Have you ever thought about going more in depth in some topics of medicine? Well Hematology is a study of the career of medicine related to blood. This topic focuses on treatment of diseases focusing on the topic of blood. Some examples are issues related to red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. In different countries it might differ however in Canada to become a Hematologist you would need to first take physics, biology and chemistry throughout the last two years of high school. Biology, Mathematics, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and English during university. Later to move onto four years in medical school. Three years in residency after medical school. Two to four years of fellowship for further training in a subspecialty adult hematology, pediatric hematology/oncology, or pathology.
The importance of the red blood cells carries oxygen throughout the body to the lungs for people to breathe. Red blood cells look similar to a donut as well as are located in the bone marrow and are reported to live in the bone marrow for 120 days. The body is supposed to create 2 million red blood cells per second. To have healthy red blood cells, water intake is needed, vitamins (B-2, B-12 and B-3), whole grains, vegetables, eggs and bananas. Many diseases caused because of red blood cells are usually related to low intake on a healthy diet or are genetic. Some illnesses are, Iron-deficiency anemia, Sickle cell anemia, Normocytic anemia, Hemolytic anemia and Fanconi anemia. The cleaning process of the RBCs is normally cleaned with (0.9%) in an either open or closed system.
The importance of the white blood cells is to fight off sicknesses, bacteria and viruses in the immune system. The white blood cells are also created in the bone marrow. White blood cells are always being created by the body's bone marrow. Some types of white blood cells are, Eosinophils, Basophils, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes and Monocytes which have different roles to play throughout the body. Sicknesses regarding the white blood cells are usually related to infections, cancers, weak immune system, high abnormal rate of white blood cells being created and weak immune system.
The importance of platelets is to protect you from severe bleeding. Platelets are also created in the bone marrow. A normal count of platelets are reported to be 150 000 - 450 000, if platelet count is lower than 50 000 there could be a serious chance of severe bleeding with the simplest cut. Platelets naturally become lower once we become sick, however it could be an issue if it goes lower than 50 000. When platelet count is low, red dots will form all over the body (usually on legs). Black looking bruises will form on the cheeks of the mouth (caused by biting on cheeks). Nose bleeds could become an issue caused by cleaning the nose. As well as internal head bleeds which could be deadly, if platelets are low. When platelet count is high there could be a risk of heart attacks, strokes, blood clots.
In conclusion, the blood cells have a big role to play overall but within the different types of blood cells have different categories that have different roles to play. White blood cells help us when we are ill, red blood cells help us on a daily basis to breathe oxygen and platelets help us to heal our cuts and injuries. Our bodies are machines that are complicated and have to be taken care of with a healthy diet and a lot of water intake. Hematology is important because it is a study which focuses on the speciality of the blood. If there wasn’t hematology there wouldn’t be medical specialists figuring out treatment for cancer/diseases related to blood. For example Leukemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome, Myeloproliferative Disease, Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes, Hodgkin Lymphoma (Hodgkin Disease), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma.
- By Sarah Bukhari
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