Blood nature
and medical
Blood
– Its vital role
On a visit to the doctor for any illness, we will get examined first for our
pulse, blood pressure, colour of the mucous membrane of the mouth (especially
under the tongue), colour of conjunctiva of the eye (especially lower part) and
colour of the nails. These are all done to analyse our blood and its flow.
The commonest blood related disorder/ailment/condition is anaemia. The clinical
examinations stated above are done especially to rule out anaemia. It is better
to learn more about blood, its components and its functions to understand
anaemia in a better way. The study of blood is medically termed as Haemotology.
Is blood vital? – The quantity and quality of blood should
always be maintained to have good health. If blood quantity and quality gets
altered/lowered due to conditions/diseases, then any sort of diseases can arise
due to weakened stamina and immune system. In case of extreme loss or low
quality, life happens to end proving the vitality of blood. So, it is important
to monitor blood regularly to ensure adequate red blood cells, haemoglobin
levels, white blood cells, blood flow and blood pressure to maintain/preserve
good health status. Alteration in blood volume, its contents, pressure changes,
increased fat, urea, creatinine levels will always cause serious problems.
Likewise, the toxins/chemicals/drugs entering the blood will reach the brain
immediately or spread quickly all over the body to take effect/impact in their
respective actions. So preserving blood in good condition is very vital for our
body. Further, to support functions of blood, the blood vessels and pump
(heart) should be in good condition to circulate them all over the body.
Exercise is also essential to keep blood moving all the way.
Blood
We humans are
mere flesh and blood on the frame of skeleton. Blood is the vital fluid which
maintains/supports all the functions of the body. Blood functions as a
self-regulating organ as well as a regulator of other organs too. Its physical
and chemical composition mostly remains constant (i.e. haemostatic condition).
Red and blood always stand for horror/danger/caution. The 5 litres of red blood
(supposed to be the average in a normal 65 kg adult) does many functions in our
body in many ways. Blood is initially produced in the liver and spleen in the
early foetal period. After the 5th month of pregnancy, bone (especially medulla
from the distal end of long bone) marrow takes charge for lifetime to
manufacture these blood cells in a continuous manner. After the growing period,
production is limited only to flat bones i.e. blood gets manufactured in ribs,
skull and vertebrae. Blood quantity and quality may vary according to age, sex and
health status.
Blood flow
In our
circulatory system, arteries are the major blood vessels which carry and
distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body with its branches arterioles
and capillaries. Capillaries are most permeable part for transportation of
nutrients and oxygen from blood to tissues. These capillaries, after
diversification, tend to unite again to form venules. These venules unite
further to form smaller veins which again unite to form large veins. Veins are
blood vessels which collect and carry deoxygenated blood towards the heart for
recharging oxygen in the lungs.
Blood pressure
Normally, the
flow is guided by heart systolic pump and its pressure. The return of blood to
the heart is done with passive pump i.e. muscular pumps which compress veins
with movements or exercises. The pressure of flow in major artery is 120 mg of
Hg during systole which drops slowly with distribution i.e. with small arteries
(70), arterioles (40), capillaries (30), venules (15) and veins (0-15). The measurement
of blood pressure is a very simple technique, but it provides a lot of
information about the heart, blood vessels and health status of the person.
Blood pressure also usually varies according to age, sex, heart functions,
density of the blood, etc. Blood pressure also gets altered with the
requirement of oxygen for the body (exercise/exertion).
Blood groups
Basic blood
groups are O, A, B and AB. Further there are Rh+ve & Rh-ve factors which
split each group into two divisions. These groups have their uniqueness and
cannot be exchanged for one another. There are many sub-groups also which need
to be considered during blood transfusion to rule out complication arising out
of the transfusion. Perfect match/compatibility should be sought with the
cross-matching of blood from the donor or otherwise life will be always at risk
on transfusion.
Functions of blood
As a
transporter – It helps help mostly in all functions i.e. nourishing,
respiration, excretion, protection, etc., as it
- Transports oxygen to
the tissues
- Transports carbon
monoxide to the lungs to get exhaled
- Transports
nutrients/iron/vitamins/minerals to the tissues
- Transports hormones
to the brain and concerned organs to coordinate functions
- Transports waste
materials from tissue to the kidney to get eliminated
- Transports
antibodies to the required spot to fight against disease
- Transports clotting
factors to seal the injured bleeding spot (if there is any)
As a
preserver – Blood maintains its water content, pH, specific gravity,
electrolytes with its permeability and osmosis maintains haemostatic to
preserve life in good health.
As a temperature regulator – Blood by circulation regulates our body
temperature too.
Composition
of blood
The suspension of blood consists mainly of
cells and plasma i.e. 45 per cent cells and 55 per cent plasma. They consist of
dissolved electrolytes, gases, plasma proteins and antibodies in plasma.
Tissues add their secretions, hormones, enzymes, metabolites, wastes, acids and
extracts nutrients, oxygen, vitamins and minerals, etc., from blood.
The major, three cell components in blood are:
- Red blood cells
(RBCs) – are
the very essential part of the blood which helps to carry oxygen, carbon
monoxide and nutrients. They are circular, flattened biconcave discs
containing globular iron protein i.e. haemoglobin. It is the colouring
pigment (haem) which provides the characteristic red colour to the blood.
Colour of blood will be bright red with oxygenated haemoglobin and dark
red with deoxygenated haemoglobin and chocolate brown/red when it gets
oxidised. Haemoglobin helps in exchanging or carrying oxygen from the
lungs to tissues and carbon monoxide from tissues to lungs for exhalation.
