WHAT IS DUAL MARKER BLOOD TEST

A double marker check or a dual marker check is a type of prenatal blood test this is achieved during the first trimester of being pregnant to test for any abnormalities that is probably present inside the chromosomal development of the child. Such anomalies inside the chromosomes can cause excessive fitness conditions and issues which could affect the baby’s increase inside the foetus, or even later in life. The double marker check can help perceive in advance approximately the opportunities of certain issues like Down’s syndrome or Edward’s syndrome. This test is often suggested as it is a completely dependable check that allows detects abnormalities quite accurately.

The elements which might be taken into consideration by using docs, earlier than prescribing the double marker test are; if the female is over 35 years of age, if there is a own family records of congenital disabilities and if there is a circle of relatives records of diabetes. A double marker test is essentially a blood test that doesn’t call for any preparations. Any scientific conditions or hypersensitive reactions must be informed to the medical doctor prior to taking the test. you'll be requested to stop the use of certain medications before taking the blood check.

The double marker test is completed with an ultrasound and the check consequences normally fall into categories: display screen nice and display terrible. The results of the test do now not merely depend upon the blood samples amassed but additionally on the age of the mother and the age of the foetus as found all through the ultrasound. most of these factors paintings together in determining the result. The blood sample is observed to test the levels of the hormone unfastened-beta HCG and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A). This glycoprotein hormone is developed at some stage in the being pregnant via the placenta. The excessive degrees of the free-beta HCG imply a higher risk of Down’s syndrome and low tiers of protein additionally pose a hazard of Down’s syndrome.

The end result of the double marker test is supplied within the form of ratios. If the ratio is between 1:10 to at least one:250, it is termed as a “display screen positive” end result which lies in the high-danger area. A ratio of 1:one thousand or above is named as “display screen bad” end result which indicates a low danger. these ratios are suggestions for knowledge the probability of a toddler laid low with any disease. In case the result of the double marker test is positive, the medical doctor may advocate in addition diagnostic strategies like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling to locate the trouble.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY?

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you realize that workout and a terrific weight-reduction plan can preserve your heart healthy. but what else can you do to preserve your ticker going robust?

• eat wholesome fats, now not trans fats. We need fat in our eating regimen, which include saturated and polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats. One fat we don’t need is trans fat, which is thought to growth your hazard of growing heart disorder or having a stroke over an entire life. that is due to the fact trans fats clogs your arteries by way of elevating your awful cholesterol levels (LDL) and lowering your excellent cholesterol levels (HDL). through cutting them out of your diet, you enhance the blood waft at some point of your frame. So, what are trans fat? they are industry-produced fat frequently utilized in packaged baked items, snack ingredients, margarines and fried speedy meals to feature taste and texture. TIP: examine the labels on all ingredients. Trans fat appears at the elements listing as partially hydrogenated oils. search for zero percent trans fat. Make it a factor to avoid consuming ingredients with trans fat.

