Hemolytic anemias are red blood cell deficiencies caused by the premature destruction of these cells in the circulation. The normal circulatory lifespan of a red blood cell is approximately 120 days. Premature hemolysis--the term for red blood...
Metabolic disorders are inherited genetic defects that affect the way you metabolize your food. They affect about one in every 4,000 Americans, according to the Mayo Clinic. Metabolism is the process by which your body acquires energy from food....
Hemolytic anemia, a medical condition that results in the destruction of red blood cells, is caused by certain defects in the bone marrow. If you're suffering from hemolytic anemia, you'll begin to notice symptoms such as pale skin, chills,...
Glutathione is a substance your body uses to help prevent cell damage while your body is producing energy. If your stores of glutathione are depleted, you may have a medical condition referred to as glutathione synthetase deficiency. The disorder...
Numerous symptoms are associated with glutathione deficiency. According to the Genetics Home Reference website, glutathione synthetase deficiency is a disorder that prevents the production of glutathione -- an important molecule involved in...
Vitamin K is rarely dangerous, and this nutrient is vital for proper blood clotting and healthy bones. Despite its relative safety, most healthy individuals are not deficient in this vitamin and are advised against supplementing with it, unless...
Arsenic is found most commonly in pesticides and industrial materials, for example in materials used to treat lumber. It also occurs naturally in the environment and is found in water and rock. Ingestion can be intentional or accidental, acute or...
The immune system has been described as an army of white blood cells that protect our bodies from antigens. Antigens are harmful substances like bacteria, viruses, cancer cells, toxins, or foreign blood or tissue. In people who have an autoimmune...
Lipitor, which has the generic name atorvastatin calcium, belongs to a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins. Lipitor is used with a low-fat diet to lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Lowering high cholesterol...
Anemia is the condition in which there are not enough red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells are the cells that carry oxygen throughout the body. Anemia can result from destruction of red blood cells, a process called hemolysis. Because red...
Bilirubin is a product that is formed when red blood cells are broken down or destroyed. It is an orange-yellow pigment that is responsible for the color associated with jaundice. Along with cholesterol and bile acids, bilirubin makes up bile,...
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a lung infection caused by the mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. This infection affects people of all ages, but it typically arises in school-aged children and people under age 40, according to MedlinePlus. Individuals who...
Most blood diseases (hematological diseases) should be thought of as diseases that can be controlled rather than diseases that can be cured. There are reports of long-term remission in some leukemia patients, as well as a small percentage of...
Autoimmune diseases are a group of diseases in which the body's immune system attacks normal tissues within the body. One of the first steps in the development of the immune system is that each immune cell is created knowing the difference between...
Numerous conditions can cause decreased metabolism. According to the Kids Health website, metabolism refers to the chemical reactions in your body's cells that convert the fuel from food into usable energy. In a general sense, a metabolic disorder...
An antibody refers to a type of protein made in the body to defend the body against infection. This may be a bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection. Sometimes, these antibodies can go on overdrive and lead to an autoimmune disease in which they...
The liver and spleen share common blood circulation pathways. Due to the circulatory link between the liver and spleen, many disease processes affect both organs. Infections, blood cell diseases, liver diseases, cancer and inherited disorders can...
Although it can grow well beyond its normal size, an enlarged spleen is not always obvious from the outside of the body. In fact, many people with an enlarged spleen have no additional symptoms and never realize their spleen has become inflamed....
