What does red blood cells mean?

What does red blood cells mean?

blood components

Blood is made up of a plasma water that forms 55% of the blood, as well as blood cells and platelets that float through it. In addition to cleansing the body of waste by excreting faeces, urine and sweat, as well as the carbon dioxide that comes out with respiration, the blood also supplies the body’s cells with nutrients, hormones and oxygen.

Blood functions

Blood functions in the body include the following:

  • Supply cells and tissues with oxygen.
  • Removal of carbon dioxide, lactic acid and urea.
  • Combating pathogenic and alien bodies through white blood cells.
  • Supplying cells with nutrients, including sugar, fatty acids, and amino acids.
  • When the temperature drops, the blood flow is concentrated on the important internal organs. As the temperature increases, the surface area becomes more fluid, leading to faster heat loss and warmer skin.
  • Regulate levels of acidity.
  • Helping to clot blood when bleeding occurs, through specialized cells, including platelets.
  • The delivery of hormones from one place to another.
  • Sexual intercourse is filled with sexual arousal in males and females.

Definition of red blood cells

Red blood cells are known in their rounded form from the top. These pellets contain hemoglobin inside them. It is a protein that carries carbon dioxide and transfers it to the lungs to be released with exhalation. It also carries oxygen from the lungs to all tissues of the body. The life span of the red blood cells is up to 120 days, and these pellets are formed in the bone marrow.

To protect the health of red blood cells, it is recommended to eat foods rich in iron and vitamins. These include vitamin B2, vitamin B3, and vitamin B12, which are found in many sources, including whole grains, eggs and bananas, as well as vitamin E, which is found in many sources, including nuts, avocados and vegetables Dark leaves and mango, as well as folate, which is found in fortified grains, dark-leaf vegetables and lentils.

Increased red blood cells

Red blood cells transport oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues of the body. Thus, the increase of red blood cells in the bloodstream indicates an increase in oxygen. This results either from a condition that directly increases the production of red blood cells or oxygen in the blood.

The normal range of red blood cells is between 500,000 to 4.6 million polycolts per microliter in women, and 700,000 to 5.2 million per microliter in men. In children, the normal range varies depending on the sex and age of the child. It is noted that the definition of red blood cell is determined based on medical specialization.

Causes of increased red blood cells

The following causes lead to increased red blood cells:

  • Use of medicines to improve performance: Performance-enhancing drugs stimulate the production of more red blood cells. These drugs include:
    • Protein injections that promote the production of red blood cells, known as erythropoietin.
    • Anabolic Steroids.
  • Low oxygen levels: Some cases and factors lead to increased red blood cells, including the following:
    • To compensate for the lack of oxygen levels, the body increases the production of red blood cells, which occurs in several diseases, including:
      • Hemoglobinopathy, a condition that reduces the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen, which occurs at birth.
      • Congenital heart disease affecting adults.
      • Heart failure.
      • Breathing during sleep.
      • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
      • Smoking.
      • High altitude.
  • Increased red blood cell production in the bone marrow: This occurs in certain cases, including the following:
    • Pure Reproductive Diseases
    • Increased red blood cells.
  • Kidney Disease: The kidneys, after some transplantation or in rare cases of cancer, produce a lot of erythropoietin, which promotes the production of red blood cells.
  • Drought: Although the number of red blood cells remains as it is in certain cases, such as drought, low levels of plasma in the blood increases the number of red blood cells being concentrated.

Symptoms of increased red blood cells

Symptoms and signs of erythrocytes include:

Treatment of increased red blood cells

Red blood cells are treated through the following methods:

  • Intravenous: This is the easiest and quickest way to get rid of excess red blood cells, especially if a person has had a previous stroke. This is repeated between time and time based on the person’s situation.
  • Anticoagulants: To prevent complications, a small dose of aspirin is used.
  • Drugs to reduce the production of red blood cells: The choice of the appropriate medicine depends on the health and age of the patient, the amount of red blood cells, as well as the extent of his response to the vein. Specific drugs include interferon and hydroxycarbamide.
  • Home methods: There are some methods that can be done at home, including the following:
  • Avoid iron supplements; they lead to increased production of red blood cells.
  • Exercise should be avoided. However, sports where contact between the players in the spleen-swelling patients should be avoided in order to avoid injury and lead to rupture.