Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia--also known as CMML--is a type of myelodysplastic-myeloproliferative disorder, according to the Cleveland Clinic. The incidence of this disease is estimated to be three cases per every 100,000 people older than 60...
Sugar snap peas are flat pea pods that grow during the cool season. They are crisp and have a sweet flavor, and are often eaten steamed or in stir-fry dishes. Beyond the texture and flavor of sugar snap peas is a wealth of vitamins and other...
The sickle cell gene is passed on from generation to generation. Typically red blood cells are disc shaped. In persons with sickle cell, also known as sickle cell anemia, the red blood cells are disc shaped (hemoglobin A), as are some that are...
Because cucumbers are mostly water, they are low in nutrients. Eaten either fresh or as a pickle, cucumbers have numerous health benefits, even though they may not be full of flavor. Add them to salads or slice them in spears to eat alone or with...
The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) defines sickle cell disease as an inheritable disease that affects the shape of red blood cells. Instead of a normal round shape, the red blood cells are C- or sickle shaped. The shape of the...
Testosterone, a hormone produced in the testicles, assists in the development of male sexual characteristics.Testosterone replacement therapy compensates for decreased levels of testosterone in the human body caused by testicular injury, chronic...
The blood contains specialized cell types--white blood cells that help ward off infection, red blood cells that carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body and platelets that control blood thickness and clotting. Each of these blood cells...
Your blood contains a number of specialized cell types, which perform a range of functions to support the continued health of your cells and tissues. Among these specialized cells are platelets, which help control the thickness of your blood and...
At lower levels, lead poisoning in children causes a variety of health and development problems. At very high levels, it can cause death. Children who live in homes built or remodeled before 1978, when lead-based paint was still found on walls...
In the condition myelodysplastic syndrome, or MDS, the bone marrow does not create sufficient numbers of healthy blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The bone marrow creates immature blood cells, which die...
Vitamin B12 is a B-complex vitamin that is essential for normal bodily functioning. Deficiencies may be common in older individuals, with as many as 15 percent of people over age 65 having lower blood serum levels than recommended, according to...
Broccoli and cheese are a classic pairing. Meals and snacks are easy to build with this popular, cruciferous vegetable and the various cheeses that can accompany it. Neither complicated nor over-processed, broccoli and cheese contribute a range of...
A bone marrow transplant can be helpful in replacing damaged or destroyed bone marrow needed by the body for the production of blood cells. Bone marrow transplants are used to treat multiple disorders, such as lymphoma, leukemia, multiple myeloma,...
Osteopetrosis is a group of rare diseases in which bone is not remodeled, causing the bone to become denser but more prone to fracture. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital estimates the most severe form of osteoporosis affects only 20 babies...
According to the American Cancer Society, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is diagnosed in more than 10,000 new patients per year; 80 percent to 90 percent of them are over age 60. Myelodysplastic syndrome occurs when bone marrow cells have problems...
Sickle cell anemia is a disorder of the red blood cells that is passed down through the genes. Affected individuals may have the full-blown disorder, which significantly affects quality of life and can cause severe disability or even death. Others...
Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that distorts the shape and prevents the normal functioning of red blood cells. Sickle cell disease is usually diagnosed by a blood test after an infant is 4-months-old. In the United States, the...
Low white blood cell counts rarely occur by inherited diseases. A low WBC count generally arises from decreased production of white blood cells due to drugs, vitamin B12 deficiency or infection. The condition can also occur from peripheral...
The lymphatic system has the responsibility of keeping you alive and healthy. The spleen, which is in the upper left abdominal area, is one of the organs in this system. The spleen of an adult holds the largest amount of lymphoid tissue. An adult...
Your blood is made up of three kinds of cells: Platelets are constantly regenerating and help your blood clot in the event of an injury. Red blood cells contain the hemoglobin necessary to transport oxygen through your body. White blood cells help...
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, help the body fight infection. Five types of white blood cells -- each with a unique disease-fighting purpose -- exist in varying amounts in the blood. The five types are basophils, eosinophils,...
Leukocytes are commonly known as white blood cells. They are formed in the bone marrow, and are vital to the functioning of the immune system. There are five types of leukocyte, and each one has a different purpose in fighting illness. A...
Chemotherapy is designed to prevent the replication and division of cancer cells causing them to die. Because some of the normal body cells also grow rapidly like cancer cells they are affected by chemotherapy. The "Core Curriculum for Oncology...
A physician may order complete blood count (CBC) for many reasons. Often, it is ordered as part of a routine checkup or as part of the hospital admission process. It can give a clue to your general health or expose signs of a wide array of...
White blood cells are the body cells that are responsible for fighting infectious agents. They circulate at low levels in the blood stream, and rapidly appear when a foreign invader is detected. The breakdown of types of white blood cells depends...
Acute promyelocytic leukemia, or APL, occurs most often in children and adults over age 40, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The disease develops when white blood cells called promyelocytes proliferate abnormally. Acute...
Your digestive tract benefits when you eat yogurt. Most yogurt includes live bacterial cultures and vitamin B12, providing nutrients for your digestive tract and nervous system. Vitamin B12's link to normal red blood cell production explains its...
The term low blood count can refer to white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. While low blood counts are often the temporary result of a treatable illness, low levels of blood cells can indicate a serious medical condition that cannot be...
Your red blood cells are expressly designed to perform one function: as they course through the tiny capillaries in your lungs, these oddly shaped discs capture life-giving oxygen from the air you breathe, transport it to the remotest corner of...
Anemia is a iron deficiency in the blood which can cause fatigue and malaise, as well as lead to other serious diseases. Learn more about the symptoms and treatments for anemia in this video.
Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to an increase of bile pigments in the blood. Jaundice is often symptomatic of certain diseases, such as hepatitis. Learn about the different causes of, symptoms of, and...
Sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that results in decreased blood and oxygen flow. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Sickle Cell Anemia in this video.
Vitamin B-6 is an important vitamin for metabolizing amino acids and for releasing sugars from glycogen in the body. Try these tips for buying foods rich in vitamin B-6 in this healthy shopping video.
