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- Oxygen is carried to the body's tissues
predominantly by red blood cells. There is a near-constant
level of blood cells that make up the blood. Red
blood cells live approximately 120 days, and new ones are
constantly being made in the bone marrow to replace lost
ones. The red blood cell (RBC) count is determined by two
equivalent methods: (1) by measuring the hematocrit, i.e.,
the volume occupied by red blood cells; and (2) by measuring
the hemoglobin, i.e., the quantity of oxygen-carrying
protein in the blood. Normal hematocrit is approximately 38
to 44, while normal hemoglobin is approximately 12.5 to
14.5. Anemia is defined in terms of hematocrit or hemoglobin
measurements below these norms.
- Anemia occurs either because there
are insufficient blood cells being made in the bone marrow,
or because blood cells are destroyed and are not being
adequately replaced. Another cause may be that blood cells
are lost due to
bleeding.
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- Blood loss, especially from bleeding
in the gastrointestinal tract
- Rapid loss occurs in bleeding ulcers
or slow loss in colon cancer.
- Decreased bone marrow production due to
problems with manufacturing cells in the bone marrow
- Cancers such as Lymphoma
- Aplastic Anemia
- Myeloplastic anemia
- Bone marrow damaged by toxins and
radiation, or invasion by cancers, fibrosis, and other
tumors
- Decreased bone marrow production due
to deficiencies
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Folic Acid Deficiency
- Iron deficiency
- Thalassemias -- genetic problems with
the hemoglobin molecule structure
- Hypothyroidism
- Kidney disease -- because of
decreased level of hormone erythropoietin
- Hemolytic anemias -- cells are
destroyed
- Red blood cells are also destroyed in Sickle Cell Anemia,
hereditary diseases, spherocytosis, thrombocyopenic purpura,
hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and G6PD deficiency
- Drug induced hemolytic
anemia
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Treat the appropriate disorder listed
above.
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