Why are blood tests done – and how can I book one? A blood test is a lab analysis of things that may be found in your blood. You may have blood tests to make a diagnosis, or keep track of how well your doctor (and you) are managing a condition, such as diabetes or […]
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What is a normal PSA level? Prostate cancer is the most important cause of a high prostate specific antigen (PSA). This is why the blood test is done. But there are many other causes. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. So. What is a normal PSA level? Prostate specific antigen (PSA; men […]
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10 causes of a high PSA level Prostate cancer is the most important cause if a high prostate specific antigen (PSA). This is why the blood test is done. But there are many other causes, as outlined below. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. What is a normal PSA level? Prostate specific […]
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5 stages of CKD Below are the 5 stages in the CKD classification. The CKD stage describes the severity of the chronic kidney disease – the higher the grade (stage), the worse the kidney function. The 5 stages are based on something called ‘GFR’ (glomerular filtration rate). Normal GFR is 90-120 mls/min. GFR is a […]
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What are normal U&E levels? What are U&Es? They are a common group of blood tests that assess: Mineral (electrolyte) levels Kidney function – including GFR and CKD stage Acid-alkali balance. Normal U&E values Sodium (Na) = 135-145 mmol/L. A sodium <125 or >150 requires treatment today. Low or high can affect the function of the […]
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A normal blood cholesterol level Total cholesterol (chol) = 3-5 mmol/L – overall amount of cholesterol in your blood HDL (‘good’) cholesterol. Target level = >1 mmol/L – may make you less likely to have a heart attack or stroke Non-HDL/LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol. Target level = <4 mmol/L – may make you less likely to […]
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What are normal blood glucose and HbA1c levels? What is a normal blood glucose? Normal blood glucose = 4-6 mmol/L – and less than 8 mmol/L, two hours after a meal. Blood glucose in prediabetes and diabetes Prediabetes is diagnosed if your random blood glucose = 7-11 mmol/L Diabetes is diagnosed if you have a […]
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What are the 5 most important hospital acquired infections (HAIs)? In this article we will describe what are the 5 most important hospital acquired infections (HAIs). First of all. How common are HAIs? Quite common. It is estimated that 5-10% of patients in an acute hospital have an HAI at any one time. The most common HAIs […]
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How long do viral infections last for? In most people, most viral infections last 2-3 days. But, at worst, they can also last a lifetime (see below). In this article will describe how long most viral infections last for. What are viruses? Viruses are tiny germs that can only be seen under a microscope. They […]
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10 most common STDs In this article we will describe the 10 most common STDs, and their treatments. 1. Chlamydia Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD). It is caused by a bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms: Chlamydia is mostly asymptomatic with studies suggesting 10% of men and 5-30% women developing symptoms. Women: Pain when urinating […]
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