A commonly prescribed medical test used these days to determine if you are sick, having difficulties, healthy or to better pinpoint a current complaint or medical finding is a blood test known as a Complete Blood Count Test, or more commonly, CBC, its acronym.

You and I couldn't carry on without blood flowing head to toes within our bodies. It, makes perfect sense it is one of the first places to look when figuring out diagnosis. A CBC blood test is often requested by doctors in t.v. dramas these days, which may be a bit of an overkill, but in reality, it is a crucial step in understanding what is normal and what is abnormal with you, at least, on the inside.

CBC blood tests may be prescribed by your physician simply when you're are under the weather, always tired, or even when you simply have the flu. You don't have to be in the jaws of death, nor lying in an emergency room bay to have CBC blood tests ordered.

But, that said, every year when you visit your doctor, physician or alternative practitioner for your yearly physical, if your doctor doesn't order a CBC Blood Test, you should ask for one. It is the cheapest, most simple, maybe even life-saving act you can do and definitely should do at least once a year.

Your complete blood count test is a representation of your overall health and if there's trouble, odds are, great clues will be found within your blood and its makeup. There are exceptions to the case, but be on the safe side, anyways. Many determining factors are researched 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 inside your blood cells), and platelet counts which allows your blood's ability to clot.

Too many of one or too few of another ingredient of your blood, depending on what numbers reveal themselves can be a 'red-flag' that alerts your medical team what is really going on. While the diagnosis variations can be vast and cover a wide spectrum, having your CBC Blood Test at least once per year, after visiting your physician can provide you answers to most questions about your overall health, that just an external examination, listening to your heart, checking your breathing and using a tongue depressor just can't do.

A CBC (Complete Blood Count) Test (or Tests) can provide you exact answers to why you're tired, not feeling 'normal', showing bruising for 'no reason', having chest discomfort, have an infection, are having adverse reactions, plus a truck load of other potential issues. But, perhaps even more important, these blood tests allow you the potentially life-saving, life stretching benefit of catching early warning signs of potentially debilitating and life threatening trouble if allowed to grow. Make a note now for you and those you love to consistently (at least annually) take part in a CBC Blood Test or Complete Blood Count Tests. Sure, may save your life and theirs, but even if nothing is terribly wrong, it's an easy method to boost the quality of your life.