Blood Disorders

The oat is a cereal plant that is both extremely nutritious and useful therapeutically. Oats are one of the best sources of inositol, which is important for maintaining blood cholesterol levels. ...

Magnesium gluconate is a dietary supplement taken to balance the level of magnesium in the bloodstream. Imbalances in magnesium levels can cause fatigue, lack of focus and loss of muscle control.

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body does not produce enough iron, causing the body to make smaller and fewer red blood cells. Hemoglobin is a part of the red blood cell and carries oxygen...

Joint pain can range in severity and cause misery to those affected. Joint pain can be caused by medical conditions or injuries or may be a regular part of aging.

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, most commonly the legs. Certain circumstances increase your risk of a blood clot. Weight-loss and any other...

The spleen is an organ that often goes unnoticed by the average person. While it serves an important role in the body's function, it is not critical to survival in the manner of the heart or lungs.

Heparin is a prescription injectable medication used to prevent blood clots, which are potentially fatal if allowed to reach your brain, lungs or heart. While heparin poses a risk for serious side...

Calcium buildup in the blood vessels can be extremely harmful to one's health. An overproduction of calcium plaque can slowly accumulate in the arterial walls, cutting off oxygen and blood from...

Low blood oxygen level, also called hypoxemia, is a potentially life-threatening condition. Blood carries oxygen throughout the body, and the body needs this oxygen to function properly. Call your...

High platelet counts within the blood are a medical condition that is commonly known as thrombocytosis, or reactive thrombocytosis. Platelets are also known as thrombocytes. Platelets are actively...

Heparin is a drug and a heterogeneous group of straight-chain anionic mucopolysaccharides that are referred to as glycosaminoglycans, according to RxList. Heparin is used to treat and prevent...

Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder depicted by sickle (crescent) shaped red blood cells (normally disc shaped). Red blood cells that are sickle shaped are more fragile and less flexible than...

Anemia is a blood disorder in which a person has very low levels of red blood cells. Anemia often occurs when there is not enough hemoglobin present in the red blood cells. Having anemia means you...

Iron deficiency anemia is an extremely common medical disorder involving nearly a quarter of all premenopausal women. The typical causes of iron deficiency anemia include inadequate iron...

Sickle cell disease, also called sickle cell anemia, is an inherited blood disorder present at birth. Millions of people worldwide have the disease, including about 72,000 people in the United...

Anemia is a health condition in which the amounts of red blood cells in the body are below normal. Extrinsic hemolytic anemia is a form of anemia that affects the spleen.

Thalassemia and sickle cell are genetic disorders. Thalassemia is the result of an imbalance in the two globin chains that produce the hemoglobin molecule. In sickle cell, a mutation of the genes...

Blood poisoning is the effect of bacteria in the blood, usually referred to as "sepsis" in the medical field. According to the Mayo Clinic, the term "blood poisoning" is a misnomer. When a person...

Hyperbilirubinemia is a condition, seen most often in newborns, in which excessive amounts of bilirubin are present in the blood. Bilirubin is formed during the breakdown of red blood cells....

An antibody titer is a method of determining the presence and strength of antibodies in the blood. A doctor removes a small amount of blood from a patient, which is then analyzed externally for...

Acidosis is an abnormally high concentration of acid in the blood and body tissues. It is a dangerous condition that when left untreated can cause the death of the patient.

Blood platelets are blood cells that help your blood clot and are important protection against excessive bleeding. Donating blood platelets helps patients with a variety of medical conditions,...

Iron-deficient anemia in men is rare and can often go undiagnosed for long periods of time. If you are a man who has recently experienced any type of blood loss (including hemorrhoids and ulcers)...

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) refers to a group of related diseases of the bone marrow. The objective of chemotherapy for MDS is to slow its progression rather than actually cure the condition.

Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a disorder that involves inheriting a shortage of the pyruvate kinase enzyme, which is used by red blood cells. Without this enzyme, red blood cells disintegrate...

