Hey friends 👋

Have you ever opened your blood test report and felt like it was written in alien language? I've been there. I used to stare at those long rows of numbers, red flags, and abbreviations thinking, "Okay… am I dying or just dehydrated?" 😂

If you've felt that way too, don't worry. Today I want to break it all down, super simply, based on what I learned after getting curious about my own results. Ready? Let's decode it together 🩸💪

🩸 What is a CBC?

CBC stands for Complete Blood Count. It's one of the most common tests and gives a general idea of your overall health. It looks at things like red and white blood cells, hemoglobin, and platelets. Sounds complicated, but don't worry—I'll explain each part below.

🧱 White Blood Cells (WBC)

WBCs fight infections. If your number is high, your body might be fighting off a cold, inflammation, or even stress. If it's low, it could mean your immune system is a bit down or you might be recovering from something.

✅ Normal range: 4.0 to 10.0 x 10⁹/L

❤️ Red Blood Cells (RBC)

RBCs carry oxygen around your body. Too low? You might feel tired or dizzy. Too high? It could be due to dehydration or other health issues.

✅ Normal range (for women): 3.8 to 5.1 x 10¹²/L

✅ (for men): 4.3 to 5.7 x 10¹²/L

🫁 Hemoglobin (HGB)

This one is key for oxygen delivery. Low hemoglobin usually means anemia, which can make you feel weak or chilly all the time (been there!). Hydration, iron intake, or period can affect this too.

✅ Normal range (women): 120–150 g/L

✅ (men): 130–170 g/L

🩹 Platelets (PLT)

These help with blood clotting. Too low, and you may bruise easily. Too high could mean inflammation or other conditions. Mine was once flagged high during allergy season—who knew!?

✅ Normal range: 150–400 x 10⁹/L

🧩 Other terms you might see

• MCV (size of red cells): helps tell what type of anemia, if any

• MCH / MCHC: amount of hemoglobin in red cells

• HCT: percentage of blood made up of red cells

Honestly, I used to panic when anything was a little out of range. But your doctor looks at the whole picture, not just one number. Small fluctuations can be totally normal.

💬 Let's chat

Have you ever gotten a scary-looking report and googled yourself into full panic mode? 😅 I've done that too many times. Let me know if you want help with any specific part of your report—I'd love to keep this simple and judgment-free 💛

Hope this helped you feel a little more confident the next time your results come in! 💬👇