WBC is white blood cells in the body that is helpful in fighting against infections, germs, bacteria, and virus in the body. It is important to understand how the WBC count works and how it affects the body’s immune system. A normal WBC count varies anywhere between 3,500 to 10,500 in adults.
What if the WBC count is more than the normal range?
It is seen that a lower white blood cell count can cause a number of health issues. This is one of the reasons that an elevated level of WBC count is often neglected as people think that it is not a matter of concern. However, a high WBC count does not specifically indicate the symptom of a disease but can be related to other issues such as:
So, it is important to go for a Complete Blood Cell (CBC) test that will also include a WBC count. In case, if the count differs from the normal WBC count, then it is better to consult the doctor.
What does a low WBC count signify?
WBC or white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. A flexible tissue, bone marrow is found in some of the bones of the body. A low white blood cell count can be caused by a number of reasons that affect the functioning of the bone marrow. Some of these are:
Let us look at the symptoms of an abnormal WBC count
In case the WBC count lower than the normal WBC count range then the person might experience one or a few of the following symptoms. These signs can be a warning as to the body’s immune system is weak, and there is an underlying medical condition that needs to be taken care of.
A low WBC count can lead to:
Generally, a higher WBC count does not show any symptoms, but this does not mean that it should be ignored. Any underlying medical condition can be a cause of a higher WBC count as well.
Canine blood disorders are classified into two forms genetic (or co genetic) while other is acquired through some pathological factors such as viruses, tumors, bacteria etc.
Just like humans, canine blood also has many parts like blood cells, plasma and platelets. Deficiency or defect in any of these can lead to a form of blood disorder, which can be life threatening in some ways.
Following are some disorders that you should be aware of :
Anemia
One of the common blood disorder, anemia occurs due to reduced blood circulation in a part or the whole body. There are different causes of anemia. It could be due to parasitic infestation or due to excessive bleeding. Based on these conditions there are 2 types of anemia regenerative and non-regenerative anemia. The former is caused due to excessive bleeding due to massive destruction of blood tissues. This condition can be recovered through medications and even blood transfusions. Non-regenerative anemia results in permanent defect in the blood. It is either caused by severe damage of blood cells or due to factors like cancer, defects in bone marrow. This defect is usually seen in spaniels and can be very expensive to treat.
Coagulation disorder
this type of blood disorder is usually seen in puppies. The coagulation defect occurs due to deficiency of different coagulating factors such as abnormal thrombin, post partum hemorrhage. Puppies born with this type of disorder might die soon after birth or might suffer with lifelong anemia. There are some viral, bacterial toxins, and other factors such as heat strokes and tumors that can cause a vascular disorder resulting in a coagulation disorder.
Platelet Disorder
Also called as “canine thrombocytopenia” , it is a type of blood disorder in which the body fails to produce sufficient amount of thrombocytes or platelets. It is caused by Ehrlichial disease. This disease occurs due to infection of ehrlichial canis (ticks). It also occurs due to side effects of some medications like sulfanomides or estrogen.
Leukopenia
Leukopenia is the condition where there is increased count of white blood cells. This condition is seen during several viral or bacterial infections. Thus is usually a trigger response to the infection. Leukocytosis is the condition in which there is a massive reduction in WBC in canine blood. This is also a result of viral or bacterial that the canine might be suffering from.
It is very important to consult a vet right away if you happen to observe signs such as prolonged bleeding, pale gums, progressive weakness, blood in stool. The vet will diagnose the condition and provide the required treatment for the condition.
Ever wonder what this frequently used term blood glucose actually does? If not, here’s your answer! Blood glucose (blood sugar), is an element present in the blood that carries sugar to all the body cells, so that they can create energy for physical/mental functions. And naturally this energy (formerly sugar) is a derived from the food that we eat. But at times the body loses its ability to produce insulin, which is important for breaking down the glucose in the body. And in such a condition one develops an autoimmune disease, which is known as diabetes.
