One of the most common types of medical tests used today to determine if you are sick, experiencing trouble, if you aren't sick at all or to better pinpoint a current complaint or medical finding is a blood test referred to as a Complete Blood Count, or more often explained as, CBC, its acronym.

Humans couldn't survive without blood flowing from top to bottom within our bodies. Thus it makes perfect sense it is one of the first tests ordered by your doctor when determining diagnosis. A CBC blood test is often called out by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, which may be a bit of an overkill, but in actuality, it is a crucial step in being sure what's normal and what's wrong with you, at least, on the inside.

A CBC blood test can be prescribed by your physician simply when you are not feeling well, chronically tired, or even if you simply have the flu. You need not be inches from your death bed, nor completely sick to have CBC blood tests ordered.

Next time you have an appointment with your doctor, physician or alternative practitioner for your 12 Month check-up, if your doctor does not order a CBC Blood Test, you should ask he or she does. It is the cheapest, 'no brainer', maybe even life-saving thing you can do and should do at least once a year.

Your complete blood count test, or CBC is a representation of your internal (which fuels your exterior) health and if there's trouble, odds are, signs will be found within your blood and its makeup. There are exceptions to the case, but be on the safe side, anyways. A number of determining variables are examined in CBC Blood Tests: white and red blood cell counts or levels, the HCT (or Hematocrit, which basically is defined by the volume of space which your blood occupies), Hgb (or Hemoglobin that accounts for the oxygen within your blood cells), and platelet counts which makes it possible for your blood's ability to clot.

Too many of one or too few of another element of your blood, depending on those numbers can be a 'red-flag' that reveals to your medical staff what's really happening inside you. While the diagnosis variables can be vast and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least once per year, after visiting your physician can hand you answers to many questions about your overall health, that just an external examination, listening to your heart, checking your lungs and using a tongue depressor just can't do.

A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can give you specific reasons why you are fatigued, not feeling 'normal', bruising more often than normal, having chest pains, have a virus, are having adverse reactions, plus a mountain of other possibilities. But, perhaps even more vital, such blood tests allow you the possibly life-saving, time stretching benefit of detecting early alerts and signs of perhaps debilitating and life threatening trouble if allowed to grow. Make a note now for both yourself and those you love to consistently (at least once a year) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. It may save your life and theirs, but even if nothing is terribly wrong, it is an easy way to increase the quality of your life.

A contributing author of the independently operated an up and coming healthy living tips web site, Bradley Kohn, strives to contribute with his readers the essentials of eating healthy on a budget and its impact on your quality of life.