Red Blood Cells- The Carrier of Oxygen

What are Red Blood Cells?

Red Blood Cells are the most common type of blood cells found in our body. Red blood cells are also known as RBCs, red blood corpuscles, haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes. They have a diameter of about 6-8 micrometers. They have an appearance of an inner tube without a hole in the center. To enable the maximum O2 saturation of hemoglobin, red cells are shaped like biconcave disks. The shape provides more surface area for the exposure of hemoglobin to dissolved oxygen. Red blood cells are also able to change their shape to permit passage through small capillaries that connect arteries with veins. Adults contain 20-30 trillion red blood cells in their body.

The average life cycle of RBC’s is 120 days. Over time, the red blood cells get worn out and eventually die. The RBC’s may vary in number according to exercise levels and oxygen content which can be affected by altitude.

How do Red Blood Cells function?

Red blood cells are known as “carrier of oxygen”. These cells are specialized to carry oxygen from lungs to tissues and throughout the body and transfer carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs. They are red in color because they contain protein chemical called hemoglobin. Hemoglobin occupies one-third of the cell. When it combines with oxygen it is bright red in color but when it releases oxygen it turns bluish. RBC’s perform the most important blood duty. A single drop of blood contains millions of RBC’s. When red blood cells stop functioning properly, it is for sure that many things are going to go wrong in your body.

There are several types of hemoglobin.  A single hemoglobin molecule is made of four identical sub-units. Each sub-unit has a heme component, aglobin chain and an iron atom bound to the heme section. A single hemoglobin molecule is able to carry up to four oxygen molecules.

The ability of oxygen to bind hemoglobin is affected by several factors like temperature, acidity of the blood. Subtle changes in the pH and temperature of your blood (along with some other effects) allow the hemoglobin molecules to catch and release oxygen at the proper times.

Red blood cells also play an important role in carrying carbon dioxide.CO2 is a waste product of metabolism in every cell. RBC’s helps to get rid of this waste.

What happens when Red Blood Cells do not function properly?

When red blood cells do not work properly it leads to certain diseases. People with increased RBC count suffer from:

• Dehydration
• Pulmonary disease
• Polycythemia vera
• Over-transfusion of whole blood
• Tissue hypoxia
• Congenital heart disease

      People with decreased RBC count suffer from:

• Sickle cell anemia
• Metabolic disorders
• Chronic inflammation
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Bone marrow damages
• Hemorrhagic infections
• Gastrointestinal (GI) or other vascular bleed
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
•  Folic acid deficiency

But what are the reasons for these causes?

• Massive RBC loss, such as acute hemorrhage
• Abnormal destruction of red blood cells
• Lack of substances needed for RBC production
• Chemotherapy or radiation side effects

Enlarged Red Blood Cells

Macrocytosis is a term used to describe red blood cells that are larger than normal size. It shows no signs or symptoms. It is usually detected by routine blood test. Common causes include:

• Side effects of chemotherapy
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Folic acid deficiency
• Liver disease

Red Blood Cells count

A RBC count is the number of red blood cells per volume of blood, and is reported in either millions in a micro liter or millions in a liter of blood.

The ranges for a normal RBC count (expressed in million red cells per micro liter {uL} of blood) are:

• Women: 4.2 to 5.4 million/uL
•  Men: 4.7 to 6.1 million/uL
• Children: 4.6 to 4.8 million/uL

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Get enough Iron for good health

We all know that our body requires sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals for normal functioning of vital organ and to maintain an overall healthy and fit body. And one of the most important essential minerals that human bodies require is iron.

Why is iron crucial for our health?

Iron is the most important constituent of red blood cells as it plays a crucial role in energy metabolism, gene regulation, cell growt

h and differentiation, oxygen binding and transport, muscle oxygen use and storage, enzyme reactions, neurotransmitter synthesis and protein synthesis.

But most crucially, adequate quantity of iron is necessary to make hemoglobin which is an important constituent in the red blood cells, responsible for transport of oxygen. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues, giving energy and skin a healthy color. Lack in hemoglobin can lessen the oxygen binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule, resulting in anemia. Our body contains between 3.5 and 4.5 g of iron, most of which is present in hemoglobin while the rest is stored in the liver, spleen and bone-marrow.

Iron deficiency? It could lead to health complications…

is one of the most common nutritional disorders caused due to low iron intake or insufficient absorption of iron in the body. The main cause is that iron quantities in our body get depleted which hinders the synthesis of hemoglobin. And as hemoglobin is responsible for smooth supply of oxygen in the body, iron deficiency can result in decreased oxygen supply to organs and tissues.

Generally people who suffer from iron deficiency anemia show some common symptoms such as tiredness, lack of stamina, lessened appetite, dullness & pallor, recurring headaches, problems with sleep, increased risk of infections due to lessened immunity and even problems with brain functions.

Ensure adequate iron absorption, avoid iron deficiency

To prevent iron deficiency anemia, iron absorption in the body is vital. Lets see what measures can be taken to ensure sufficient iron absorption.

• Include iron rich foods, high in vitamin C, in the regular diet
• Reduce considerably or even omit sugar consumption
• Avoid using any antacids as they interfere with iron absorption
• Coffee and black tea should also be avoided as they contain polyphenols and tannin which interfere with iron absorption
• Skipping meals and irregular dietary habits should be discouraged

·   Iron Rich foods

Iron rich foods can help avoid iron deficiency. A wide variety of foods are excellent sources of iron. In fact it has been established that red meat is the richest source of iron. According to research the iron from animal sources can be more easily absorbed by our body than the one from plant sources.  

Iron in meat

• Beef
• Pork
• Lamb
• Liver
• Other organ meats
• Chicken
• Duck
• Turkey

Iron rich fruits

• Apples
• Bananas
• Apricots
• Plums

Iron rich vegetables

• Yams
• Squash
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Tofu
• Legumes, such as lima beans and green peas;
• Dry beans and peas, such as pinto beans, black-eyed peas, and canned baked beans

In addition fortified breakfast cereals, whole wheat biscuits, semi-skimmed milk, whole grains etc. all provide enough iron in the diet and help in building the body’s resistance against this disease.

Recommended daily intake

Age	RNI for Iron mg/day
0 to 3 months	1.7 mg
4 to 6 months	4.3 mg
7 to 12 months	7.8 mg
1 to 3 yrs	6.9 mg
4 to 6 yrs	6.1 mg
7 to 10 yrs	8.7 mg
Men 11 - 18 yrs	11.3 mg
Men 19 + yrs	8.7 mg
Women 11 - 49 yrs	14.8 mg
Women 50 + yrs	8.7 mg

In women of child-bearing age, loss of iron from menstruation of blood adds considerably to iron need. Around 10% of women of child-bearing age will need more iron than is indicated. Extra iron is also required during pregnancy and breast feeding.

Jobelyn Blood Enhancer – aids blood enhancing and blood cells production to prevent anemia!

Health Forever nhancer is a powerful antioxidant which promotes blood cell production in the body. It stimulates red blood cell production, stimulates white blood cell protection, protects blood vessels, maintains blood cell and vessel flexibility for better circulation and is a powerful antioxidant protection for cardiovascular health.

Learn more: www.health-forever.com

Call Toll Free: 1-888-328-5279

Watch our videos