All Blood Tests

Blood typing is a method of determining a person’s blood type by serological methods. These blood types depend on whether or not there are certain antigens on the red blood cells & if there are antibodies to these substances. By careful planning a couple can decide & project its child’s blood type which is quite important because not all blood groups are compatible with each other & if child & mother are of incompatible blood types, mixing of their blood may lead to blood clumping or agglutination, which may be fatal for both mother & the baby.

Deciding your child’s blood type:

Each biological parent donates one of the two A/B/O alleles to his/her child. Alleles are possible types of a particular gene, in this case the blood type gene. There are three basic blood type alleles: A, B, and O which codes for A, B or none of the RBC surface antigens that decide corresponding blood types respectively. Children have two alleles, one inherited from each parent. The possible combinations of the three alleles are OO, AO, BO, AB, AA, and BB. If the parents don’t know their blood type, there are lots of easy ways to learn the blood type.

Consequently, a person with blood type B may have a B and an O allele, or they may have two B alleles. If both parents are blood type B and both have a B and a recessive O, then their children will either be BB (if each parent passed on the B allele), BO (if one parent passed on B and the other parent passed on O), or OO (if both parents passed on the O allele). If the child is BB or BO, they have blood type B. If the child is OO, they will have blood type O.

Take care of Rh factors too:

Rh Factor is also an antigen the alleles for which are also inherited from our parents, but independently of the ABO blood type alleles. Someone who is Rh positive or “Rh+” has at least one Rh+ allele, but could have two in homozygous state.

Similar to A, B, O & AB blood types, Rhesus factor (Rh +/-) genetics is determined from the possible allele combinations inherited from each parent. The DNA of each parent carries two Rh alleles either positive (+) or negative (-). The positive Rh factor allele is dominant over the negative Rh factor allele meaning that if a parent’s pair of Rh factor alleles are one positive (+) and one negative (-), the positive allele will dominate the negative allele and result in a positive Rh factor (Rh+).

Blood typing is a method of determining a person’s blood type by serological methods. These blood types depend on whether or not there are certain antigens on the red blood cells & if there are antibodies to these substances. Blood Typing is also known as – Cross matching, Rh typing & ABO blood typing etc.

Different Blood Groups:

The differences in blood types are due to the presence or absence of certain antigens & corresponding antibodies. Antigens are substances (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body, especially antibody production. The antigens that decide blood types are located on the surface of red blood cells and the antibodies are in blood plasma.

There are more than 20 genetically determined blood group systems known today, but the ABO and Rh systems are the most important ones with serious clinical implications. Not all blood groups are compatible with each other.

ABO Blood Grouping System

According to the ABO blood typing system there are four different kinds of blood types: A, B, AB or O i.e. the null type.

• Blood group A: If you belong to the blood group A, you have type A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and type B antibodies in your blood plasma.
• Blood group B: If you belong to the blood group B, you have type B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and type A antibodies in your blood plasma.
• Blood group AB: If you belong to the blood group AB, you have both type A & type B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and no A or B antibodies at all in your blood plasma.
• Blood group O: If you belong to the blood group O (null), you have neither type A or type B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells but you have both type A & type B antibodies in your blood plasma.

Rh factor based Blood Grouping System

Rh Factor is also an antigen and those who have it are called Rh+. Those who don’t have it are called Rh-. A person with Rh- blood does not have Rh antibodies naturally in the blood plasma but a person with Rh- blood can develop Rh antibodies in the blood plasma if he or she receives blood from a person with Rh+ blood, whose Rh antigens can trigger the production of Rh antibodies. A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from a person with Rh- blood without any problems.

Blood typing: How does it work?

The test sample blood is mixed with three different reagents in 3 different tubes, each containing either of the three different antibodies i.e. A, B or Rh antibodies. The tube in which agglutination occurs indicates that the blood has reacted with the antibodies present in that tube. Based on agglutination patterns, it’s very easy to learn your blood type.

Blood transfusions: Who can receive blood from whom?

One can always give type A blood to people with blood group A, type B blood to a person with blood group B and so on. The transfusion will work if a person who is going to receive blood has a blood group that doesn’t have any antibodies against the donor blood’s antigens. But if a person who is going to receive blood has antibodies against the donor blood’s antigens, the red blood cells in the donated blood will clump.