Diabetes can severely disrupt a person’s life, as it can trigger other serious conditions related to eyes, heart, kidneys, nerves, etc. But this can only happen if an individual is careless about their lifestyle. With great food habits, ample of exercise and positive attitude one can easily lead a normal life. And to achieve this one has to regularly take blood glucose tests.
Although everyone is advised to maintain a healthy balance of sugar in the body, a diabetic individual mandatorily needs to keep an eye on the glucose levels. They can monitor their diabetes condition by regularly conducting a blood glucose test. Most people with diabetes ideally must check their blood levels every day. This is because then they can effectively manage their dietary schedules, exercises and medications.
A diabetic patient needs a glucose meter aka glucometer to measure their sugar levels in blood. It is a brilliant device that can effectively help you maintain self-discipline as well as accuracy. The device comes in a kit which has a log diary, lancets and small needles.
The glucometer is extremely simple to use and handle. You just need to ensure two things while you’re using the glucose meter. Firstly, make sure that you clean your hands with soap, as you don’t want initiate any form of contamination in your blood stream. Secondly try not to share your kit with anyone or use someone else’s kit, as it can be infected. Preferably you must maintain a log diary, this will not just aid you but also your doctor who can analyze your progress accordingly.
Usually for a fasting test, normal level of blood glucose ranges around 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter. On the other hand, when it comes to a random blood glucose test, it must ideally fall under the range 125 milligrams per deciliter. If you observe anything beyond this level, then you must immediately consult your doctor to gain more perspective about your condition.
Prostate is a gland of the male reproductive system and PSA (prostate specific agent) is a protein produced by prostate cells. Prostate cancer is diagnosed with the help of a PSA test. PSA test is performed by taking a blood sample from the patient. High PSA range indicates cancer or inflamed prostate. So, when PSA test is taken, other factors that confirm prostate cancer must be taken into account as well.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Though high level of PSA can indicate cancer, a healthy man without any cancer should have little amount of PSA in his blood circulation.
To prepare for the test, make sure your doctor is aware of the medication you are on. Some medication can tamper with your blood test and make your PSA range appear falsely low. Other than informing your doctor about the medication, there is nothing more you have to do to prepare for the test.
The PSA test is performed for these reasons:
Checking the PSA range may increase the chance of finding prostate cancer when it is at an early stage. But before you take this test, ask your doctor if there can be any negative consequences of the test.
Results:
The PSA test alone cannot diagnose the prostate cancer. One needs to get a prostate biopsy done to diagnose this cancer. Your doctor will consider your age, medication, ethnicity and other things along with your test to decide whether your PSA is normal or more tests are required.
PSA range is considered normal when it is 4.0 nanograms per millimeter or blood (4.0 ng/ml). Men who are in their 50s or are younger should have their PSA range below 2.5 ng/ml of blood. Older men usually have higher ranger of PSA as compared to younger men.
PSA test is important to know if someone has prostate cancer or not, but it is not foolproof. This is because there are other causes of high level of PSA such as:
Large prostate
Infection is prostate
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
Recent intercourse or ejaculation
Recent placement of catheter tube
Recent bladder tests
Found in bile produced by the body, bilirubin is produced when old red blood cells are broken down by the liver. The hemoglobin in the red blood cells is converted to bilirubin. Bilirubin is brownish yellow. It is ejected from the body through stools.
Bilirubin circulates in the bloodstream in small amounts. Although this small amount is not harmful, an excess of bilirubin in the body can lead to a lot of health complications. Diseases of the liver, red blood cells or gallbladder can lead to high bilirubin levels in the body. It may cause jaundice and yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes. Here are four reasons that may cause high bilirubin levels:
Hemoglobin is that one term you often come across when you go for a blood test. These are iron-containing agents (complex protein) you find in your red blood cells that help the body to function by using oxygen. Hemoglobin determines when and how to use oxygen for the body. In other words, hemoglobin’s function is to carry oxygen to the body tissues form lungs and to pump oxygen. It is the iron content in hemoglobin that keeps the red blood cells in shape.
