Blood Disorders

Blood Disorders

Darnella Franklin

January 29, 2012

HCA 240

Pamela Card

Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, start the clotting process. Thrombocytes secret a chemical that causes the blood vessel to constrict until a clot is formed, (Celli, 1999-2012). Plasma carries the blood cells and transports various materials to and from cells.

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia. It is a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells, which are used to carry oxygen throughout the body. Anemia occurs when one does not have enough iron in the body. Without enough iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, which is sufficient for carrying oxygen. As a result, iron deficiency anemia may cause one to be tired and shot of breath. There are a variety of foods that supply iron, but if one is a picky eater, getting the necessary amount of iron could happen by taking iron supplements. Parents often have a child that would only eat what is good to him or her, but not good for him or her. In some cases, a nutritional shake, like Pediasure is used as a replacement for picky eaters. Every serving, one bottle, has a 20 percent serving of iron. According to "Iron Deficiency Anemia" (2011), “Sometimes, additional treatments for iron deficiency anemia are necessary, especially if you’re bleeding internally”. To prevent iron deficiency anemia, one should consume an iron fortified diet and take an iron supplement for those that are at high risk for anemia.

Unlike iron deficiency anemia, the sickle cell trait cannot be prevented. In fact, sickle cell is inherited from the parents, but depending on if one or both parents have the trait, the child has a 50 percent chance of inheriting the disease. People who have the sickle cell trait usually do not have any symptoms of sickle cell disease, but they can pass it on to their children. Most people with the sickle cell trait do not have any...