Health Blurbs

Blood is like a delivery and garbage truck all in one vessel.  It delivers vital oxygen, nutrients and infection fighters.  Then grabs the garbage on its way out.

Your blood is in the life of sustaining business of delivery and take away.  Any disease, disorder or condition that affects the quality or quantity of your blood causes delay and buildup. Both of which can result in cell death.

The components of your blood consist of:

• plasma
• platelets
• red blood cells
• white blood cells

These blood cells are largely manufactured in the bone marrow.

Plasma is predominantly water, with a nutrient, protein, hormone and waste product mixture making up about 10% of its total.  The remaining components of blood are suspended in this plasma for transport.

The contributions these specialized suspended cells in your blood’s delivery and take away business are:

• red blood cells deliver oxygen
• white blood cells fight your infections
• platelets plug the holes in your highway of arteries & veins

Most of the time your blood can smoothly carry on its delivery and take away business despite minor disruptions.   However, there are a few blood diseases, disorders and conditions that impact your red, white or platelet cells that may require treatment intervention.

The largest number of cells in your body are of the red blood type, average life span of about 4 months. The most common disease involving red blood cells is anemia.

Anemia is typically caused by a disorder resulting from either skimpy production or excessive destruction of red blood cells.  Anemia as a consequence of not enough red blood cell production due to:

• iron deficiency
• aplastic anemia
  
• vitamin B12 deficiency
• chronic disease ~ cancer, HIV
• lead poisoning ~ often from paint
• kidney disease ~ interferes with erythropoietin, production stimulating hormone

Anemia as an aftermath from rapid red blood cell destruction caused by:

• G6PD deficiency
• sickle cell anemia
• hereditary spherocytosis
• autoimmune hemolytic anemia

White blood cells, aka leukocytes, are your body’s key defenders against infection, moving in and out of your bloodstream to reach tissue combat zones in tissues.

There are several types of these guardians to challenge bacteria, viruses, toxins or even cancer.  White blood diseases entail:

• leukemias
• neutropenia ~ certain cancer treating chemotherapy drugs may cause its develop
• human immunodeficiency virus ~ attacks certain types of lymphocytes that can result in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

When a blood vessel breaks, platelets gather in the area to temporarily seal off or slow down leaks. Clotting factors arrive on the scene to produce a strong, stable clots.

Platelets and clotting factors work together to form solid lumps to stop your bleeding.  But if a single component of this synchronism is missing, a sufficient blood stopping seal may not be created.

Disorders of platelets constitute:

• idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
• thrombocytopenia ~ abnormal bruising or bleeding

Blood clotting disorders include common bleeding disorders and other clotting problems, such as:

• hemophilia
• vitamin K deficiency
• chronic liver disease
• von Willebrand disease

The billions of cells forming your body depends on your blood to conduct a steady business of delivery and take away for its health.  Help keep your blood optimally flowing through proper diet and exercise.

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