Here is what goes wrong and why you go for hemoglobin A1C test:
As we read above that hemoglobin is a protein that is found in the red blood cells. Glucose is type of sugar that helps provide energy to your body. When everything is in the right amount, your body functions perfectly. But then there is too much glucose in your body, it crosslinks to your hemoglobin and this crosslinking is called Glycation. And the glycated hemoglobin is called A1C. This is why we go for a hemoglobin A1C test to find out the level of glycated hemoglobin in your blood. Another term for glycated hemoglobin is Hb1c.
If you are diabetic, getting a hemoglobin A1C test is gives you a clear picture of how much glucose has been cross-linked to your hemoglobin or in other words, how much glycation is there in your body.
If you are obese without diabetes or overweight without diabetes, even then you should get hemoglobin A1C test done as that can help you prevent from getting diabetes in the future. Here is the reason why you should get this test done even if you are not diabetic:
For instance, you were on a high glucose diet in the past couple of days (unknowingly). That led to cross linkage of glucose to your hemoglobin causing glycation. You realize you have been taking too much sugar so now you are conscious about what you eat and so, your blood sugar level now seems fine. But does that mean you are out of danger? The answer is no. That is because your red blood cells might still have the memory of A1C, however, the memory cannot stay for long as the red blood cells constantly change over the course of 3-4 months. The hemoglobin A1C test will show you your blood sugar level of till date from the time they (red blood cells) had been formed newly. So, now you will know how your glucose has been doing over the past 3-4 months and that is helpful information for you by leading you to the path of maintaining healthy hemoglobin A1C level, which is close to, or less than 5%.
The human body is no stranger to malicious agents attacking it, and desperately trying to enter it to cause a ruckus that will have us confined to the bed for a long time. Every part, every organ and every element in the body is vulnerable to disorders, be it the kidneys, lungs, heart, and even blood.
Blood disorders aren’t a rare phenomenon, 2 in 10 individuals suffer from blood disorders in the USA. These blood disorders surface when the components of blood are affected, and the ailment becomes prominent when left unchecked. The components of blood, the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, can trigger different types of blood disorders. Even the liquid part of the blood, the plasma remains unsafe from the onslaught of various diseases. One needs to be aware of the dangers blood disorders pose. Here are some of the common blood disorders that can affect anyone.
What is hemoglobin A1C test?
You can call this a diagnostic procedure that determines your blood sugar level from the time blood new red blood cells were created in your body. Red blood cells renew in within 3-4 months, so this test usually shows the blood sugar level of the past 3-4 months. This hemoglobin A1C blood test helps you to find out how close you are to getting diabetes so you can take necessary precautions before things go out of hand. You also come to know what type of diabetes you have, if you have.
Cost of hemoglobin A1C test
The cost of this test may vary from location to location. In some areas the cost is between $28 to $49 and in some it starts from $100. You can perform a local search to know about the cost in your neighborhood.
Without insurance: Medical cost has drastically moved higher over the past couple of years and without insurance your hemoglobin A1C test can cost you a lot because it isn’t a one time test, to monitor your blood sugar level, this test will be recommended more than once. A single test can cost around $100 and combined tests can come up to $1500 without insurance.
With insurance: People who have insurance will not face the above-mentioned cost as most insurance have the cost of blood tests covered. However, there are some insurance that might not fully cover the cost, for that you might have to check your insurance policy.
How hemoglobin A1C test works?
A1C is another word for glycated hemoglobin. When glucose cross links with hemoglobin, it becomes glycated hemoglobin leading a person towards diabetes condition. Hemoglobin A1C test measures the A1C level. This test can also diagnose pre-diabetes apart from Type II diabetes.
Who should get tested?
Diabetes is a lifetime disease and a serious disease. Once you are diagnosed with diabetes, you cannot cure it. The only way to deal with it is by following a certain type of restrictive lifestyle. Hence, it is importance to learn if you are close to getting the disease or not so you can take precautions.
People who are obese should definitely get this test done. Obesity is one of the main causes of diabetes and many other blood and heart related diseases.
People who are overweight but not obese should also get this test done as they can get diabetes if certain things aren’t controlled before time.
