If you've had thyroid testing, you may see T3 listed alongside TSH and Free T4. But what is T3? What do high and low T3 levels mean? And when is a T3 test useful? Here's a simple explanation. What Is T3? T3 stands for triiodothyronine, one of the main hormones produced by the thyroid gland. T3 is an important thyroid hormone involved in regulating your body's metabolism, energy use, heart rate and other functions. Although the thyroid produces T3 directly, much of the body's

If you've had thyroid testing, you may see Free T4 (FT4) listed alongside TSH. But what is Free T4? What does a high or low result mean? And why is it usually interpreted together with TSH? Here's a simple explanation. What Is T4? T4, or thyroxine, is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It plays an important role in regulating your body's metabolism and many other functions. Most T4 in your blood is attached to proteins. The portion that is not attached is called Free T4

If you've had a thyroid blood test, one of the first numbers you may see is TSH. But what does TSH mean? What can a high or low TSH level indicate? And why is TSH commonly tested when checking thyroid function? Here's a simple explanation. What Is TSH? TSH stands for Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland and helps regulate the thyroid gland. The thyroid produces hormones that affect many processes in the body, including metabolism, heart rate and

If your doctor has ordered an iron blood test, you may see several different numbers on the report, including serum iron, TIBC, transferrin and transferrin saturation. What do these numbers mean, and how are they connected to iron deficiency? Here's a simple guide. What Is an Iron Blood Test? An iron panel, sometimes called iron studies, can include several measurements that help assess how iron is being transported and stored in your body. Common measurements include: * Seru

Folate is an important B vitamin that your body needs to make healthy red blood cells and produce DNA. If your blood test shows low folate, you may wonder what it means, what causes it, and how it relates to anemia. Here's a simple explanation. What Is Folate? Folate is vitamin B9, a nutrient involved in: * Producing healthy red blood cells * Making and repairing DNA * Cell division * Normal growth and development Folate is naturally found in foods such as leafy green vegetab

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps your body produce healthy red blood cells and supports the nervous system. If your blood test shows a low vitamin B12 level, you may wonder what it means and whether you should be concerned. Here's a simple guide. What Is Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin involved in several important functions, including: * Red blood cell production * Normal nerve function * DNA production * Energy metabolism Your body cannot mak

If you've had a CBC blood test, you may have noticed a result called RDW. But what does RDW mean? Is high RDW a sign of anemia? And what does it mean when your RDW is normal? Here's a simple explanation. What Is RDW? RDW stands for Red Cell Distribution Width. It describes the variation in the size of your red blood cells. Your red blood cells are not necessarily all exactly the same size. RDW helps your healthcare professional understand how much their sizes vary. It is one

If you've received a CBC blood test, you may have noticed a result called MCH. So what does MCH mean? What does low or high MCH indicate? And how is it connected to anemia and iron deficiency? Let's make it simple. What Is MCH? MCH stands for Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin. It measures the average amount of hemoglobin contained in each red blood cell. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. MCH is one of several measurements include

If you've received a CBC blood test, you may have noticed a number called MCV on your report. But what does MCV mean? What does a low or high MCV indicate? And why is it useful when understanding anemia? Here's a simple explanation. What Is MCV? MCV stands for Mean Corpuscular Volume. It measures the average size of your red blood cells. MCV is one of the measurements included in a Complete Blood Count (CBC) and is particularly useful when doctors are evaluating different typ

If your blood test shows low ferritin, it may be a sign that your body's iron stores are running low. But what exactly does ferritin measure? Is low ferritin the same as anemia? And what should you do next? Let's break it down. What Is Ferritin? Ferritin is a protein that stores iron in your body. A ferritin blood test gives an indication of how much iron your body has stored. Unlike hemoglobin, which helps carry oxygen through your blood, ferritin is mainly used to understan

Iron deficiency and anemia are often used as if they mean the same thing. They don't. You may have seen a blood test showing: Low hemoglobin. Or perhaps your doctor mentioned: Low iron. Maybe you searched online and discovered the term iron deficiency anemia. So what's the difference? Understanding the distinction can help you have a more informed conversation with your healthcare professional. What is iron deficiency? Iron deficiency means your body doesn't have enough iron.

Your hemoglobin level is more than just another number on your blood test. If you've recently received a CBC blood test, you may have noticed a result labelled: Hemoglobin - Hb You may also have seen it written as Hgb. But what does hemoglobin actually do? And what does it mean if your hemoglobin is low or high? Let's break it down. What is hemoglobin? Hemoglobin is a protein found inside red blood cells. Its primary role is to carry oxygen from your lungs to tissues througho

Your blood test report may contain dozens of numbers. But what are they actually telling you? If you've ever received a laboratory report containing terms such as haemoglobin, RBC, WBC, platelets, MCV and MCH, you've probably wondered where to begin. That's where a CBC blood test comes in. CBC stands for Complete Blood Count. It is one of the most commonly performed blood tests and provides information about several types of cells in your blood, including red blood cells, whi

120/80. 130/80. 145/95. You have probably seen numbers like these on a blood pressure monitor. But do you know what they actually mean? Blood pressure is one of the simplest health measurements to take - yet many people don't fully understand their own readings. And because high blood pressure often has no obvious warning signs, knowing your numbers matters. The CDC notes that measuring blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure. What do the t

You received your blood test results. There it is: HbA1c. Maybe it's 5.6%. Maybe it's 6.2%. Maybe it's 7.1%. But what does that number actually mean? The HbA1c test, also called the A1C or glycated haemoglobin test, is one of the commonly used tests for assessing blood sugar. Unlike a blood glucose reading that shows what your blood sugar looks like at a particular moment, HbA1c reflects your average blood glucose over approximately the previous three months. That makes HbA1c