Haemoglobin approximately measures around 15 gms in 100 ml of blood and
usually carries 20 cc of oxygen. Their life period is nearly 120 days.
They are produced in the bone marrow in a continuous manner with adequate
supply of iron, folic acid and vitamins and circulated in the blood. Since
production is continuous, the expiring old ones are replaced with new
blood cells without any change in quality. Size, shape and structure of
RBCs may vary depending upon the age, person, diseases, conditions and
environment. Red cells constitute 40-45 per cent of blood volume. It may
get reduced to 15 per cent during the result of severe anaemia i.e. become
watery blood. (Plasma constitutes 90 per cent water and 10 per cent
solids).
- White blood cells
(WBCs) – White blood cells
are colourless cells found in the blood involved in protection and
fighting against bacterial or viral or fungal infection. They produce
antibodies to find specific antigen to trap and destroy/digest them
(phagocytosis). They are short lived (3-5 days), less in number and bigger
in size compared to RBCs. The size and number may vary diurnally, after
exercise, meals, infections, etc. The pus formation in the infected part
is nothing but these WBCs i.e., dead WBCs (the soldiers who lost their
life against the infective agent/bacteria/virus/fungus).
Platelets
are the essential cells in blood clotting
mechanism. They are irregular, colourless, sticky, highly specialised cells
which have the capacity to adhere to any surface. Platelets and clotting
factors work to prevent blood loss/seal the bleeding spot (either inside the
body or on the surface), without which one may bleed to death. Platelets are
also short-lived i.e. around a week to 10 days.
Normal blood values (Averages)
- Haemoglobin (Hb)
- Male—13.5-17.0 Gms %
- Female–12.0-15.5 Gms
%
Red
blood cell count (RBC)
- Male 4.5 to 6.0
million / cu. mm
- Women: 4.2 to 5.4
million / cu. mm.
White
blood cell count (WBC)
- Ranges from 4,000 –
11,000/ cu. mm.
- Evaluating each type
separately
- Neutrophils or
polymorphs 50 – 60%
- Lymphocytes 30 – 50%
- Eosinophils 2 – 5%
- Monocytes 2 – 4%
- Basophils 0 – 1%
- Absolute Eosinophil
Count – 40 – 440 cells / cu. mm.
Packed
cell volume (PCV)
- Male- 40- 50 %
- Female- 38- 45 %
Mean
corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) 27-31 pg
Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 32-36 %
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 76-96 Cu. mm
Reticulocyte count – 0.5 – 2.0%
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
- Male- <15mm in 1
hour
- Female – < 20 mm
in 1 hour
Platelet
count –
1.5 -4.5 lakh/cu. mm
Coagulation
- Bleeding time – 2 –
6 minutes
- Clotting time – 3 –
9 minutes
- Prothrombin time
-12-16 sec’s
Blood
pH –
7.35-7.45 (venous – artery)
(pH- hydrogen ion concentration which helps in denoting acidity or
alkalinity of the solution (variation from 1- 14 i.e. from most acid to most
alkali)
Electrolytes
- Serum Sodium – 135
-145mEq / L
- Serum Potassium –
3.5 – 5.5mEq / L
- Serum Chloride – 98
-106mEq / L
- Serum Bicarbonate –
22 -26mEq / L
- Serum Lithium – 0.2
-1.0mEq / L
Blood
glucose
- Fasting: 70 -110 Mg
/ dl
- Post prandial (i.e.
after food -1 ¾ hours): 100 -140 Mg / dl
Blood urea
-15 – 40 Mg / dl
Serum cholesterol: 150 – 240 Mg / dl
Serum creatinine: 0.8 – 1.4 Mg / dl
Serum uric acid: 3.0 – 7.0 Mg / dl
Serum calcium: 8.5 – 11.0 Mg / dl
Serum phosphorus: 3.5 – 5.5 Mg / dl
Serum amylase- 25 – 90U/L
Serum copper-70 – 150 Mg / dl
Serum iron – Ferritin
- Male -60 -170 µg / L
- Female – 50 – 130 µg
/ L
Plasma
proteins
- Serum albumin – 4.5
to 6g/100ml
- Serum globulin – 1.5
to 2.5g/100ml
- Fibrinogen – 0.2 to
.4g/100ml
Diseases
of Blood
Red blood cells – Anaemia (lowered level), polycythemia (increased
number of RBCs), sickle cell, spherocytosis
White blood cells – Neutropaenia and Leukemias (cancers – acute /
chronic myeloid leukemia, acute/chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Hodgkins disease,
etc.)
Platelets/clotting factors – Bleeding disorders like
Thrombocytopaenia, Haemophilia, Von-Willebrand disease, etc., commonly arise
with lowered platelets count/clotting factors/Vit K.
In many of the blood disorders/infections, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
most often goes high due to rapid destruction of blood cells. (For example
anaemia, bacterial/viral infection with fever, Leukemias, Haemophilia, etc.)
Homeopathic Medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a qualified
Homeopath.
for
new hope
Dr. S.
Chidambaranathan, BHMS, MD (Homeo)
Laxmi Homeo
Clinic
24 E. New
Mahalipatti Road
Madurai, TN 625
001
India
Tel: +91-984-319-1011 (Mob / Whatsapp)
Clinic :
+91-452-233-8833 |
E-mail: drcheena@gmail.com
(Disclaimer: The contents of this column are for informational
purpose only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional
healthcare advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of
healthcare professional for any health problem or medical condition.)