People who have a family history of diabetes should also get this test done as in most cases people who are slightly overweight and have a family history of diabetes, might be more prone to diabetes than people who have no family history of diabetes.
The popular flagship smartphone from Huawei, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro has garnered immense popularity, owing to the fact that it is the perfect amalgamation of functionality and style. Huawei dropped the bulky metal chassis that had often proven detrimental since people prefer sleek smartphones. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro has an attractive, refined all-glass look that gives it an almost bezel-less design, and a regal appearance. However, it is not simply a good-looking smartphone; it is one of the most powerful smartphones in the market. In addition to the Kirin 970 AI Processor that allows the users to revel in the newfound speedy functions, the Huawei Mate 10 Pro is equipped with a series of features that makes the user experience impeccable.
So, if you are keen on buying the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, there are certain things you can do with this amazing smartphone.
So, try these hacks when you buy the Huawei Mate 10 Pro.
Urinary incontinence is a problem where you can lose control of your bladder. It can be a temporary issue due to minor health problems like coughing and infections or can be chronic due to underlying diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease.
It can also occur during pregnancy and after childbirth. Estrogen loss due to menopause, an enlarged prostate, certain cancers, constipation, poor diet and certain lifestyle factors can cause urinary bladder control problems.
Can you prevent urinary incontinence?
It may not always be possible to avoid urinary bladder control problems. But you can certainly minimize your risks of experiencing urinary incontinence.
Preventive measures
Preventive measures
Small lifestyle and health changes can go a long way in keeping urinary incontinence at bay.
Everybody aspires to look nice and a lot of effort goes into deciding what you would wear for your evening date, or when you decided to meet your girlfriend’s parents. But, things start taking a nose-dive when you see patches of sweat ruining your favorite shirt. Not only does sweat make your clothes look bad, the body odor it gives rise to is unpleasant as well. For controlling your perspiration and getting rid of the body odor, antiperspirants made their debut a long time ago. Antiperspirants and deodorants are used interchangeably. The only difference is that antiperspirants reduce the formation of sweat and deodorants don’t stop you from sweating, instead they mask the odor of the sweat with a pleasant one.
These days, you can avail of the combined qualities of both, deodorants and antiperspirants in one single bottle. Since the Men’s section at the supermarket has arrays of antiperspirants, you would definitely have a hard time making the right choice. So, to rescue you from the horns of the dilemma, here’s a list of the 10 best antiperspirants for men that can become a part of your morning hygiene ritual.
Jack Black Pit Boss’ Antiperspirant and Deodorant- If the underarm sweat patches and your body odor has put you in awkward situations, an antiperspirant combined with the deodorant’s quality would do wonders for you. Jack Black Pit Boss’ works like magic and doesn’t hurt your sensitive skin.
Dove Men+ Care Antiperspirant and Deodorant- Dove has been credited with creating fragrances that are mild yet pleasing. You wouldn’t want to end up with a headache that accompanies strong fragrances. This antiperspirant would last throughout the day and neither your body nor your clothes would reek of any odor.
Clinique for Men Antiperspirant and Deodorant stick- Our underarms have sensitive skin, and deodorants with alcohol content give rise to a burning sensation. Clinique is the perfect antiperspirant since it is odorless, controls your sweat and wouldn’t interfere with your favorite cologne.
Molton Brown London Sport Antiperspirant Stick- This antiperspirant is devoid of any alcohol content, so say goodbye to the tingling and burning sensation in your underarms. Also, it would leave no stains on your favorite shirt. The mixed fragrance of citrus and wood is subtle yet appealing.
Vichy Antiperspirant Treatment 48Hr- The name is suggestive of how long this antiperspirant would last. This antiperspirant can be considered to be among the 10 best antiperspirants for men since it doesn’t give rise to rashes, doesn’t leave a stain and doesn’t have a strong smell.
Degree for Men Clinical Sports Strength, Axe White label, SweatBlock, Mitchum for Men, Arrid XX, Rich Guard Xtreme, etc. are also considered to be among the 10 best antiperspirants for men.