https://healthencyclo.blogspot.com/atom.xml Health Encyclopedia: February 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023

what does total IgE test for?

What is Total IgE?

Total IgE measures the level of antibodies in the blood made by the immune system in response to an allergen.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is an antibody that causes an allergic reaction. When exposed to an allergen (typically a harmless substance that the immune system considers dangerous, such as peanuts), the body produces specific IgE antibodies designed to recognize that allergen in the future. Then, with repeated exposure to the same allergen, the immune system quickly produces large numbers of allergen-specific IgE particles to identify and eliminate the allergen.
What is Total IgE?

The total IgE test detects the presence of IgE antibodies in the blood, indicating an increased chance of an allergic reaction. The test for allergen-specific IgE particles is then used to obtain information about the specific substance causing the allergic reaction.


How do I know if I have allergies?

Allergic reactions range from localized red spots, itchy skin, to anaphylaxis, which includes a sudden drop in blood pressure and difficulty breathing.
Allergic reactions can vary greatly in type and severity depending on the individual and allergy. The following symptoms are strong indications that IgE needs to be measured:

• Itchy eyes or watery eyes

• Sneezing and/or coughing

• Intermittent or persistent itching, hives

• Stuffy nose

• Persistent diarrhea

• Difficulty breathing

• Nausea or vomiting 44

What is a normal IgE level?

IgE test results are expressed in Fluorescent Assay Standard Units (FSU). A number less than 0.01 FSU indicates no detectable IgE.
Generally, the higher the IgE level, the higher the risk of allergic symptoms. Each potential allergen is assigned a class according to this level as shown below.

Class 0/1

0.01–0.34 BSS

Clinical significance not established

Class 1

0.35-0.70

Low sensitivity

Class 2

0.71-3.50

Moderate sensitivity

Class 3

3.51-17.50

High Sensitivity

Class 4 or higher

17.51-50.00

Ultra High Sensitivity

Class 5

50.01-100.00

Ultra High Sensitivity
>100

Highly sensitive

What does high IgE mean?

Higher IgE levels are more likely to cause symptoms of allergy to a specific allergen, but lower classes of allergens also need to be controlled. They can contribute to the buildup of allergy burden during allergy season, for example.


What if IgE is elevated?

If your IgE levels are elevated due to indoor, outdoor or food allergies, a board-certified allergist can work with you to develop a program to help relieve your symptoms.
This may include the use of antihistamines and other drugs, allergen avoidance, and immunotherapy.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

What is RA test?

What is a rheumatoid factor (RF) test?

The rheumatoid factor (RF) test looks for rheumatoid factor (RF) in a blood sample. Rheumatoid factor is a protein produced by the immune system.

Your immune system makes proteins called antibodies to attack germs that can normally make you sick. However, rheumatoid factor is an antibody that sometimes mistakenly attacks the body's healthy cells and tissues.
When this happens, you have an autoimmune disease.

Not everyone has rheumatoid factor in their blood. And some people who have them are healthy. However, if you have certain symptoms and higher levels or rheumatoid factor, you may have an autoimmune disease or other health problem associated with high RF levels.
The
RF test is primarily used in conjunction with other tests to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a type of autoimmune disease that damages joints and causes pain, swelling, and stiffness. It is a chronic (long-term) condition that can affect organs and cause other symptoms.

High levels of rheumatoid factor can also be a sign of other autoimmune diseases, some infections, and some types of cancer.

Other Name: RF Blood Test

What is it used for?
The RF test is often used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
RF testing can also be used to understand how severe your rheumatoid arthritis is and whether it can affect your organs. RF testing by itself cannot diagnose a health problem.

Why is RF testing needed?

If you have rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, you may need an RF test. Symptoms often start in the wrists, hands, and feet.
They usually affect the same joints on both sides of the body and tend to come and go.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Joint pain

• Tenderness, swelling, and warmth of the joint

• Joint stiffness that lasts longer than 30 minutes

• Fatigue

• Occasional low fevers

• Loss of appetite

• Problems outside of the joints that may include dry eyes or mouth, firm lumps under the skin, or anemia

What do the results mean?

An RF test alone cannot diagnose any conditions. To make a diagnosis, your provider will look at the results of other tests along with your symptoms and medical history.

