On average, about four to six liters of blood flow through our veins. It repels invading foreign bodies, provides us with nutrients and ensures faster wound healing.
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In addition, it is considered an important indicator in finding diseases.
Our blood is responsible for providing vital nutrients and oxygen to our bodies. In addition, it regulates our body temperature, which is between 35.8 ° C and 37.2 ° C in a healthy condition. But our blood also has another important function: It can provide information about our state of health, which would remain hidden from the naked eye - even that of a doctor - for nothing.
Blood as an indicator
Our blood is an important indicator. When taking a blood sample, a small amount of blood is taken, which is examined in a special laboratory. Thus, health problems can be detected early and treated specifically and effectively.
The most important components of the blood
The red and white blood cells, as well as the platelets and the blood plasma are among the most important components of the blood. The red blood cells (medical: erythrocytes) consist of the blood pigment hemoglobin. Their task is to take in oxygen in the lungs and then transport the blood to all the organs, the brain and the muscles.
The function of white blood cells (medical: leukocytes) is to fight viruses and bacteria.
The platelets (medicated: platelets) ensure that at a wound, or injury immediately seal.
The blood plasma contains nutrients, vitamins, minerals, hormones and coagulants.
The blood picture
Our blood is like a fingerprint: it is unique. However, there are always patterns that can be identified again and again. In a healthy person, the blood components that have been examined are within certain normal levels. If these values deviate from the norm, this is an indicator for the doctor that deficiency symptoms or a disease are present.
There is both the small and the big blood picture. With the small blood picture, the solid components (red blood cells, the number of platelets of the blood and the dye hemoglobin) can be checked. The large blood picture provides information about the state of the immune system and about the white blood cells.
The blood sedimentation
Blood sedimentation helps determine if there is inflammation in the body. For blood sediment, the doctor takes blood and put it in a tube. After about an hour it is then measured how many blood cells have settled. The faster the blood cells settle, the sooner this is a sign that an inflammatory process is taking place in the patient's body. It is important for the doctor to know if the birth control pill is being taken or if the patient is eating large amounts of foods that contain a lot of cholesterol (for example, French fries, hamburgers, etc.), as these factors cause the blood cells to fall faster. If the patient takes cortisone or certain rheumatics, the blood cells may decrease more slowly. In fact, a blood test alone is not enough to diagnose, but it is very important to check and monitor processes that take place in the body.
The blood donation
If there is a major surgery that can lead to massive blood loss, it is recommended that you donate your own blood. This is particularly useful because, on the one hand, the transmission of diseases such as HIV and hepatitis can be ruled out and, on the other hand, because no blood group incompatibilities can arise. Important: At least four to six before a surgical procedure must start the autologous blood donation. For example, 1.2 liters of blood can be withdrawn and preserved up to four times every week. Subsequently, iron tablets must be taken so that the formation of blood is accelerated.