• exercise desirable dental hygiene, especially flossing your teeth daily. Dental health is a great indication of general health, inclusive of your heart, because the ones who have periodontal (gum) disorder regularly have the identical chance elements for heart sickness. research keep in this issue, however many have shown that micro organism inside the mouth concerned inside the improvement of gum disease can flow into the bloodstream and reason an elevation in C-reactive protein, a marker for infection within the blood vessels. these changes can also in flip, growth your chance of heart disorder and stroke. TIP: Floss and brush your teeth daily to thrust back gum sickness. It’s greater than cavities you can must deal with in case you are preventing gum disorder.
• Get sufficient sleep. Sleep is an important part of keeping your coronary heart healthful. in case you don’t sleep enough, you may be at a better hazard for cardiovascular disease no matter your age or other fitness habits. One study looking at 3,000 adults over the age of forty five observed that people who slept fewer than six hours according to night have been approximately two times as probably to have a stroke or coronary heart attack as folks that slept six to eight hours consistent with night. Researchers accept as true with slumbering too little reasons disruptions in underlying health situations and organic approaches, inclusive of blood strain and inflammation. TIP: Make sleep a concern. Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep maximum nights. when you have sleep apnea, you must be treated as this condition is linked to coronary heart disease and arrhythmias.
• Don’t take a seat for too lengthy at one time. In current years, studies has advised that staying seated for lengthy intervals of time is horrific for your fitness no matter how a whole lot exercising you do. that is horrific news for the numerous folks who take a seat at sedentary jobs all day. whilst searching at the combined results of numerous observational studies that included nearly 800,000 people, researchers observed that in individuals who sat the maximum, there has been an associated 147 percentage boom in cardiovascular events and a ninety percent boom in loss of life because of these occasions. in addition, sitting for long intervals of time (specially whilst travelling) will increase your risk of deep vein thrombosis (a blood clot). TIP: experts say it’s important to transport in the course of the day. Park farther faraway from the office, take a few shorter walks at some point of the day and/or use a standing paintings station so that you can flow up and down. And keep in mind to exercise on most days.
• avoid secondhand smoke just like the plague. studies show that the chance of developing coronary heart disorder is about 25 to 30 percentage higher for folks who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work. in keeping with the yank coronary heart association, publicity to tobacco smoke contributes to about 34,000 premature coronary heart ailment deaths and seven,300 lung most cancers deaths each yr. And nonsmokers who have excessive blood stress or excessive blood ldl cholesterol have a fair more risk of developing heart ailment when they’re uncovered to secondhand smoke. that is because the chemicals emitted from cigarette smoke sell the improvement of plaque buildup inside the arteries. TIP: Be company with smokers that you do not need to be round environmental smoke — and maintain kids faraway from secondhand smoke. 

WHAT DOES AMYLASE TEST FOR?

Amylase test measures the position of the enzyme amylase in your blood. Amylase helps digest carbohydrates in your food.

About 40 of the amylase in your body is made by your pancreas. The rest comes from your salivary glands. This test is used to find out if you have a condition that affects your pancreas or salivaryglands.However, your amylase situations are generally advanced than normal, If you have a problem with your pancreas. High situations can also be caused by an infection, cancer, or indeed alcohol or certain drugs.

Why do I need this test?

You might need this test to help your healthcare provider diagnose or manage a health problem. These problems include

• Acute, habitual, or alcoholic pancreatitis

• Ruptured ectopic gestation

• Digestive conditions similar as perforated peptic ulcers, appendicitis, salivary gland infections, or excrescences

The test may also be done in an exigency.

What do my test results mean?

Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other effects. Your test results may be different depending on the lab used. They may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

The normal range for amylase in a blood sample for an grown-up is 30 to 110 units per liter( U/ L).

still, you may have 1 of numerous conditions, If your amylase situations are advanced than normal. These include

• unforeseen lump of the pancreas( acute pancreatitis)

• habitual pancreatitis that suddenly gets worse

• Cancers of the pancreas, bone, colon, ovary, or lung

• A sore in the pancreas

• A type of tubercle in the pancreas( pancreatic pseudocysts)

• lump in your tummy( ascites)

• Macroamylasemia. This is a noncancer( benign) condition marked by having a substance called macroamylase in your blood.

• Peptic ulcer that has a hole in it( perforated ulcer)

• Death of towel in your intestine( intestinal infarction)

• Blockage in your bowel

• Appendicitis

• unforeseen lump of the gallbladder( acute cholecystitis)

• Ruptured ectopic gestation

• Salivary gland swelling

• lump of the filling of your tummy( peritonitis)

• Burns

• Diabetic ketoacidosis

• order problems

• Use of certain drugs similar as morphine

• Alcohol use

• Mumps

• Excrescences in the prostate
• Eating diseases similar as bulimia or anorexia nervosa

• seditious bowel complaint

• Advanced situations of triglycerides( hypertriglyceridemia)

Your situations may also be advanced after a pancreatic procedure similar as a cholangiopancreatography. They may also be advanced after surgery or trauma.