Thrombocytopenia refers to a low count of blood platelets (thrombocytes). Platelets are important for blood clotting and stopping blood loss. Symptoms of thrombocytopenia range from mild to...

Blood plasma is the yellowish liquid component of blood in which blood cells are normally suspended. It makes up about 55 percent of the blood by volume and is composed primarily of water and...

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the arm has many causes. Early intervention and treatment is key to preventing the development of more dangerous conditions.

An elevated level of potassium in the blood (hyperkalemia) is usually a minor condition that's easily treated. Severe cases of hyperkalemia may indicate a serious underlying condition such as...

Sickle cell disease, also known as sickle cell anemia, is an inherited blood disorder present at birth. Characterized by defective hemoglobin, the disease has the highest incidence in people of...

A blood clot that forms in a blood vessel is called venous thrombosis. Thrombosis frequently occurs in the arms and legs, including thighs, calves and ankles.

Beta-hemolytic streptococci are a type of streptococci, a genus of spherical bacteria that is characterized as lactic acid bacteria. They are divided into several groups that cause different...

Blood tests reveal many different things. They can tell a doctor if you are anemic, if you are taking drugs, or if you have a particular ailment. Blood tests are an integral part of a person's...

The blood has several gases dissolved in it which the body normally maintains within a narrow range of concentration. An arterial blood gas (ABG) is a common test that measures the levels of these...

Thalassemia symptoms emerge along a spectrum of severity and intensity based on the nature of the genetic coding of the disease for the individuals. Carriers of the genetic disease may show little...

The circulatory system functioning well is vital to health. Without arteries carrying oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, organs and tissues cannot thrive. The circulatory system is made up...

Leukemia comes from the Greek word meaning "white blood". It is a combination of several conditions that affect the immature blood forming cells in the bone marrow. It also makes the body...

Clotting is a natural response by the body that helps prevent excessive blood loss from injuries. However, when there is too much of the clotting protein fibrin, blood clots can occur. Blood clots...

Rheumatoid factors are auto-antibodies produced by your immune system that attack healthy tissue in the body. Rheumatoid factor is most associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune...

Thrombocytopenia is a term used to describe a condition in which an individual has a lower than normal platelet count in the blood. Thrombocytopenia is not a disease or infection, but rather a...

A comprehensive blood count---more commonly known as a complete blood count, or CBC---is a blood test used to determine the amounts of each specific type of blood cell present in circulating...

Inflammation of the blood vessels, or vasculitis, decreases blood flow in the body. Ear pain can occur when blood vessels in the nose, throat and neck are affected by vasculitis. Ear pain can also...

Lactic acidosis occurs in the body when lactate and blood pH levels become unbalanced. This condition can be fatal if left untreated as it causes decreased liver functionality.

Electrolytes are essential components of body fluids, such as blood and urine. Typical electrolytes found in the body are sodium, calcium, potassium, chloride and magnesium. They each have an...

The term Normal Alkaline Phosphatase Levels refers to pH balance. The pH balance of the human bloodstream is one of the most important biochemical balances in the human body. In order to maintain...

Your body requires a certain amount of blood flow to keep its legs moving. When the blood isn't circulating properly, problems will become evident. You could begin to experience leg cramps, pain...

The Ascensia Contour Glucose monitoring system is intended to aid diabetics in managing their diabetes. The system is user friendly and measures the amount of glucose in whole blood.

Platelets, which are colorless blood cells, along with red and white blood cells, are the components of blood. Platelets originate from large cells found in bone marrow in the body. Low platelet...

The pH balance of the bloodstream is one of the most important biochemical balances in the human body. In order to maintain a proper pH balance, the body will deposit and withdraw minerals from...

Heparin is a medication that is used to thin the blood and prevent the formation of blood clots. Your doctor may advise you to stop taking heparin if signs of excessive bleeding occur. Heparin...