What do blood results show us

Haemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood 

Low = anemia = dizziness, tiredness

High = dehydration, certain medication  

WBC - fight infections 

Low (leukopenia) = bone marrow, viral infection 

Increase risk of infection 

High (leukocytosis) = infection

Platelets - help blood to clot when injured 

Indicates risk of bleeding 

Low (thrombocytopenia) = easy bruising, nosebleed, cuts not healing

Increased risk of bleeding 

High (thrombocytosis) = infection, iron deficiency, recovery after blood loss 

Increased risk of clots

CRP - substance made by your liver which rises when there is inflammation in the body, it is just a marker of inflammation or infection

Low = normal + good 

High = infections, inflammatory disease (arthritis)

Sodium - electrolyte which control vital body functions 

Low (hyponatraemia) - headache, nausea

Cause - heart, kidney, certain medication, drinking too much water

High (hypernatraemia)  - dehydration 

Cause - thirst, weakness 

Potassium - controls heart rhythm, muscle contraction, supports muscles and heart

Low (hypokalemia) - muscle weakness, cramps, abnormal heart rhythm 

Cause - diuretics, vomiting/diarrhoea 

High (hyperkalemia) - heart rhythm irregularities 

Cause - kidney problems, certain medication 

Urea - waste product that is removed by your kidneys and it shows the kidneys are working normally 

Low - liver disease,

High - dehydration, kidney not filtering properly

Creatinine - waste product when muscle use energy, marker for kidney function 

Low - pregnancy, older patients

High - AKI, CKD, dehydration, meds 

EGFR - how well your kidneys are filtering from your blood 

Low - AKI, CKD, diabetes, hypertension 

Glucose - type of sugar in your blood

Low (hypoglycemia) - diabetes treatment, not eating enough - dizziness, shaking

High (hyperglycaemia) - diabetes, stress - thirst 

HBA1C - average blood glucose over last 2-3 months 

Low -  good glucose control 

High - poor long term sugar control