A negative (normal) result means that you have little or no rheumatoid factor in your blood.
However, that does not rule out rheumatoid arthritis or other health problems. Many people with rheumatoid arthritis have little or no rheumatoid factor. If you have rheumatoid arthritis symptoms but your RF test results are normal, your doctor may order additional tests to make a diagnosis.

A positive (abnormal) result means a higher level of rheumatoid factor was detected in the blood. This does not always mean that the symptoms are caused by rheumatoid factor.
However, the higher the RF test result, the higher the chance that a person has a rheumatoid factor-related disorder. Your doctor may do more tests to find out if you have a disease, such as:

• Rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune diseases

• Chronic infections

• Certain types of cancer


Anything else I should know about the RF test?

Radiofrequency testing is not used to diagnose osteoarthritis. Although rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis both affect joints, they are very different conditions. Osteoarthritis is not an autoimmune disease and is not related to rheumatoid factor.
Researchers aren't sure what causes osteoarthritis. It mainly affects the elderly.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

What is albumin test for?

Albumin testing alone or in combination with other measurements can play a role in the diagnosis, screening, and monitoring of a variety of conditions.

Diagnosis is a test performed after symptoms begin. For example, if you have signs of potential liver disease, such as jaundice or fatigue, or if you have symptoms of possible kidney disease, such as abnormal urination or unexplained swelling (especially in your feet and legs), your doctor may recommend an albumin blood test .

Screening is a form of testing that aims to detect health conditions before symptoms appear. This is not usually done by measuring albumin alone.
However, albumin can be included in a comprehensive metabolic or liver panel along with other measurements, which can be administered during a routine physical examination as a form of screening.

Monitoring includes tests to see how your condition is progressing or responding to treatment. Follow-up blood albumin tests can provide information about the severity of the disease and how the condition changes over time.
What does the
test measure?

This test measures the amount of total albumin in the blood.
Albumin's biological function is to prevent fluid from leaking out of the blood vessels and to transport substances such as hormones, enzymes, and vitamins into the body.
If the
panel test contains albumin, another measurement is performed using the same blood sample.

When should I get an albumin test?

An albumin blood test may be ordered if you have symptoms that may be caused by a liver or kidney problem. Albumin levels alone cannot diagnose this type of condition, but they can provide important information to help doctors diagnose the problem.
Albumin alone is not usually recommended unless there are signs of liver or kidney problems. However, albumin measurements may be included in panel tests that can be used for health screenings. In these tests, as in the comprehensive metabolic panel, albumin levels can be interpreted in relation to other measurements.

Interpreting test results

Albumin levels are reported on the test report. Albumin is measured in grams per deciliter of blood (g/dL).
If different measurements were taken in the panel test, you will see a separate row for each of these measurements in the test report.

A typical reference range for normal albumin levels is 3.5 to 5.5 g/dL. Reference ranges can vary from lab to lab, so it is important to carefully review the test report to see if a different range is listed.
Albumin levels above or below the reference range may reflect an underlying health concern. Low levels can be caused by conditions that affect the liver’s normal function and ability to synthesize albumin or excessive loss of albumin through the kidneys.

Albumin persists in the blood for several weeks, so recent, short-term liver health issues that decrease albumin production may not be detected. Decreased albumin levels are more frequently associated with chronic conditions affecting the liver, like cirrhosis.

Although albumin is produced in the liver, abnormally low levels can also be tied to kidney conditions, malnutrition, inflammation, infection, thyroid disease, and gastrointestinal problems.
Abnormally high albumin levels are most often due to dehydration, which can be caused by other conditions such as severe diarrhea.

Doctors often interpret albumin values ​​along with measurements of other metabolic and liver and kidney parameters. Observing which measurements are normal and which ones are abnormal can help identify patterns in the results that can reveal the most likely cause of a test result.

Your health care provider will be in the best position to explain your test results, what they mean for your health, and to determine if other tests are suitable for follow-up.

Monday, February 6, 2023

What is Alkaline phosphatase test?

Alkaline phosphatase is a type of enzyme that exists in the body. Enzymes are proteins that help chemical reactions. For example, it can break down large molecules into smaller parts or help assemble smaller molecules into larger structures.

You have alkaline phosphatase all over your body, including your liver, digestive system, kidneys, and bones.