Your amylase situations may be lower with these conditions

• habitual pancreatitis

• Liver failure

• Cystic fibrosis

What might affect my test results?

Certain drugs similar as aspirin, drugs that contain estrogen, and pain relievers like morphine may affect your test results. Alcohol use can also affect your results. So, too, can being pregnant. Or having had a recent order transplant.

WHAT HAPPEN IF URIC ACID IS HIGH?

what is excessive uric acid stage?

Uric acid is a waste product found in blood. It’s created when the frame breaks down chemical compounds known as purines. most uric acid dissolves in the blood, passes via the kidneys and leaves the frame in urine. food and drink excessive in purines additionally increase the level of uric acid. these consist of:
• Seafood (particularly salmon, shrimp, lobster and sardines).
• red meat.
• Organ meats like liver.
• food and drink with excessive fructose corn syrup, and alcohol (specially beer, along with non-alcohol beer).
If too much uric acid remains inside the frame, a situation known as hyperuricemia will arise. Hyperuricemia can purpose crystals of uric acid (or urate) to form. these crystals can settle within the joints and cause gout, a form of arthritis that may be very painful. They also can settle within the kidneys and form kidney stones.

If untreated, excessive uric acid stages may additionally ultimately cause everlasting bone, joint and tissue damage, kidney sickness and coronary heart ailment. studies has additionally shown a link between high uric acid levels and type 2 diabetes, excessive blood pressure, and fatty liver disease.
How is high uric degree handled?
if you’re having a gout assault, medicine may be used to reduce the inflammation, pain and swelling. You have to drink masses of fluids, however avoid alcohol and sweet smooth drinks. Ice and elevation are useful.
Kidney stones may also in the end bypass out of the body in urine. ingesting more fluid is vital. attempt to drink as a minimum 64 oz each day (eight glasses at eight oz. each). Water is best.
Your healthcare issuer may prescribe medicines that help stones skip with the aid of relaxing the muscle tissues in the ureter, the duct that urine passes thru to get from the kidney to the bladder.
If the stone is simply too huge to skip, blocks the glide of urine or reasons an infection, it might be essential to surgically eliminate the stone.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR TEST)

What is this test?

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a blood test. It measures how quickly erythrocytes, or red blood cells, separate from a blood sample that has been treated so the blood will not clot. During this test, a small amount of your blood will be put in an upright tube. A lab specialist will measure the rate that your red blood cells settle toward the bottom of the tube after 1 hour.

If you have a condition that causes inflammation or cell damage, your red blood cells tend to clump together. This makes them heavier, so they settle faster. The faster your red blood cells settle and fall, the higher your ESR. A high ESR tells your healthcare provider that you may have an active disease process in your body.

Why do I need this test?

You may need this test if you have symptoms of one of the diseases that may cause ESR to go up.

You may also need this test if you have already been diagnosed with a disease that causes a high ESR. The test can allow your healthcare provider to see how well you are responding to treatment.

The ESR blood test is most useful for diagnosing or monitoring diseases that cause pain and swelling from inflammation. Other symptoms may include fever and weight loss. These diseases include:

• Temporal arteritis

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Polymyalgia rheumatica

ESR is not used as a screening test in people who do not have symptoms or to diagnose disease because many conditions can cause it to increase. It might also go up in many normal cases. ESR doesn't tell your healthcare provider whether you have a specific disease. It only suggests that you may have an active disease process in your body.

What do my test results mean?

Test results may vary depending on your age, gender, health history, and other things. Your test results may be different depending on the lab used. They may not mean you have a problem. Ask your healthcare provider what your test results mean for you.

ESR is measured in millimeters per hour (mm/hr). The normal values are:

• 0 to 15 mm/hr in men

• 0 to 20 mm/hr in women

ESR above 100 mm/h is most likely caused by an active disease. For instance, you may have:

• A disease that causes inflammation in your body

• An active infection

• Cancer

• Heart disease

• Kidney disease

• Blood disease

• Diabetes

• Collagen vascular disease

What might affect my test results?

