Less Blood Diseases | Anemia

Disease Anemia

Anemia or anemia disease describes the condition in which the number of red blood cells in the blood is low. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe someone affected by anemia have low blood counts. A person suffering from anemia called anemia. Blood consists of two parts, a liquid called plasma and cellular parts. Cellular part contains several different cell types. One of the most important and most abundant, most types of cells are red blood cells. Other types of cells are white blood cells and platelets. Only the red blood cells are discussed in this article. The purpose of the red blood cell is to deliver oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.

Red blood cells are produced through a series of complicated steps and specific. They are made in the bone marrow (the inside of some of the bone that makes up most of the cells in the blood), and when all the right steps in the maturation of a perfect, they are released into the bloodstream.

Hemoglobin molecule is the functional unit of red blood cells and is a complex protein structure that is in the red blood cells. Unlike most cells in the human body, red blood cells have no nucleus (center of cell metabolism). Though red blood cells made ​​in the bone marrow, many other factors involved in their production. For example, iron is an essential component of the hemoglobin molecule, erythropoietin, a molecule that is excreted by the kidneys, promotes the formation of red blood cells in the bone marrow.

About Disease Anemia

Here are some key points summarize about anemia and red blood cells:

• Have the correct number of red blood cells and prevent anemia requires cooperation between the kidney, bone marrow, and nutrients in the body. If the kidney or bone marrow does not function or the body malnourished, the normal red blood cell numbers and function may be difficult to maintain.

• Anemia is actually a sign of the disease rather than the disease itself. It is usually classified as acute or chronic. Chronic Anemia occurs over an extended period of time. Acute Anemia occurs quickly. Determine whether anemia has been present for a long time or if it is something new, assist physicians in finding the cause. It also helps predict how severe the symptoms of anemia. In chronic anemia, symptoms usually start slowly and progress gradually, whereas in acute anemia symptoms can be sudden and more miserable.

• Red blood cells live about 100 days, so that the body is always trying to replace them. In adults, the production of red blood cells occurs in the bone marrow. Doctors are trying to determine whether red blood cell count is low due to the increased blood loss of red blood cells or a decrease in their production of the bone marrow. Knowing whether the number of white blood cells and / or platelets have changed also help determine the cause of the anemia.

• In the United States, 2% to 10% of people suffer from anemia. Other countries have higher rates of anemia. Young women are twice as likely to have anemia than young men due to irregular menstrual bleeding. Anemia occurs in both the young and the elderly, but anemia in older people more likely to cause more severe symptoms because they usually have additional medical problems to another.

Type of Anemia

In general, there are three types of anemia, classified according to the size of red blood cells:

1. If red blood cells are smaller than normal, this is called microcytic anemia. The main cause of this type is iron deficiency (low levels of iron) anemia and thalassemia (inherited disorders of hemoglobin).
2. If the blood is red blood cell size is normal in size (but the numbers are low), this is called normocytic anemia, such as anemia that accompanies chronic disease or anemia associated with kidney disease.
3. If red blood cells larger than normal, it is called macrocytic anemia. The main cause of this type is pernicious anemia and anemia associated with alcoholism.