normal saline the same as sodium chloride? A bag of normal saline, used as an IV fluid No, ‘normal saline’ is not exactly the same as ‘sodium chloride’. Whilst sodium chloride is the chemical compound that is salt, ‘normal saline’ refers to a solution where a specific concentration (usually 0.9%) of sodium chloride is […]
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What causes high blood pressure (hypertension)? Primary (essential) high blood pressure (hypertension) Accounts for about 90% of cases, with no identifiable cause. It is likely multifactorial, involving genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors: Family History: A family history of hypertension can increase an individual’s risk Age: Hypertension risk increases with age Ethnicity: Black and Asian people […]
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What causes low blood pressure (hypotension)? Definition of low blood pressure Low blood pressure (hypotension), is defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) below 90 mmHg (or a mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 60 mmHg). Low blood pressure might cause no symptoms that you notice. Or it might cause dizziness and fainting. Sometimes, low blood […]
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