Sodium metabisulfite is an inorganic compound often used as a disinfectant, antioxidant or preservative agent. Sodium metabisulfite is often used in the medical community to help test for a disease known as sickle cell anemia. This compound is...
Adult men have the diagnosis of anemia if their hemoglobin level is below 13.5g/dL, and women are anemic if their level is below 12g/dL, according to Charles Linker, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, in "Current...
The red blood cells are critical for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Anemia describes any condition in which there is reduced red blood cell numbers, which can cause pallor and chronic fatigue. Macrocytic anemia is unique among types of...
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin found in animal protein. It is required to produce red blood cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to impaired red blood cell production and to a condition called anemia, which is characterized primarily by...
Blood-borne parasites are found worldwide and usually spend a certain part of their life-cycle in the blood of the host. Blood-borne parasites may be transmitted in two ways according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: parasites...
Allergic rhinitis occurs in response to triggers such as dust, pollen, mold and dander. If you have allergic rhinitis, your immune system produces a chemical known as histamine, which causes symptoms such as itchy, teary rhinitis, runny nose,...
Red blood cells are needed by the body to transport oxygen to your cells, which your cells need to use glucose efficiently to make energy. If you are anemic, you have too few red blood cells. Although a lack of iron can cause anemia, there are...
Most tissues of the body are fixed in position. Some tissues such as muscles are able to contract to provide a force to perform work; blood is an exception to this because it is constantly in motion to function properly. Blood consists of a liquid...
Vitamin B-12, or cobalamin, is key in the functioning of several enzymes. Enzymes are special proteins that increase the rates of chemical reactions, helping the body perform many activities. Very low B-12 has a number of causes and can result in...
In the digestive tract, the stomach is a container that acts as a "grinder." It grinds and mixes food into smaller particles that are easier to digest. The stomach also releases gastric acid, or stomach acid, which chemically breaks down food....
A bite from a female Anopheles mosquito infected with the Plasmodium parasite causes malaria. The parasite invades the liver but then exits to invade and multiply within the red blood cells. Fever, chills, anemia and jaundice develop as the...
Two types of B vitamins, folic acid and vitamin B-12, are water-soluble and available in multiple types of food. For example, people can get vitamin B-12 through milk, poultry, eggs and meat. Folate occurs in poultry, whole grains, leafy green...
Iron is an important mineral in the body that is required to maintain life. It is found in your red blood cells, which work at carrying oxygen throughout your body and removing carbon dioxide, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. If...
There are many reasons why your child may be anemic, and sometimes it's hard to see the signs. However, there are some specific symptoms you can keep an eye out for, and further tests that can be used to properly diagnose anemia. Often the...
The blood is composed of cellular and liquid portions. Red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, carry oxygen. A condition of lower red blood cell counts is called anemia, a condition that can cause weakness, fatigue and pale skin. Anemia is...
It is natural to have a few drops of blood following a pap smear. The Center for Young Women’s Health states that a woman usually has her first pap smear around 21, unless there is a special risk such as immune problems, HIV disease, early...
HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a sexually transmitted disease that results in the deterioration of the person's immune system. While HIV does have visible symptoms, the only way to diagnose an HIV infection is through a blood test. The...
Malaria is a disease caused by an infection of organisms from the genus Plasmodium. According to MedlinePlus, there are between 300 million and 500 million cases of malaria each year, of which 1 million will be fatal. Malaria most commonly occurs...
A biopsy is the removal of tissue, blood, urine or other body fluids. Doctors order different types of tests depending on the types of information needed. Tissues are removed during surgery and must be tested for cancer. Blood and urine are tested...
Iron-deficiency anemia in babies, a disorder where there is a low amount of red blood cells, is usually a result of not consuming enough iron in the diet. At birth, babies have a supply of iron stored in their bodies, but due to their fast growth...
Blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, provides all of the energy human cells need and use. When the systems regulating blood glucose levels don't work correctly, disease can occur and health may suffer. Blood glucose is easily monitored with...
Blood consists of a liquid and protein component called serum, and a cellular component that is largely made up of red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen to the tissues and help balance the acidity of the blood. Low red blood cell counts are...
Tuberculosis is an infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The HIV/AIDS pandemic has fueled the resurgence of the disease and the widespread occurrence of drug resistance. The most common presentation is an infection of the lungs, called...
Plavix, or clopidogrel, is an oral inhibitor of platelet aggregation, meaning it keeps platelets from sticking together. Plavix is indicated for reduction of clots in patients who have had a recent heart attack, stroke or who have peripheral...
Platelets are also called thrombocytes. They are the type of blood cell involved in forming blood clots. They circulate throughout the bloodstream, but in just seconds after a blood vessel has been damaged, platelets go to the injured site. Once...
Blood clots are the way the body stops bleeding when an artery or vein is damaged within your body or on your skin. Sometimes, however, clots form when they aren't needed. These clots are considered abnormal, and blood clots during periods fall...
The pap smear is a laboratory test that's used to analyze a sample of cervical cells to check for abnormalities. Several abnormal pap test causes can cause concern. If a repeat pap test shows the same abnormalities, other diagnostic testing may be...
Cancer of the uterine lining, also called endometrial cancer, typically occurs in older women who have already experienced menopause. According to the National Cancer Institute, endometrial cancer is the most common gynecological cancer,...
Four weeks typically marks the beginning of pregnancy. At this time, you have missed a period and may have taken a pregnancy test. The term of measurement can be confusing, as the age of the fetus is not calculated at conception. The American...