If you have signs of liver or bone disease, your doctor may order an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) test to measure the amount of enzymes in your blood and help diagnose the problem.
Sometimes it is part of a broader group of tests that check how the liver is functioning, called a regular liver or liver panel.

Why should I take this test?

If her liver is not working properly, she may have high levels of ALP in her blood. Doctors often use this test to check for blocked bile ducts. Other conditions that can cause liver problems include:

• liver cancer

• cirrhosis

• hepatitis

• blocked bile ducts

This test can also detect bone problems such as:

• Paget's disease, which affects bone growth

• Problems caused by vitamin D deficiency
Interpretation of test results It is given in units (IU/l). .
The report may also include reference ranges that may vary from lab to lab. A common reference range is 44-147 IU/L, although some professional bodies recommend a range of 30-120 IU/L. For this reason, it is important to check test reports against the reference range of the lab that analyzed the samples.

Elevated ALP can indicate many other conditions besides liver and bone disease. However, high ALP values ​​are not necessarily a sign of a problem.
Several factors may be considered when interpreting test results. For example, ALP is usually higher in pregnant women, growing children and adolescents, and the elderly. ALP produced in the gut can also increase after fatty meals in people with certain blood types. It can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, hypothyroidism, and some rare genetic disorders that affect ALP or liver function. Persistent low levels of ALP may indicate hypophosphatasia (HPP), a rare genetic disorder of bone metabolism.
If there is an ALP isozyme test, the test report will show values ​​for different types of ALP. Elevation of specific ALP sources can localize tissue damage and other diseases in the body.

Regardless of the type of ALP test you have, it is important to discuss your test results with your doctor. Your doctor can best explain what your test results mean for your health and whether other tests might be beneficial.

When discussing test results with your doctor, these questions may help you better understand your situation and the most appropriate next steps in treatment:

Saturday, February 4, 2023

What does billirubin test indicate?

What is a bilirubin blood test?

Bilirubin is a yellow pigment found in all blood and stool. A bilirubin blood test determines the level of bilirubin in the body.

Your liver may not be able to process the bilirubin in your body. This may be due to excess bilirubin, blockage, or liver inflammation.
Excess bilirubin in the body causes the skin and the whites of the eyes to turn yellow. This condition is called jaundice.

A bilirubin test can help determine if you have these conditions.

Bilirubin is formed in the body when the hemoglobin protein in old red blood cells is broken down. Shedding old cells is a normal and healthy process.
After circulating in the blood, bilirubin moves to the liver.

In the liver, bilirubin is processed, mixed with bile, excreted into the bile ducts and stored in the gallbladder.

Finally, bile is released into the small intestine to aid in fat digestion. It is eventually excreted in your stool.

Bilirubin that is bound by the liver to glucuronic acid (a glucose-derived acid) is called direct or conjugated bilirubin.
Bilirubin that is not bound to glucuronic acid is called indirect bilirubin or unconjugated bilirubin. The sum of all bilirubin in the blood is called total bilirubin.
The
comprehensive bilirubin blood test accurately measures all three levels of bilirubin in the blood: direct, indirect and total bilirubin.

In both adults and children, symptoms associated with high bilirubin include jaundice, yellowing of the skin and eyes, tiredness, itchy skin, dark urine, and loss of appetite.

Common Reasons for Bilirubin Testing there is.
Therefore, testing for bilirubin in the blood is a good way to check for liver damage.

Mild jaundice in newborns may be due to normal changes in bilirubin metabolism or may be the first sign of a medical problem.

If the birth value is too high, the baby's blood can be tested several times in the first few days of life to monitor liver function. Jaundice in newborns can be very serious and life-threatening if left untreated.

Another reason for high bilirubin levels is that more red blood cells than normal are being destroyed.
This is called hemolysis.

Bilirubin may be measured as part of a "panel" of tests. The liver is often examined with a battery of tests including:

• alanine transaminase

• aspartate aminotransferase

• alkaline phosphatase

• albumin

• total protein

normal bilirubin blood tests

In older children or adults, normal direct bilirubin levels range from 0 to 0.4 milligrams/deciliter (mg/dL).
A normal level of total bilirubin is 0.3 to 1.0 mg/dL.

