Blood Health: No Needling, Just the Facts From A to B

By Martha Michael

Blood Health

We all have it running through our veins, but our relationship to blood depends on our individual experience. One person faints at the sight of it while another person has no reaction at all when they see it every day on their favorite video game.

We need a healthy blood supply as much as we need air, and it serves us whether we notice it or not. But how much do we really know about this vital component to life? In celebration of National Blood Donor Month in January, let’s find out.

What Are the Components of Blood and How Does It Work?

The life-giving body fluid that runs through your arteries, veins, and capillaries keeps you alive through various means, according to an article on the website Hematology.org. Regardless of blood types, a healthy blood supply serves several functions.

Carries nutrients and oxygen to lungs and tissues
Forms clots to prevent blood loss
Transports cells and antibodies to fight infections
Carries waste products to the kidneys and liver for blood filtering
Regulates body temperature

Blood has four components.

Plasma

Made up of water, sugar, protein, fat, and salts, plasma is the liquid property of blood. It transports nutrients, blood cells, waste, clotting proteins, and chemical messengers, including hormones and proteins to support balance in the body’s fluids.

White Blood Cells

Also referred to as leukocytes, white blood cells only make up about 1 percent of your blood. There are two types with different jobs -- neutrophils and lymphocytes.

Neutrophils

The most common type of white blood cell is the neutrophil, which lives up to 24 hours and acts as an “immediate response” cell. New neutrophils are generated in the bone marrow and work to fight infection.

Lymphocytes

T lymphocytes regulate immune cell function and B lymphocytes create antibodies that target viruses, bacteria, and other materials.

Red Blood Cells

Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, are the most prevalent cells in your bloodstream, making up about 40 percent of your blood volume. They are bright red and are shaped similar to a donut. They’re generated in the bone marrow and mature after seven days and enter the bloodstream. They contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body and returns carbon dioxide to the lungs. The lifespan of a red blood cell is about 120 days when the compounds are absorbed by specialized cells in the bone marrow.

Platelets

Though platelets are merely fragments of cells, they do some of the heavy lifting by coagulating blood. Following an injury, they stick to the lining of the blood vessel and create a platform where a fibrin clot is developed. It promotes healing and forms new tissue.

What Is Blood Health?

Every time you visit a medical facility where they take your blood pressure reading, they’re looking at one aspect of your blood health. The blood pressure measurement is gauging your circulation and the force of cells against the walls of your blood vessels.

Healthy blood cells are formed in your bone marrow and remain there as “blasts” until they mature or emerge as stem cells. As they develop, they evolve and become differentiated as red cells, white cells, or platelets.

Because your blood is a reflection of your health, medical professionals find blood tests useful for a variety of diagnostic purposes, according to an article by Johns Hopkins. The complete blood cell count, or CBC, is a blood test measuring the number, size, and maturity of your blood cells. The test is used to determine various abnormalities and to detect the presence of an infection or disease. They can diagnose certain cancers or blood disorders through a blood test.

When there are too many white blood cells it may mean your body is fighting an infection. Analyses done with a blood draw can help monitor cholesterol levels to lower the risk of heart disease and reduce the chance you develop high blood pressure, or hypertension.

What Are Common Blood Disorders?

An article by the American Society of Hematology says that people typically begin by visiting their primary care physician but if there’s some evidence of blood disorders or other issues, they may be referred to a hematologist.

Anemia is one of the most prevalent blood disorders. It’s diagnosed when there are few red blood cells in your system and low energy. You may suffer from pale skin and shortness of breath.

Anemia of chronic disease occurs when you have kidney disease or another chronic illness and you become anemic as a result.

Pernicious anemia involves a deficiency of Vitamin B12 in your system. It means your body isn’t absorbing enough of the vitamin. It could be triggered by an autoimmune condition or a weakened stomach lining.

Other common blood disorders include:

Blood clots
Hemophilia
Other bleeding disorders
Myeloma
Lymphoma

If you have a blood condition, you can get clarity by submitting yourself to tests. Neglecting the opportunity to address blood disorders may negatively impact your general health.

The Importance of Blood Donation

Thanks to hospitals and non-profit organizations hosting blood drives and health fairs, there is access to donated blood when it’s needed. Nearly 7 million Americans per year donate blood, adding approximately 13.6 million units of blood to the supply, according to the American Red Cross website.

In the United States alone, every two seconds someone needs blood. There is an ever-present need for blood donation, yet only 3 percent of eligible blood donors are willing to add to the supply.

Blood products are needed for many purposes, including:

Surgery
Cancer treatment
Blood transfusions
Replacement from traumatic injuries

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a list of requirements for people who donate blood. In order to maintain a safe blood supply, blood donors must:

Be 17 years of age or older; 16-year-olds can donate with parental permission
Weigh 110 pounds or more
Feel healthy and meet the medical standards for temperature and blood pressure
Not have donated in the last eight weeks

Other factors affecting your ability to donate blood include:

Health conditions - People with certain diseases including HIV, cancer, and sickle cell anemia are disqualified from donating blood
Injection drug use - If you’ve received an injection in the previous three months you cannot donate blood
Travel - Any travel outside the United States within the previous three years will be considered before your blood is drawn
Tattoos and piercings - It varies state-by-state, but you may be unable to donate blood if you received a tattoo or piercing within the previous three months

From natural disasters to a treatable injury, we can all agree that when we become ill or suffer from a fall and need blood as part of our treatment, we hope there’s an ample supply. When the rubber meets the road and we have a flesh and blood experience with an emergency surgery or cancer treatment, there are nameless heroes who get us through.

For one person the thought of blood conjures up childhood memories of skinned knees and for someone else it’s a reminder of their next boxing match or hockey game. Like the demand for a healthy blood supply at your nearest donation center, your body is calling for a healthy blood cell generation process to boost your immune system, lower the chance of a heart attack, and keep you energized.

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