Low Red Blood Cell Count- A dangerous condition

The red blood cells are the most common type of cells. They are also called as RBC's or enthrocytes. They are the principal means of delivering oxygen from lungs to the tissues. A single drop of blood contains millions of red blood cells. If they did not exist, you would surely die. Red blood cells are red because they contain a protein called hemoglobin that is bright red in color. Hemoglobin contains iron, making it an excellent vehicle for transporting oxygen and carbon di oxide. As blood passes through the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to the hemoglobin. Enthrocytes develop in about seven days and last for about 120 days.

The Red Blood Cell count

The RBC is a count of number of red blood cells per cubic millimeter of blood. The formation of red blood cells is known as erythropoiesis. In response to hypoxia, the hormone enthyropoietin, secreted by the kidneys, stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Although the RBC's are produced by the bone marrow, the same blood is re-circulated throughout the body and not produced continuously. Normal red blood cell count at various ages is as given below.
1) Newborns: 4.8 – 7.2 million
2) Males: 4.6 – 6.0 million
3) Females: 4.2-5.0 million
4) Pregnancy: slightly lower than normal adult values
5) Children: 3.8 – 5.5 million

Decrease in RBC

There are many reasons for the decrease in the red blood cell count. One of the major reasons for less red blood count could be the decrease in the production of the RBC's in the bone marrow. This means that the bone marrow is not responding for the need of production of the red blood cells. Accidents could also be one of the reasons for fewer blood counts. In an accident a person might lose a lot of blood. At that time the bone marrow would take a time to produce the blood cells. Abnormal destruction of blood cells, lack of substances needed for RBC production and chemotherapy, which could reduce the blood count are the other reasons for it.

Effects of fewer Blood counts
1) Reduction in the blood count could make you weak and make you disease prone.
2) Fewer blood counts means less production of hemoglobin.
3) Anemia cam occur from either a decrease in number of red blood cells, decrease in hemoglobin content or both.
4) You could also die because of less production of red blood cells as they carry oxygen with them.

Thus it is feasible that you have good diet so that it would enable the bone marrow to produce a good amount of blood cells. Also donate blood on regular interval as it helps the bone marrow engaged for the production of the red blood cells.

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