The blood type nutrition is still a controversy for people in the medical field and according to experts it hasn’t proven medical research.  The theory is that blood type affects how your body breaks down and deals with the various foods.  By following blood type nutrition it is claimed that you’ll feel healthier, lower your risk of certain diseases and lose weight.  Until this day, you’ll be surprised that some people don’t even know there own blood type or the possible relationship it may have to nutrition, exercise, our personality, and vulnerability to diseases.  There is still skepticism among the medical field of experts stating that there is no correlation between blood type and nutrition or how it can prevent illnesses such as heart disease.  My purpose of this article is to bring awareness and information to the readers.  Observe and see what type of changes or affects it may benefit you if you plan to try it out.

In 1950, William C. Boyd published a book called “Genetics and the races of man: An introduction to modern physical anthropology”.  His background is an immunochemist and blood type anthropologist. He explained how the genetic analysis of blood groups and divided the population into 13 geographically distinct races.  Peter D’Adamo who is a naturopathic doctor in Stanford, CT. grouped those thirteen races together by blood group.  Peter continued the work from his father James D’Adamo, who began the scientific research on this.  People became more interested after the release of Peter D’Adamo’s “Eat Right 4 Your Type” years ago in which it was a best seller.

Over the millennium our blood types have evolved swaying in many directions with the various diets out there and our nutrition should be adjusted more carefully.  We can virtually learn a lot from our ancestors or animals.  Instinctively they knew what was good for them and survived in the demographics they lived.  For example, felines such as lions, tigers, cheetahs, and leopards are meat eaters and you wouldn’t see them feeding on carbohydrates.  Other animals are vegetarian and instinctively they will not eat meat.  I agree with this and this is no coincidence.  Animals have a sixth sense or protective mechanism, as well humans have this ability if we were to listen to our senses.  We have evolved and become domesticated that we’ve lost touch with our instincts towards our eating habits.  We can learn a lot from animals and they instinctively eat what is good for them.  Most animals of any particular species live around the same age because they know what foods they should eat instinctively that is good for their nutrition maximizing their life span.  Animals also have a very low risk of heart disease and they don’t die by their predators but from natural causes such as old age.

The blood type nutrition asserts that lectins, from the foods we eat, can cause disruptions in our blood stream and be the source of diseases. A few experts have suggested if we eat foods which are “good” for our blood type, we can avoid ill health.  So what are lectins and what does it do?  A lectin is a protein substance found in the foods binding glycoproteins and glycolipds forming agglutination.  This means tiny molecules found in foods that cause blood and other body tissues to stick to one another.  So if eating a food that has protein lectins and it isn’t compatible with your blood type antigen will result in a counter attack on your organ and system.  It will then begin to agglutinate cells in those areas.  When food is not compatible, the cells in that targeted area will clump and be destroyed.  But there is protection from lectins, and our immune system will fight off 95% of the lectins in our food.  However, the remaining 5% may cause problems if the blood type is reactive.  Next, let me give a brief introduction of the various blood types out there and the foods suitable for that particular blood type.

TYPE O

The Type O is the oldest blood type in which people hunted for their food to survive focusing a predominant meat diet.  Type O’s are encouraged to eat lean red meats and poultry but limited in dairy products, grains (wheat is high on the list to avoid) and legumes.  Although this nutrition is high in animal protein, the type O requires intense physical exercise to help burn off the meat.  Type Os are prone to digestive disorders, more susceptible to arthritis, and thyroid disease due to an overactive immune system. Foods such as wheat and dairy also promote inflammation for this blood type that can trigger an imbalance in immunity.

TYPE A

The type A is a more of a vegetarian diet.  It is the second blood type to evolve as populations settled into agrarian lifestyles.  People living in those areas have adapted and evolved due to the demographics.  Type A’s are advised to consume legumes, beans, cereals, fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of dairy products but eliminating all meats.  The type A individual hardly produces much hydrochloric acid and does poorly on meat and dairy as a result.  So, Type A’s are recommended to not eat red meat, he/she should also refrain from intense exercising and focus more on yoga, meditation and stretch classes. The reason is that type As consume fewer calories in general when they are not eating meat.  There is gene for alcoholism found in Type A’s.  They are also generally more vulnerable to cancer, diabetes and heart disease if they do monitor their health more carefully.