Many things that are not active diseases can increase your ESR. These include:

• Pregnancy

• Old age

• Being female

• Having a menstrual period

• Having recently eaten a fatty meal

• Being obese

• Taking certain medicines

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

What is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a condition in which the heart suddenly stops beating. When that happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. If it is not treated, SCA usually causes death within minutes. But quick treatment with a defibrillator may be lifesaving.

How is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) different from a heart attack?

A heart attack is different from an SCA. A heart attack happens when blood flow to the heart is blocked. During a heart attack, the heart usually doesn't suddenly stop beating. With an SCA, the heart stops beating.

Sometimes an SCA can happen after or during recovery from a heart attack.

What causes sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

Your heart has an electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat. An SCA can happen when the heart's electrical system is not working right and causes irregular heartbeats. Irregular heartbeats are called arrhythmias. There are different types. They may cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body; this is the type that causes SCA.

Certain diseases and conditions can cause the electrical problems that lead to SCA. They include:

• Ventricular fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia where the ventricles (the heart's lower chambers) don't beat normally. Instead, they beat very fast and very irregularly. They can't pump blood to the body. This causes most SCAs.

• Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called ischemic heart disease. CAD happens when the arteries of the heart cannot deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It is often caused by the buildup of plaque, a waxy substance, inside the lining of larger coronary arteries. The plaque blocks some or all of the blood flow to the heart.

• Some types of physical stress can cause your heart's electrical system to fail, such as

• Intense physical activity in which your body releases the hormone adrenaline. This hormone can trigger SCA in people who have heart problems.

• Very low blood levels of potassium or magnesium. These minerals play an important role in your heart's electrical system.

• Major blood loss

• Severe lack of oxygen

• Certain inherited disorders which can cause arrhythmias or problems with the structure of your heart

• Structural changes in the heart, such as an enlarged heart due to high blood pressure or advanced heart disease. Heart infections can also cause changes to the structure of the heart.

Who is at risk for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

You are at higher risk for SCA if you:

• Have coronary artery disease (CAD). Most people with SCA have CAD. But CAD usually doesn't cause symptoms, so they may not know that they have it.

• Are older; your risk increases with age

• Are a man; it is more common in men than women

• Are Black or African American, especially if you have other conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease

• Have a personal history of heartbeats that aren't regular (arrhythmia)

• Have a personal or family history of SCA or inherited disorders that can cause arrhythmia

• Have a problem with drug or alcohol use

• Have had a heart attack

• Have heart failure

What are the symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

Usually, the first sign of SCA is loss of consciousness (fainting). This happens when the heart stops beating.

Some people may have a racing heartbeat or feel dizzy or light-headed just before they faint. And sometimes people have chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting in the hour before they have an SCA.

What are the treatments after surviving sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)?

If you survive SCA, you'll likely be admitted to a hospital for ongoing care and treatment. In the hospital, your medical team will closely watch your heart. They may give you medicines to try to reduce the risk of another SCA.

They will also try to find out what caused your SCA. If you're diagnosed with coronary artery disease, you may have an angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery. These procedures help restore blood flow through narrowed or blocked coronary arteries.

Often, people who have had SCA get a device called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This small device is surgically placed under the skin in your chest or abdomen. An ICD uses electric pulses or shocks to help control dangerous arrhythmias.

Can sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) be prevented?

You may be able to lower your risk of SCA by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. If you have coronary artery disease or another heart disease, treating that disease can also lower your risk of SCA. If you have had an SCA, getting an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) can lower your chance of having another SCA.

WHAT IS A LIPID PANEL TEST

What is a lipid panel?

A lipid panel is a blood test that measures the amount of certain fat molecules called lipids in your blood. In most cases, the panel includes four different cholesterol measurements and a measurement of your triglycerides.

Having too many lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) in your blood can lead to buildup in your blood vessels and arteries, which can cause damage and increase your risk of cardiovascular problems. Because of this, healthcare providers use lipid panels for both children and adults to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction) and stroke.

