Blood Disorders

The etiology, or causes, of coronary artery disease include not only lifestyle and dietary factors but also genetics. As researchers learn more about the specific genetic triggers of this disease,...

If you have poor circulation in any part of your body try these simple tips to see it improve over time.

In 1997, a new class of contrast dyes to enhance magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests became available. Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) were hailed as the answer to a longstanding...

Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells. Thrombocytopenia refers to a low platelet count. White blood count can also be too low (leukopenia). There are several types of white blood cells, and...

Lovenox is a drug that thins the blood to prevent new clots from forming. Unfortunately, it is administered at home by self-injection, which can be both physically and emotionally painful for some...

Sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disease characterized by the presence of abnormal hemoglobin genes contributed by both parents. In combination, these abnormal genes cause "sickling," a...

Homozygous C disease is a blood disorder that results in mild hemolytic anemia. The disease often does not present obvious symptoms and is typically not diagnosed until adulthood.

Accu-Chek is both a procedure and a blood glucose monitoring device. An Accu-Chek is commonly utilized by individuals with high sugar levels, medically referred to as diabetics. It is considered a...

Compression hose may be difficult to get on. They are meant to be tight. It is in being tight that you get the benefit of the improved circulation.

Telangiectasia is a condition of broken capillaries or spider veins. Although broken capillaries usually appear on the skin as thin lines, clusters of broken capillaries are possible, resembling a...

Low platelet counts and anemia are not the same condition, but a person may have both conditions simultaneously. Low platelet counts may also occur in some types of anemia. Without a normal level...

Your blood sugar changes depending on what you eat. If you ever find that you are suddenly tired or lacking concentration, your blood sugar may be fluctuating drastically. There are foods that...

One in every three adults has high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association. High blood pressure can cause a host of complications, including damage to your arteries, heart...

While the spleen does not actually produce blood, it does have important functions related to blood.

Blood clots help your body by stopping blood flow at a wound site, but they can be dangerous when they break free from a vein and clog blood flow to an important organ. A blood clot that clogs...

Are you or a family member anemic? If you're a female of child-bearing age then there's probably a good chance that you may have iron deficiency anemia. Iron is a mineral that's frequently found...

A low blood count covers three kinds of deficiencies: low white blood cell count, low red blood cell count and low platelet count. A simple blood test will easily reveal which deficiency you...

A blood clot can arise in a finger from a pinching trauma, like being slammed in a door and bursting a vessel. Another cause is from the finger's being pierced, as by a wire, leading to a pooling...

Antibodies are special proteins found in the blood, and they function primarily to determine and neutralize foreign agents that enter the body such as viruses and bacteria. Antibodies are made up...

The pH of your blood is important to keeping your body in balance, a state also known as homeostasis. Many serious diseases are linked to a low blood pH, or to blood that is too acidic. When you...

Fewer than 3,500 white blood cells per microliter of blood typically indicates a low count, although it varies among adults. Pay close attention to any symptoms you may be exhibiting, because a...

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder which affects nearly 70,000 Americans, most of whom are of African descent. A number of related conditions are categorized under sickle cell...

High blood pressure is when your blood flows through your arteries at a really high pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120 over 80 and a high blood pressure is 140 over 90. High blood pressure can...

Meningitis is an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord and can be viral or bacterial. The meninges are the membranes which cover the brain and spinal cord and become inflamed and infected,...

Low platelet levels in your blood are the direct result of a number of serious medical conditions, most notably a condition called thrombocytopenia. Increasing platelet levels in your blood...

A blood thinner was prescribed to you. You must take it properly. Failure to do so could result in another blood clot or pulmonary embolism or even a severe bleed. So follow these simple steps...

A clot is an excessively thick amount of blood that can travel to key parts of the body and pose life-threatening health risks. The tendency to form them can be hereditary or caused by sedentary...

Negative blood types are missing the Rhesus (Rh) factor, an antigen found on the surface of red blood cells. Negative blood types are rare and found in only 15 percent of the world's population.

Blood clots that occur in the leg are called Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). A DVT is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication that may occur after surgery. Surgical patients are often...

When you're fighting a cold, influenza or other illness, you want to boost your immune system. Sometimes your immune system is not up to par even thought you are not ill. In either case, you need...

Von Willebrand disease is a genetic condition similar to but less severe than hemophilia. The condition was named for Erik von Willebrand, a Scandinavian doctor who described the disease first.

Your immune system depends on the proper level of white blood cells to help defend the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria or viruses. However, there are circumstances in which their...

White blood cells are protective cells in the blood that fight infection. These cells can exit the bloodstream through the vessel walls and defend against invading properties at the site of an...

If you suffer from hemophilia or a similar condition, your blood has trouble clotting. This can lead to heavy bleeding, bruising, headaches, and swelling of the joints. Fortunately, there are...

Jaundice is characterized by a yellowing of the skin and eyes. This is caused by a buildup of bilirubin in the blood stream. Bilirubin is a yellow pigment that is produced when red blood cells...

Hyperkalemia is a condition characterized by an abnormal excess of potassium in the blood (levels greater than 5.0 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L). Its primary causes are kidney dysfunction,...

Healthy white blood cells release antibodies to help protect the body against disease. Without healthy WBCs, an organism (for instance, the human body) will wither and die. If the WBC count is too...

Low blood counts in children are described by a number of terms and can be caused by a variety of conditions. The blood cells in babies and children are made in the bone marrow of different bones...

Sickle cell disease is a serious and life threatening genetic disease. According to the National Human Genome Research Institute it is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United...

Iron is an essential element for the body to function. A lack of iron is a common cause of anemia, which is the lack of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Iron pills are commonly used to treat anemia....

The complete blood count, or CBC, is a comprehensive blood work-up that contains a tremendous amount of information about the make-up of your blood, and can indicate the presence or absence of...

Dry air is responsible for most nosebleeds. Dry air causes the tissues of the nose to crack and bleed. Nose bleeds are a common health issue and can range from a few drops to a major hemorrhage. ...

High blood sugar is an increasingly common condition. It is a precursor of diabetes. In diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to convert food into energy. Juvenile diabetes...

If you have low blood pressure, it is called hypotension. Blood pressure is the force of blood that pushes against the arteries when it is pumped from the heart. It is measured in systolic...

The spleen is located on the left side of the abdomen above the stomach and under the ribs. It is about the size of an adult fist and weighs about 200 grams in a healthy adult. A doctor may order...

Lovenox (enoxaparin) and heparin are two drugs used to prevent blood clots. They are also known as anticoagulants or anti-platelets. Although both are used for preventative measures, they differ...

A blood pressure reading notes the systolic pressure, the amount of pressure your heart generates when pumping blood through your arteries, over the diastolic pressure, the amount of pressure in...

Weight loss and leg discoloration are common symptoms in various health disorders of the body. These symptoms can be a sign of various things. Some of the most common disorders with these symptoms...

Iron overload, or hemochromatosis, occurs when too much iron accumulates in the blood. Left untreated, it can cause organ damage. Hemochromatosis is mainly genetic but can also be caused by too...

Hemophilia is actually two different disorders (hemophilia A and B) that have similar effects; it is more difficult for people with hemophilia to stop bleeding because they do not have enough of a...