Red blood cells

What is Red blood cell?

The blood cells that carry oxygen,to the tissue. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is the hemoglobin which  transport oxygen (and carbon dioxide). Hemoglobin, aside from being a transport molecule, is a pigment. It gives the cells their red color (and their name).

Red blood cell along with WBC

The abbreviation for red blood cells is RBCs. Red blood cells are sometime simply called red cells. They are also called erythrocytes or, rarely today, red blood corpuscles.

Importance of  RBC

Shape of Erythrocytes

Red blood cells perform the vital role in our body. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells which are constantly traveling through our body delivering oxygen and removing waste. If they weren't, your body would slowly die.

Red blood cells are red only because they contain a protein chemical called hemoglobin which is bright red in color. Hemoglobin contains the element Iron, making it an excellent vehicle for transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to the hemoglobin. As the blood passes through the body's tissue, the hemoglobin releases the oxygen to the cells. The empty hemoglobin molecules then bond with the tissue's carbon dioxide or other waste gases, transporting it away.

Red blood cells get worn out and eventually die. The average life cycle of a red blood cell is 120 days. Your bones are continually producing new blood cells, replenishing our blood supply. The blood itself, however, is re-circulated throughout our body, not being remade all of the time.

Since the human body is continually making more blood, it is safe for healthy adults to donate blood. The blood is then stored for use in emergency situations. Initially after giving blood, the donor may feel some momentary light headedness due to the loss of oxygen-rich red blood cells and blood sugar. The body quickly stabilizes itself.

 

RBC in tissue and Abnormal  RBC in blood

Normal range of Red blood cells

The general the range is as follows:

• Male: 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per micro liter (cells/mcL)
• Female: 4.2 to 5.4 million cells/mc L
  

Causes of abnormal Results;Higher-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Cigarette smoking
  
• Congenital heart disease
  
• Cor pulmonale
  
• Dehydration (such as from severe diarrhea)
  
• Kidney tumor (renal cell carcinoma)
  
• Low blood oxygen levels (hypoxia)
  
• Pulmonary fibrosis
  
• Polycythemia vera

Drugs that can increase the RBC count include:

• Gentamicin
• Methyldopa
  

Lower-than-normal numbers of RBCs may be due to:

• Anemia
  
• Bone marrow failure (for example, from radiation, toxins, or tumor)
  
• Erythropoietin deficiency (secondary to kidney disease)
  
• Hemolysis (RBC destruction) due to transfusion, blood vessel injury, or other cause
  
• Hemorrhage (bleeding)
  
• Leukemia
  
• Malnutrition
  
• Multiple myeloma
  

Nutritional deficiency.

  Abnormal RBC also affect Nutritional deficiency

1. Iron
2. Copper
3. Folate
4. Vitamin B-12
5. Vitamin B-6
6. Over hydration
7. Pregnancy

Drugs that can decrease the RBC count include:

• Chemotherapy drugs
  
• Chloram phenicol
  
• Hydantoins
  
• Quinidine
  

Risks

There is very little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)

How Garlic is control High blood pressure

Garlic control high blood pressure

Garlic is a miracle herb that has been held in high esteem for over 6000 years and it is a cure for High Blood Pressure.

Garlic (allium sativum) has originated from Asia and belongs to the family lily .It is a perennial bulb made up of 7-35 divided cloves or bulb that are covered in papery, transparently white glistening skin. The medicinal part of the plant is the bulb. The peculiar strong component of garlic is due to its sulfur containing compound or volatile oil known as Allicin.

Most diseases and illnesses occur because man has gone against natures,such as Stress, smoking, alcohol, obesity, sedentary lifestyle etc. Generally these herbs and spices cause lesser side effects and it increases your longevity. Garlic is one such miracle herb that has been held in high esteem for over 6000years.

Importance of Garlic

Garlic is considered for a multipurpose disorders and illnesses besides hypertension because of its properties. It is antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal in nature. It is used in the treatment of allergies or hay fever, herpes, sunburns, heart ailments like arteriosclerosis and cholesterol problems. Garlic is also an anticarcinogenic food and useful in typhoid, sinusitis, laryngitis and pneumonia, influenza and other respiratory illnesses. It is antispasmodic in nature as it eases the spasms of small arteries, and prevents the development of blood clots. Garlic is also used to treat rheumatism and is antiparasitic in nature. It is a known insecticide, protects against disease and increases strength and productivity.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure occurs when the blood is pumped by the heart through the system that is abnormally fast and powerful. This sustained greater than normal force and pressure can cause damage to the arteries.

High Blood Pressure - The pressure or tension exerted by the blood on the arteries and the venous blood vessels is called blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg, where 120 is the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 80 is the diastolic blood pressure (DBP)

Prehypertension or Borderline Hypertension is when the systolic pressure is between 120 to 139 and/or the diastolic pressure is between 80 and 89.

Stage 1 hypertension is when the systolic pressure is between 140 to 159 and/or the diastolic pressure is between 90 and 99.

Stage 2 hypertension is when the systolic blood pressure is around 160 to 179 and the diastolic blood pressure is from100 till about 120.

Stage 3 Hypertension is increased blood pressure when the systolic blood pressure is more than 180 and the diastolic blood pressure is more than 120.

Factors that can affect Primary Hypertension

1. Stress and Tension: In the fast environment that we live in, stress and its associated problems are a common cause to increase blood pressure

2. Smoking: Nicotine in cigarettes and tobacco increase BP (blood pressure).

3. Obesity;: Obesity has the maximum contribution in increasing BP. This is because the heart has to work more to keep up with the increased body mass, which requires more blood for the supply of essential oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body.

4. Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity or a sedentary lifestyle tends to increase the heart rate and makes your heart work more
5. Saturated fatty acids in the diet can also result in an elevated level of blood pressure.
6. Alcohol: Excessive alcohol intake increases the risks of hypertension.
7. Elderly: The elderly are more at risk for hypertension because of reduced complaibility and flexibility of blood vessels.
8. Excessive Salt intake: Excessive normal salt or sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure.
9. Potassium intake: Low potassium diet increases the sodium in the cells due to the sodium potassium pump.
10. Hereditary: High blood pressure is often familial in nature and runs in families.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

• Dizziness or dizzy spells

• Headache
• Nosebleeds
  

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control high blood pressure, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower high blood pressure. It is important to work with your doctor, because untreated high blood pressure may damage organs in the body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.

  Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

There is some evidence that the supplement CoQ10 may help to reduce high blood pressure. A 12 week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 83 people with systolic hypertension examined the effect of CoQ10 supplements (60 mg twice daily). After the 12 weeks, there was a mean reduction in systolic blood pressure of 17.8 mm Hg in the Coq10-treated group.
CoQ10 significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure(mean reduction 6.1 mm Hg and 2.9 mm Hg respectively). There was also a reduction in HbA1C, a marker for long-term glycemic control.

  Garlic

In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.
Garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) similar to aspirin. Garlic may interact with many drugs and supplements such as the prescription drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline), aspirin, vitamin E, gingko. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

Fish oil

 Preliminary studies suggest that fish oil may have a modest effect on high blood pressure. Although fish oil supplements often contain both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), there is some evidence that DHA is the ingiredient that lowers high blood pressure.

  Folic acid

Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to reduce high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.