Seeing “abnormal” on your test results or in your medical chart is stressful for most people. But the word itself doesn’t tell you if something is wrong. In medicine, “abnormal” just means different from most people. It can be a good or bad difference. Or it can just be different.
This article breaks down the times when something abnormal is neutral, good, bad, or unclear. It also covers how to find out what your abnormal result means and next steps.
What "Abnormal Findings" Means
You might see “abnormal findings” in your medical chart. Findings refer to something on a test result, imaging, or that your doctor found on exam. Usually you’ll see something like “abnormal findings on exam” or “abnormal findings on imaging.” This means that the physical exam or imaging found something different from other people.
Is Abnormal a Positive Result?
An abnormal result can sometimes also be positive, but not always. Positive and negative are used when a test asks a specific question, like “do I have COVID?” If I have it, the test is positive. And since people usually don’t have COVID, you could also call my result abnormal.
When Something Abnormal is Neutral or Okay
We’re all a bit different from other people. You might have longer fingers than most people. Or maybe you’re more flexible. The same is true when you look inside the body. Some people have a blood vessel that starts in a different place than most people. It doesn’t mean anything’s wrong. They’re just different.
A personal example is that my white blood cells are usually low. Don’t worry, I’m healthy and my immune system is protecting me. I had to do some other tests to make sure everything was okay. It turns out my body is just a bit different. This means I get an alert on blood tests sometimes. And my doctor might write that I have an “abnormally low white blood cell count.”
→ Learn more about why abnormal lab results don’t always mean something’s wrong
When Something Abnormal is Good
Sometimes it’s good to be different. A basketball player’s height is abnormal. They’re taller than most people, helping them make shots and defend against other tall players. A professional basketball player will also have an abnormally low heart rate. You might have a lower heart rate too if you do a lot of cardio workouts. The low heart rate means their heart is better at pumping.
When Something Abnormal is Bad
You’re probably most familiar with something abnormal being bad. That’s because something is always abnormal if you’re sick. That’s why it can be so stressful when you read “abnormal” in your medical chart.
The one that most people think of is cancer. Cancer is caused by abnormal cells that are found on medical tests. But it might take more tests to know for sure what an abnormal result means (more on that in the next section).
When It's Unclear
It may take more tests or other doctors to figure out what an abnormal finding means. That’s because every test is understood based on what’s going on and the rest of your health. Even imaging isn’t 100% certain. The doctor who reads the image (called a radiologist) needs to know what’s going on and your health to read it.
For example, something can look like cancer on imaging but then be okay. A biopsy, where a doctor takes a small piece of tissue to look at, comes with more risks than imaging. That’s why doctors will start with images and blood tests to get as much information as possible first.
Other times something can look okay but then more tests reveal a problem. That’s why it’s important to always ask when you should come back to the doctor. Medical tests aren’t perfect, and you might notice something before tests can pick it up. This is why you might need to go to the doctor more than once for a problem.
Should I Be Worried about Something Abnormal?
You don’t need to worry about every abnormal result, since abnormal doesn’t tell you if it’s good or bad. But that’s also why it can be scary. The possibility of it being bad would make anyone worry.
Your worry comes from a good place – you want to take care of your health. But sometimes that worry can get out of control. When this happens, they can fall into one of two common traps: avoiding it or obsessing about it. Both can be bad for your health. If you avoid it and something is wrong, you might delay getting tests or treatments that you need. If you obsess about it and nothing’s wrong, the stress can make it hard to sleep and think. It’s also hard on your body. Some people end up pushing for more tests to deal with not knowing. But more tests come with their own risks and may not get rid of the anxiety.
So, how do you avoid those traps and still take care of your health?
A good place to start is to contact the medical team that either wrote about abnormal findings or told you to get the test. They should tell you:
- What the abnormal finding or result means for you
- Whether something might be wrong
- If you need more tests
- When to be concerned
If they don’t, you can ask them. It’s reasonable and important that you understand what’s going on with your body. Some ways to ask for the information you need:
- Why should I not be worried about this?
- What does this mean for my health?
- What are the next steps?
- What should I watch out for?
If you got the test because you felt sick, tell your medical team how you feel. It’s helpful to share if you feel the same, better, or worse. And tell them if anything is new.
There are times when there’s no clear answer. We’re still learning about the human body and can’t always explain why someone doesn’t feel well. But doctors can and should share what they know, what they don’t think is going on, and when to be worried.
Finally, tell your medical team or find someone to talk to if you’re still worried. You can talk to a trusted friend or family member, therapist, or faith leader. You don’t have to deal with this alone.