Indirect circulating bilirubin is total bilirubin minus direct circulating bilirubin. Additionally, normal reference ranges may vary from laboratory to laboratory.
It is normal for newborns to have high bilirubin levels due to the stress of childbirth. Normal indirect bilirubin is less than 5.2 mg/dL in him within 24 hours of birth. However, many newborns have some form of jaundice and bilirubin levels above her 5 mg/dL in the first few days after birth.

Causes of Abnormal Results

If you have high bilirubin levels in your blood, your doctor may order other blood tests and an ultrasound.
In an adult, high bilirubin may be due to problems with the liver, bile ducts, or gallbladder. Examples include:

• liver diseases, like hepatitis

• Gilbert’s syndrome, a genetic disease

• cirrhosis, which is scarring of the liver

• biliary stricture, where part of the bile duct is too narrow to allow fluid to pass

• cancer of the gallbladder or pancreas

• gallstones

• drug toxicity

High bilirubin may also be due to problems in the blood instead of problems in the liver. Blood cells breaking down too fast can be caused by:

• Hemolytic anemia: This occurs when too many blood cells are being destroyed from an autoimmune disease, genetic defect, drug toxicity, or infection, and the liver is unable to metabolize the amount of indirect bilirubin in the body.

• Transfusion reaction: This occurs when your immune system attacks blood that was given to you through a transfusion

Infant jaundice

In an infant, high (usually indirect) bilirubin and jaundice can be very dangerous and may be caused by several factors. There are three common types:

• physiological jaundice: at two to four days after birth, caused by a brief delay in the functioning of the liver and usually not serious

• breastfeeding jaundice: during the first week of life, caused by a baby not nursing well or low milk supply in the mother

• breast milk jaundice: after two to three weeks of life, caused by the processing of some substances in breast milk

All of these can be easily treated and are usually harmless if treated.
More serious conditions that cause high bilirubin and jaundice in infants include:

• Abnormal blood cell shape, such as sickle cell anemia

• Cells called erythroblastosis fetalis, in which the baby's red blood cells are severely broken down due to a blood type mismatch between the infant and the mother

• Genetic Deficiency of certain critical proteins

• Bruising due to difficult labor

• Small size, increased red blood cell count due to premature birth

• Infections

Bilirubin blood test

Abnormally high bilirubin level on blood test If indicated, your doctor may order additional tests to determine the underlying cause.

Once your doctor has determined the cause of your high bilirubin level, you may need to do more bilirubin blood tests to monitor the effectiveness of your treatment. If the doctor determines that there is, an imaging test may be ordered to make sure there are no structural abnormalities.

Friday, February 3, 2023

What is SGPT Test?

SGPT test means serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase and measures liver health. This test shows the amount of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in serum. GPT is an enzyme commonly found in heart cells, kidneys, muscle, and liver. SGPT, also known as ALT (alanine aminotransferase), is what doctors recommend to check for liver disease or medication-induced liver damage.
Why is the SGPT or ALT test important?

This enzyme is commonly found in the liver. This enzyme is also present in small amounts in the kidneys and other organs. Your body needs ALT to convert food into energy. The usual; low ALT levels in the blood. When the liver is damaged or injured, more ALT is released into the blood and levels rise. Your doctor may prescribe this test along with other liver tests.

Why would a doctor order this test?

Your doctor may suggest this test if you have various symptoms of liver disease or damage. These symptoms include

• abdominal pain or swelling

• nausea

• vomiting

• yellow skin or eyes (called jaundice)

• weakness

• extreme fatigue

• dark urine

• Light - colored stools

• Itchy skin



Other reasons for this test are:



Your doctor may recommend this test as part of your regular physical examination. If you have liver disease, your doctor may recommend this test to see if treatment is working.

Test Results

Test results are available within hours or the same day.

SGPT Test The normal range is 7 to 55 units per liter (U/L).
Men may have higher ALT levels.
What are the Symptoms of High SGPT?

Here are some common symptoms that indicate you have high levels of her SGPT in your body.

1. Heart attack
2. Nausea
3. Vomiting
4. Inflammation of the pancreas
5. Muscle damage
6. Shortness of breath
7. Overdose of alcohol
8. Liver Damage

Slightly elevated ALT levels can be caused by

• Alcohol abuse

• Cirrhosis (long-term damage and scarring of the liver)

• Mononucleosis

• Aspirin



moderately high ALT levels may be due to

chronic liver disease

alcohol abuse

cirrhosis

Blockage

• Heart attack or blockage (when heart cannot pump adequately)

• Kidney damage

• Muscle damage

• Red blood cell damage

• Heart attack

• Vitamin A overdose



Acute viral hepatitis

• Drug overuse such as acetaminophen

• Liver cancer

• Sepsis


How can i reduce SGPT level?

