subject: Blood Disorders and Diseases [print this page] Blood Disorders and Diseases Blood Disorders and Diseases
There are many types of blood disorders and diseases that can occur in any person due to natural causes as well as hereditary reasons. These disorders and diseases affect our red blood cells, white cells, platelets, plasma, and enzymes which control what the blood is supposed to do.
Looking over just two of the major types of blood disorders and diseases we can get an overall idea of what it is. Myelodysplastic syndrome is one type of blood disorder which occurs to people who have aged over sixty. In this disease the white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets drop in a large number. There are also some abnormal growth which occurs in which the nuclear shape and size is dramatically changed. Chromosome numbers and translocations are affected by this as well.
This type of disease is usually a resultant of leukemia. Although the death occurring due to this type of cancer is quite rare, deaths usually occur due to infections or bleedings. In more simple terms, Myelodysplastic syndrome is a condition in which the bone marrow is not doing the job it has to. Bone marrow is responsible for producing blood cells, red and white, as well as blood platelets.
Red blood cells have the duty to carry oxygen along with other materials to tissues of the body, whereas the white blood cells are there to fight infections, and platelets are used to make blood clots. When cells are affected by this syndrome, they do not properly mature.
Another major disease is Polycythemia Vera, in which the bone marrow is producing too many blood cells. Although it is not as common, it still does occur. In this disease there are too many red blood cells are produced, along with regular white blood cells and platelets. There has been some record that it occurs more in males as well as people over the age of forty.
It can occur due to different life styles or even different exposures to environmental conditions. It is a very serious disease in which the person may suffer from a heart attack or a stroke sooner or later. The chances of having a heart attack or stroke, increase by eighty percent after a person has developed Polycythemia Vera.
