What is cyanosis? Cyanosis is the medical term for a blue to purple discoloration of the skin which arises from deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood stream. It may also be seen on the mucous membranes, especially of the mouth, tongue and eyes. Cyanosis is a sign of low oxygen levels in the blood (hypoxemia). It occurs when >> Read More ...
Polycythemia is due to an excess of red blood cells. This is known as true polycythemia and occurs when some pathology triggers the excessive production of red blood cells. True polycythemia leads to an elevated red blood cell count. Relative polycythemia or apparent polycythemia is where the total red blood cell count is >> Read More ...
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 ...
KerryTR73 Asked : After weeks of feeling weak and tired and a couple of fainting spells, I discovered that I am severely anemic. I used to have anemia when I was in my teens and twenties but this stopped after having 2 kids and going on the injection. My doctor now tells me that he wants to do an endoscope and colon check >> Read More ...
Blood iron disorders involve either the excess, deficiency or abnormal utilization of iron in the blood. In most cases this affects the blood and tissue oxygenation as the red blood cells are responsible for gas exchange between the blood and environment. Red blood cells contain an iron-protein (metalloprotein) compound >> Read More ...