The best way to reduce his SGPT levels in his body is to eat a vitamin D rich diet. Experts believe that vitamin D prevents liver damage, thereby lowering high levels of SGPT.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

What is SGOT Test indicate?

SGOT Overview

The SGOT test is usually prescribed to people at risk for liver damage. The SGOT blood test helps your doctor understand the level of this enzyme in your blood and, depending on the results, prescribes further tests to see if you have the disease before starting treatment. The SGOT test is also used to find out if a patient has her hepatitis C infection.

SGOT Test Full Form

SGOT or serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase is another name for aspartate aminotransferase or AST. An enzyme produced mainly in the liver. However, the heart, kidney, and brain also produce this protein to some extent. Normally, low levels of SGOT in the bloodstream are considered normal. Often people who have had a heart attack have increased amounts of aspartate aminotransferase in their blood system.

Purpose of the SGOT test

Serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase or his SGOT test is mainly liver This is done to check the state of the The main function of SGOT or AST enzymes is to support amino acid metabolism. While the enzyme can be found in the cells of other vital organs, the AST or SGOT test is part of the liver panel tests. The SGOT test is usually prescribed when a person shows the following symptoms:

• Weight loss

• Nausea

• Weakness

• Yellowing of skin and whites of the eyes

• Pain and swelling in the abdomen, where the liver is present

• Dark color urine

• The stool is pale in color

• Visible swelling in ankles

• Frequent skin itching

• Loss of appetite

The test is also prescribed for people who:

• Have a family history of liver diseases

• Have recently been to a place with a high hepatitis contraction rate

• Are alcoholic, or were alcoholic

• Have diabetes

• Are obese

• Have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

• Are undergoing treatment for existing liver diseases

Side effects of the SGOT test

When blood samples are taken, there are practically no risks or side effects associated with the process. That said, when the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase or SGOT blood test is conducted as a part of a panel that requires fasting, then certain side effects can be seen. These include:

• Feeling light-headed

• Fainting

• Nausea

These can be dealt with by taking rest and eating nutrition-rich food. People whose veins are not easy to locate might have to get their arms punctured a few times, before the correct vein is found
This can lead to arm stiffness and bruising. This is nothing serious, and a little rest can get rid of these side effects. If itching persists or bleeding does not stop, see a doctor immediately.

Interpretation of high SGOT test results

SGOT blood test results will come to him within a day. The amount of AST or SGOT in blood is calculated in units per liter (units/l). Normal values ​​may vary by age, gender, and region/ethnicity. However, the normal range is usually between 8 units/L and 40 units/L. Females are narrower than males.

If results show that her level of AST in her blood is above the normal range, this may indicate the development or progression of liver disease. High AST scores indicate:

• Chronic Hepatitis

• Cholestasis

• Cirrhosis

• Liver Cancer

• Heart Damage

• Kidney Disease

• Paracetamol Overdose

• Recent Aditas44 Surgery

• Pancreatitis

If the test shows very high values, this may indicate short-term liver disease. However, if the values ​​increase slightly with each test, this may indicate a chronic disease. This encourages doctors to prescribe more tests. AST test results can also be false positives. This means that an AST test result may indicate that a person has a high AST score for her, while other reports are normal.

• Diabetic ketoacidosis

• Taking antibiotics such as para-aminosalicylic acid and erythromycin estolate
Interpreting Low SGOT Test Results

Your body needs the right amount of enzymes. As previously mentioned, higher than normal values ​​indicate various disorders leading to further examination and treatment. Since it is an enzyme, even lower than normal SGOT levels may indicate a problem. Low levels may indicate:

• vitamin B6 or pyridoxine deficiency

• kidney disease

• liver disease

• cancer

• genetic disease

• autoimmune disease

CONCLUSIONS

Aspartate aminotransferase, or an important role in monitoring liver function. This enzyme is found primarily in the liver, along with alanine aminotransferase or ALT. However, there are situations in which AST is high while ALT is low or normal. This leads doctors to prescribe tests to monitor the heart and kidneys.