Arterial blood gas test
An arterial blood gas test is when a doctor or nurse takes a little bit of blood from a person's artery to check their breathing and overall health. Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and they have really important information about how much oxygen and carbon dioxide is in a person's blood.
When a person breathes in, they take in oxygen which their body needs to make energy. When they breathe out, they get rid of carbon dioxide which their body doesn't need. The arterial blood gas test tells the doctors or nurses how well someone is getting oxygen into their body and how well their body is getting rid of carbon dioxide.
People might need this test if they have trouble breathing, if they have a lung disease, if they are sick, or if they are getting certain treatments. It might be a little bit uncomfortable to have blood taken from an artery, but it is an important test that can help doctors take care of people and make sure they are healthy.
When a person breathes in, they take in oxygen which their body needs to make energy. When they breathe out, they get rid of carbon dioxide which their body doesn't need. The arterial blood gas test tells the doctors or nurses how well someone is getting oxygen into their body and how well their body is getting rid of carbon dioxide.
People might need this test if they have trouble breathing, if they have a lung disease, if they are sick, or if they are getting certain treatments. It might be a little bit uncomfortable to have blood taken from an artery, but it is an important test that can help doctors take care of people and make sure they are healthy.
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