Polycythemia is an increase in the circulating red blood blood cell count or a higher than normal concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. In the true sense of the word, polycythemia is not a high level of hemoglobin on its own but a consequence of either an elevated red blood cell count or low plasma levels. Polycythemia >> Read More ...
What is anemia? Anemia is a deficiency of circulating red blood cells or low hemoglobin levels. There are number of different types of anemia and this term may encompass a number of defects in size, shape, structure and quantity of red blood cells in the blood. Irrespective of the type of anemia, the oxygen-carrying >> Read More ...
The average male adult has just over 5 million red blood cells per cubic millimeter (microliter) while adult females have over 4.5 million red blood cells per microliter. This quantity of red blood cells may vary for a number of reasons – both physiological and pathological. While the body can cope with a slight >> Read More ...
Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are the most abundant cells in the bloodstream and contains hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen through the body. While hemoglobin can occur in a free state in some animals, in the human body it has to be contained within a cell – the red blood cell. Any disruption of the >> Read More ...
Lipids are substances that are insoluble or poorly soluble in water. This means that it cannot dissolve in water. Lipids as a group comprises fats, oils and waxes. Apart from being produced in the body, lipids are an essential component of the human diet as it is needed for a number of purposes to maintain health >> Read More ...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance known as a sterol that is manufactured primarily by the liver or to a lesser extent by other cells in the body (endogenous cholesterol) and is also absorbed from food in the gut (exogenous cholesterol). Cholesterol does not contain fatty acids but since it is made from fatty acid molecules, >> Read More ...
What is Acute Limb Ischemia? A blood clot in a vessel (thrombus or embolus) of the limbs (upper ~ arm, forearm and hand, lower ~ thigh, leg, feet) starves the area of oxygen (hypoxia) and leads to tissue damage (ischemia).This is known as acute limb ischemia. It should always be taken seriously as a blood clot at this site >> Read More ...
A thrombus is a blood clot that forms inside a blood vessel. It may be temporary and can be dissolved but there is the risk of it growing further and occluding a vessel. The process of thrombus development and growth is known as thrombosis and over time it can impair blood flow which in turn affects oxygen supply to a part >> Read More ...
JRush Asked : I am having a C-section in about 7 weeks and was considering stem cell banking for my baby. I have not spoken to my obstetrician as yet but after discussing it with many of my friends who turned down the option, I am in two minds about it. I have heard that new technology means that cells can be turned into >> Read More ...
Multiple myeloma treatment is a highly complicated issue. Not only is the procedure cumbersome, but with each option there are a significant number of pro’s and con’s attached. Understanding the significance is perhaps the last thing on the mind of the affected person due to the life-threatening nature of the >> Read More ...
