What are red blood cells used for? Do they exist to keep white blood cell counts and their abilities in check? Read on to give you the most important information.
Did you ever learn about the role of red blood cells, which are crucial for numerous bodily processes? What medical conditions could it be impacted by? We will give you many details on this topic in the following article:
What is the function of red blood cells?
It is well known that red blood cells' main job is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues and release carbon dioxide into the lungs for exhalation and elimination by the person.
Red blood cells play a crucial role in delivering oxygen to the rest of the body because cells need oxygen to produce energy.
Where are red blood cells made? And what does it look like?
Red blood cells serve a purpose, so it only makes sense that you'd want to know where they're made. "And how does it appear?" The answer is: Red blood cells are often made in soft bone tissue called bone marrow, and then travel after they are matured into the bloodstream. Usually, this process takes seven days.
They are red in colour due to the protein that enables them to transport oxygen from the lungs to other body tissues, and they are frequently shaped like a flat, round disc with a gap in the middle. Unlike white blood cells, which contain nuclei, red blood cells do not, which gives them the ability to change shape and move around the body with ease.
What is the number of red blood cells?
Usually women's red blood cells are lower compared to men, with the caveat that the levels of red blood cells tend to decrease with age, and in general the number of red blood cells is as follows:
- Men: 4.7 - 6.1 million cells per microliter.
- Women: 4.2 - 5.4 million cells per microliter.
- Children: 4 - 5.5 million cells per microliter.
What are the causes of low or high red blood cells?
Learn the details:
1. Causes of low red blood cells
Which:
- Vitamin B9 or B12 deficiency.
- Malnutrition.
- Hemolysis.
- Bone marrow failure.
- Chemotherapy.
2. Causes of high red blood cells
They include:
- smoking.
- Heart or lung disease.
- Living at high altitudes.
- Take anabolic steroids.
What medical conditions affect red blood cells?
The most prevalent of the numerous medical conditions that can cause an increase or decrease in red blood cells are as follows:
1. Factors that cause red blood cells to function less effectively
They include:
- Anemia is a condition where the blood is unable to carry enough oxygen, resulting in a feeling of coldness, fatigue, and weakness.
- Blood loss: More blood is lost in this situation than the body is able to produce.
- Bone marrow disorder: Leukemia or lymphoma caused by damage to the bone marrow.
- Cancer: It is common for some cancers and their treatments to have an impact on the body's production of red blood cells.
2. Factors that increase red blood cells' capacity for function
It is as follows:
- The condition known as polycythemia vera causes an increase in red blood cells, which raises blood viscosity and raises the risk of heart attack and stroke.
- Congenital heart disease: The irregular heart structure may result from the heart not being fully formed during the foetus' development, which causes an increase in red blood cells.
- Emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pulmonary fibrosis can all cause lung tissue to scar.
- other illnesses, such as: carbon monoxide hypoxia Kidney disorders.
What are the symptoms of conditions affecting red blood cells?
These include:
- Fatigue.
- hard breathing.
- muscle weakness
- lack of energy
- pale skin
- Headache .
- Vertigo.
- blurry vision
- Cold hands and feet.
- Sleep disorders.
Are there tips to maintain the function of red blood cells?
Yes, we will provide you with a variety of advice to keep your red blood cells functioning, such as:
- It is recommended to consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals like iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12. The following foods are the most popular sources of these nutrients: beef - red. fish. Veggies with leaves. beans and lentils. dried berries and nuts.
- To perform the required tests, check the red blood cell counts, and make sure there are no medical issues affecting them, it is preferable to consult a doctor.
- The doctor can prescribe some medications to treat chronic diseases and conditions that affect red blood cells, so it is advised to adhere to his instructions.
- Regular exercise is recommended , in order to help the body consume more oxygen and maintain the function and number of red blood cells.