Other common names for a lipid panel include:

• Lipid profile.

• Lipid test.

• Cholesterol panel.

• Coronary risk panel.

• Fasting lipid panel or non-fasting lipid panel.

What are the five tests in a lipid panel?

A lipid panel measures five different types of lipids from a blood sample, including:

• Total cholesterol: This is your overall cholesterol level — the combination of LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C.

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol: This is the type of cholesterol that’s known as “bad cholesterol.” It can collect in your blood vessels and increase your risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol: This is a type of cholesterol that’s usually present in very low amounts when the blood sample is a fasting samples since it’s mostly comes from food you’ve recently eaten. An increase in this type of cholesterol in a fasting sample may be a sign of abnormal lipid metabolism.

• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol: This is the type of cholesterol that’s known as “good cholesterol.” It helps decrease the buildup of LDL in your blood vessels.

• Triglycerides: This is a type of fat from the food we eat. Excess amounts of triglycerides in your blood are associated with cardiovascular disease and pancreatic inflammation.

While these are the main measurements in a standard lipid panel, some versions of the test may include other measurements.

What is a lipid panel used for?

Healthcare providers use lipid panels to help assess someone’s cardiovascular health by analyzing cholesterol in their blood and to help diagnose other health conditions.

Reasons a provider may order a lipid panel include:

• As a routine test to determine if your cholesterol level is normal or falls into a borderline-, intermediate- or high-risk category.

• To monitor your cholesterol level if you had abnormal results on a previous test or if you have other risk factors for heart disease.

• To monitor your body’s response to treatment, such as cholesterol medications or lifestyle changes.

• To help diagnose other medical conditions, such as liver disease.

Why do I need a lipid panel blood test?

There are several reasons why you may need a lipid panel blood test. Healthcare providers use lipid panels often for screen and monitoring purposes.

If you have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease, your provider may suggest frequent screening through the use of a lipid panel to try to catch elevated cholesterol levels before you have symptoms. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:

• Being over age 45 if you’re a man or you were assigned male at birth and over 50 if you’re a women or you were assigned female at birth.

• Having a high cholesterol result on a previous test.

• Smoking cigarettes.

• Having obesity.

• Not getting enough physical activity.

• Having high blood pressure (hypertension).

• Having diabetes or prediabetes.

• Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who developed heart disease at an early age (under 55 in males and under 65 in females).

Children can also have high cholesterol, so your child may need a lipid panel blood test. Cholesterol levels in children are linked to three factors: heredity, diet and obesity. In most cases, kids with high cholesterol have a parent who also has elevated cholesterol

Do I need to fast for a lipid panel?

In most cases, you need to fast for 10 to12 hours before your lipid panel blood test. Fasting means not eating or drinking anything except water. In some cases, getting a lipid panel test without fasting is possible.

In any case, it’s important to ask your healthcare provider in advance about whether you need to fast before the test. Always follow the instructions that your provider gives you. If your provider has instructed you to fast and you accidentally break the fast (eat), please let your provider know because the test is not as useful without fasting

Should I be concerned if I have abnormal lipid panel results?

If your lipid results reveal that you have high levels of total cholesterol, LDL and/or triglycerides and/or low levels of HDL, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a medical condition or need treatment.

A healthy cholesterol range for you may depend on many factors. Your healthcare provider will take into consideration the following factors when interpreting your lipid panel results:

• Your age.

• Your overall health.

• Your medical history.

• Your current medications.

• Other risk factors you may have for cardiovascular disease.

Many providers use a special risk calculator using these factors to determine if you need further tests or treatment. If you have questions about your results, don’t be afraid to talk to your provider.

What are the next steps if my lipid panel results are abnormal?

Since many factors contribute to cardiovascular disease and every person is unique, there’s no one single way to treat abnormal levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides.

If you have abnormal lipid panel results, your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of the following actions:

• Continued lipid monitoring.

• Lifestyle changes, such as changing your diet or starting an exercise routine.

• Starting a cholesterol-lowering medication.