Polycythemia vera is a rare disease of bone marrow. When someone has this condition, the bone marrow produces too many blood cells, especially red blood cells. Having an extraordinary amount of blood cells can lead to clots in the veins or...
Polycythemia vera is a disease of the bone marrow and leads to an increased number of red blood cells. Vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, is needed for red blood cell production. Correcting a vitamin B-12 deficiency can unmask the symptoms of...
The bone marrow produces platelets, also known as thrombocytes, and releases them into the circulation. These small blood elements are pieces of larger cells called megakaryocytes. Platelets interact with a group of blood proteins, the clotting...
The spleen sits directly above the stomach and under the ribs on the left side. It is approximately the size of a fist and is part of the lymphatic system, according to Medline Plus. The lymphatic system fights infection and keeps body fluids in...
Human cells in every organ and body tissue have tightly controlled rates of growth and replication. Abnormalities that accelerate the normal rate of cell growth cause a range of diseases that vary from mild to severe. The skin, bone marrow and...
A ministroke, also known as a transient ischemic attack or TIA, is a clot in one or more blood vessels in the brain that causes symptoms of a stroke that can last for a few minutes to 24 hours. Symptoms include temporary numbness, weakness,...
Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. A high number of red blood cells--more than 5.72 million red blood cells per mcL for men and 5.03 million per mcL for women--requires further evaluation, according to...
Polycythemia vera is a condition where the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, more than 95 percent of polycythemia sufferers have a mutation in the JAK2V617F gene. Treatments...
Vitamin B12 is an essential water-soluble vitamin and is necessary for the formation and maturation of red blood cells, the synthesis of DNA and for normal nerve function. According to MedlinePlus, normal values for vitamin B12 are 200 to 900...
Vitamin B-12 is a water soluble vitamin that is naturally found in animal foods such as meat, poultry, fish, milk and shellfish. Vitamin B-12 is important for the production of red blood cells and for the maintenance of healthy nerves. Lack of...
Vitamin B-12 helps maintain the health of your metabolism, red blood cells and nerves. When you have a vitamin B-12 deficiency, your doctor might prescribe vitamin B-12 shots, especially if you have an intestinal disorder that prevents the proper...
The body needs vitamin B-12 to produce healthy red blood cells, metabolize protein and fat, synthesize DNA and maintain proper neurological function. Because the body absorbs only a small percentage of vitamin B-12 from foods and supplements, high...
Vitamin D is essential because it helps to keep calcium and phosphate within a normal range in the blood, and it is vital for strong bones. A vitamin D deficiency can be the result of hereditary disorders, kidney disease, liver abnormalities,...
Itching all over causes serious discomfort that can significantly disrupt sleep and affect quality of life. Itching is a common symptom of skin diseases and is one of the most common reasons for consulting a dermatologist. Itching can also be a...
Vitamin B-12 supplements, also marketed as cobalamin and cyanocobalamin, are water-soluble vitamins used to treat vitamin B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 is needed in the body for the production of healthy red blood cells and for the maintenance of...
Bone marrow is a soft tissue within the long bones of the body. It houses the stem cells that give rise to the red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that provide immunity and platelets, which help blood clotting. Disorders of the...
Platelets are colorless blood cells that are essential for the clotting of blood. Platelets stop blood loss by clumping and plugging holes in blood vessels. A high platelet count, also known as thrombocytosis, may cause few symptoms, but can lead...
Vitamin B-12, or cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in metabolism. It helps in the formation of the red blood cells and promotes functioning of the central nervous system. Deficiency of this vitamin can lead to...
Because vitamin B-12 is water-soluble, meaning excess amounts of the vitamin leave the body in urine, high B-12 levels occur only rarely. Your doctor can determine your B-12 level with a blood test. Normal B-12 levels typically fall between 200...
Your face is your window to the world, so blotchy red skin can cause you a lot of embarrassment and distress. Fortunately, redness on your face is usually pretty harmless and easy to deal with. Many conditions can cause red rashes, spots or bumps...
The blood is the life force of the body. People cannot survive without blood, and any disorder or disease of the blood will have serious complications. The blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The red blood cells...
Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is needed by the body for DNA synthesis, red blood cells production and maintenance of healthy nerve cells. Elderly women are at risk of B12 deficiency due to age-related...
Vitamin B-12 helps form red blood cells and assists the body in acquiring energy from foods sources. Foods containing B vitamins include poultry and other meats, fish, eggs, dairy, beans and vegetables. Most Americans get enough vitamin B-12 from...
Bone marrow refers to the inner part of the bone where all blood cells are produced. According to the National Institutes of Health, bone marrow can be found in large bones such as the hip and thigh bones. Specifically, it contains stem cells that...
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...
Vitamins are chemical compounds that are needed in small amounts to support the functions of the body and therefore promote good health. Vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin. The B-12 molecule is the largest of the...
Your doctor can determine the level of vitamin B-12 in your blood with a blood test. Low levels of vitamin B-12 may indicate a B-12 deficiency. Because the body absorbs only a small percentage of vitamin B-12 from foods and supplements, high...
Methylcobalamin, commonly referred to as vitamin B12, is found in foods such as fish, shellfish, dairy and meat or can be taken as a supplement. Methylcobalamin helps to maintain nerve cells in the body and create new DNA, the substance that...
Testosterone, a hormone involved in maintaining muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, sex drive and sperm production in males, slowly declines with age or may be deficient due to certain medical conditions. Low testosterone levels...