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This article is a short explanation on how to interpret your blood work results. It's no alternative to medical advice, please seek a health professional if you have any questions.
Electrolytes is your sodium, potassium, chloride and CO2 levels.
Potassium is very important for the nerves and muscles to function correctly. The kidneys are the organs responsible for potassium regulation.The kidneys has also another function along with the adrenal glandes which is sodium regulation. There are plenty causes for unusual levels of sodium, the most reported causes are diuretic abuse, chlorpropamide (a drug used by people with diabetes) and excess water intake by people with liver or heart disease.
Low levels of C02 can be obtained from kidney disease, metabolic disorder and serious cases of diabetes.
Hemoglobin-A1C is a test of average blood sugar levels over the previous three months giving a more correct overview of what is happening in our blood. When your sugar sticks and it's around for extended periods of time, it becomes harder to get them off.
| Level mg/dL | Interpretation |
| 4%-5.9% | Normal range |
| 6%-7% | Well controlled diabetes |
| > 8% | Poorly controlled diabetes |
Fasting glucose is a measure of the amount of sugar in your blood after fasting for 9 hours on average.
A fasting glucose test may be indicated to people with the some of the fallowing symptoms :
| Level mg/dL | Level mmol/L | Interpretation |
| 70-99 | 3.9-5.5 | Normal fasting glucose |
| 100-125 | 5.6-6.9 | Impaired fasting glucose (pre-diabetes) |
| > 126 | > 7.0 | Diabetes |
Cholesterol is a waxy fat carried through the bloodstream by lipoproteins, it's produced in the liver at a rate of 1g per day and about 0.4-0.5g can still be obtained through foods like meat, eggs and all baked goods. Cholesterol checkups should be done by people of any age including children which can buildup fatty plaque in arteries from early ages in families with a natural high cholesterol inclination.
High cholesterol can increase the chances of atherosclerosis (artery walls filled with fatty buildups). As high cholesterol has no symptoms checkups have to be done periodically. There are many ways to maintain an optimal cholesterol level, the more mentioned ways are: schedule a screening periodically, eat foods low in saturated fat and trans fat, eat foods with low cholesterol levels and be physically active which will help you maintain an ideal body weight.
Total cholesterol is calculated by adding up your HDL level, your LDL level, and one fifth of your triglyceride level.
| Level mg/dL | Level mmol/L | Interpretation |
| < 200 | < 5.2 | Desirable level corresponding to lower risk for heart disease |
| 200-240 | 5.2-6.2 | Borderline high risk |
| > 240 | > 6.2 | High risk |
Triglycerides are blood fats. Heart disease and diabetes have been correlated with high triglyceride levels. Obesity, excess alcohol, overweight, cigarette smoking and physical inactivity are related with hight triglyceride levels. There is also a correlation between triglyceride levels and carbohydrate intake.
HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) is the good type of cholesterol. It is responsable for removing the buildup of LDL in arteries that feed our body.
| Level mg/dL | Level mmol/L | Interpretation |
| < 40 | < 1.03 | Low HDL cholesterol, heightened risk for heart disease, <50 is the value for women |
| 40-59 | 1.03-1.52 | Medium HDL level |
| > 60 | > 1.55 | High HDL level, optimal condition considered protective against heart disease |
LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) is the bad type of cholesterol. The lower this number is, the better.
| Level mg/dL | Level mmol/L | Interpretation |
| < 100 | < 2.6 | Optimal LDL cholesterol, corresponding to reduced, but not zero, risk for heart disease |
| 100-129 | 2.6-3.3 | Near optimal LDL level |
| 130-159 | 3.3-4.1 | Borderline high LDL level |
| 160-189 | 4.1-4.9 | High LDL level |
| > 190 | > 4.9 | Very high LDL level, corresponding to highest increased risk of heart disease |
Your coronary risk factor is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol by your HDL. It attempts to get a better picture of how your various cholesterol levels affect your health by taking into account the balance of good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. Ratios of less than 5 are considered to be normal.
The LDL/HDL Ratio is calculated by dividing your LDL cholesterol by your HDL cholesterol. It also attempts to better correlate cholesterol readings to potential health. It's basically the same as the coronary risk ratio, only without taking triglycerides into account. Ratios of less than 3.5 are considered to be normal.
Solid health starts by getting the most basic medical education, now you don't have to rely solely on your family's doctor final words. By learning how to interpret your test results you will be more conscious of your health state and what kind of strategies you can apply to better it.
