The Silent Workers in Our Blood: All About Red Blood Cells

Have you ever wondered why our blood is red? Or have you ever looked at a drop of blood that comes out of a small wound and wondered what's inside? Our body is truly an amazing factory. Inside this factory, there are some small workers who do a silent but indispensable job. They are what we call red blood cells, or `(Erythrocytes)`. Today we are talking about these small, but indispensable heroes of our lives.

Simply put, what is the function of these red blood cells?

Imagine that our body is a big city. Every house, every shop, every office in this city needs energy to work. The main thing that needs to provide that energy is oxygen. So, red blood cells are like the fastest courier service in this city.

Here's how it happens:

1. Picking up oxygen: The oxygen that enters our lungs when we breathe is loaded into courier bags called red blood cells. It's like picking up goods from a warehouse.

2. Distributed throughout the body: These oxygen-laden red blood cells then travel through our blood vessels from one corner of the body to the other, distributing oxygen to every cell, from brain cells to skin cells to the cells in our toes.

3. It takes away waste: When we use oxygen to make energy, our cells release a waste product called carbon dioxide. This is like the garbage we throw out of our homes. So our red blood cells collect this carbon dioxide waste and bring it back to the lungs.

4. Exhaling waste: We expel carbon dioxide from the lungs when we exhale.

Did you see the work? This cycle happens inside our bodies without stopping for a single second. That's why we get the energy to live.

Where are these red blood cells produced? What do they look like?

The factory where these little workers called red blood cells are made is located in the bone marrow inside our bones . This is the main place in our body where blood cells are made. It takes about seven days for a newly formed red blood cell to fully mature and join the bloodstream.

The way they look is also very special.

• Color: They get their bright red color from a protein called hemoglobin . This hemoglobin is what carries oxygen, like a courier bag.
• Shape: These are very small, and can only be seen with a microscope. They are shaped like a doughnut , but there is no hole in the middle. The middle part is like a flat, circular disk that is sunken in on both sides.
• No nucleus:Unlike other cells, red blood cells do not have a nucleus. This is a great advantage. Because they do not have a nucleus, they can change their shape in any way they want and can fit through even the smallest blood vessels. This is why they are able to carry oxygen to every corner of the body.

What are the diseases that affect red blood cells?

Sometimes the number of red blood cells in our body can be lower or higher than normal. Both of these conditions can affect our health.

1. Low Red Blood Cell Count

We usually call this "anemia" or, in medical terms, "anemia." This is when your blood is unable to carry enough oxygen, which can make you feel weak and tired.

2. High Red Blood Cell Count

Sometimes the body makes more red blood cells than it needs. This causes the blood to thicken. Think of it as thick syrup instead of water. This thickened blood makes it harder for the blood to flow through the veins, increasing the risk of serious conditions like blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.

What are the common symptoms of a red blood cell problem?

Whether your red blood cell count is low or high, some common symptoms may occur, because both ultimately result in some change in the way the body's cells receive the oxygen they need.

How are these tested? What are the normal values?

There is a very simple and common test that can be done to check the health of your red blood cells. It is called a complete blood count (CBC) . This involves taking a small sample of blood from your arm and counting not only the red blood cells, but also the number of all the different types of cells, such as white blood cells and platelets.

Normally, the red blood cell count of a healthy person can be in this range.

But remember, these numbers can vary slightly from lab to lab, and from person to person. Don't be alarmed if your report is a little out of range. Your doctor will review your report, compare it to your health, and explain exactly what it means.

What should we do to keep red blood cells healthy?

Keeping these silent workers of ours healthy is very important. It doesn't have to be a big deal. If we keep our food and drinks properly, we can do a lot. We should especially get the nutrients we need to make red blood cells from food.

What is mainly needed is:

• Iron
• Vitamin B9 (folic acid)
• Vitamin B12

These are some of the most common foods:

• Red meat (beef) and parts like liver: These have very high levels of iron.
• Fish: Especially fish like salao and kumbalao.
• Dark green leafy vegetables: things like spinach, kale, gotu kola, and moringa leaves.
• Grains such as lentils, chickpeas, peas, and green beans.
• Eggs: Especially egg yolks.
• Nuts and dried fruits: Things like dates, raisins, and cashews.

By adding these foods to your daily diet, you will get exactly the ingredients your red blood cell factory needs. Also, avoiding smoking is a great help for red blood cells.