TYPE B

Next came the type B who were nomads having a wider selection of foods.  The type B encourages meat (but not chicken), dairy products, all fruits, most vegetables, and some beans.  They are to avoid nuts, seeds and wheat.  Type Bs also function better on a moderate exercise program.  They suffer from the highest incidence of bladder and urinary tract infections.  Type B’s are also prone to viral diseases when their immune system is compromised. Viral diseases such as pneumonia, Multiple Sclerosis, and Lou Gehrig’s disease are a few examples.  I’ve personally had similar experiences with the few I’ve mentioned since I fall into this blood type category.  However, with the continued persistence of having a healthy mind, body, and spirit has helped me persevere through.

TYPE AB

The final blood type is the AB and referred as enigmas because it combines a Type A and Type B diet requiring meat but in fewer portions.  This is the rarest and newest blood type to evolve and it is best adapted to a moderate diet. Type AB people benefit from a combination of A and B type nutrition.  They are allowed to eat some meat and dairy products.  Type AB’s can have a limited portion of wheat products, most fruits and vegetables.  Meat is not as well digested compared to fresh fish, dairy, soy and wheat-free grains.  Exercising for the type AB is predominately qi gong, yoga, meditation and mentally quieting exercises calming and invigorate the body. Aerobic type exercise is fine as long as it is not done to the extreme.  AB types are prone to either diseases encountered by the type A or the type B individuals.

About 2 years after the release of “Eat Right 4 Your Type” I spoke to a few friends who were dieticians about the blood type diet and they were suspicious in the beginning.  But after following the blood type nutrition for a few months of experimenting it was quite positive for a few of them. What I noticed was that most people I’ve spoke to about the blood type nutrition sounded a lot like the criticisms towards an Atkins diet.  Experts stated that theories weren’t backed up by scientific research. Until this day, there are more research done and it has been fine tuned on previous findings.  This is ongoing research, something you just don’t see in everyday “fad” diets.  I have a few close friends who have high blood pressure, diabetic, chrons disease, lupus, and most of them have improved their personal health by following the blood type nutrition.  I made a note to myself that there was a possibility that some of these people that had medical problems charted almost exactly with the risk factors for blood type.   There are studies on the correlation between blood type and diseases reviewed in medical journals for a long time even though it hasn’t been mentioned.  We are all different from one another and our blood isn’t the only factor that determines our diet or disease.  But it plays a main factor and people who are concerned with maximizing their quality of life or should be aware of the effects of blood type.  Losing weight on a diet that is correct for a person’s blood type is easier than if the diet is more appropriate for another blood type. They still have to eat the right number of calories and exercise, but the correct diet will provide more nutrition and more energy to support the exercise.

I constantly use myself as a ginny pig and I personally have tried the diet after the book came out from Peter D’Adamo for about a month.  At that time, I did lose about 12 pounds and my digestive problems were much improved since I began having ongoing issues with that.  I also felt more energetic.  It does take at least 7-10 days for things to take affect and especially if one has intestinal issues.  From a personal basis the results were positive and profound.  I am not a blood type anthropologist, medical expert, or scientist.  There is constant research on this topic along with updates on any new findings on food compatibility. In my opinion I think this diet could definitely be used in conjunction with others appropriate blood type. Whether that person is using partial recommendations or full advice on foods you can eat or avoid for your blood type.  This type of diet isn’t likely to harm anyone at all.  This is a great resource and it’s interesting to really getting to know your body which this blood type nutrition teaches you on your own self journey.  Experiment and get to know your body on certain foods that may give you a different reaction good or bad.   For example, type O’s are meat-eaters but there are also many type O people who are vegetarians.  A type O person who chooses to avoid meat must work and be creative, than a type A to get their nutrition from plants by combining rice and beans for instance. A type O should avoid dairy, but they may find that life without ice cream isn’t worth living so they might experiment with how much ice cream can they tolerate and still feel good afterwards. A person can sense whether a certain food is good for them if they eat just that one food while their stomach is empty. It takes a little experimentation to determine which foods energize them and which make them react differently or ill.   Keep a log book and re-learn and monitor what foods your body reacts positively or negatively.  I’m sure readers who are more skeptical like to see detailed scientific justification before jumping into a health plan will find this very interesting nonetheless.  Although experts don’t have many positive things to say about the blood type nutrition, it will get you thinking about what you are currently eating.  Eventually the result you may start to make changes to your diet.  A blood type nutrition does consist of fresh, natural foods and it can help de-junk your diet by cutting out processed foods, booze, chocolate and loads of coffee.  I hope what I’ve explained has opened the mind of some people or motivated some readers of the ideas I’ve addressed.  For more information, discuss this topic with a health practitioner or a dietician that is experienced for a deeper insight on this topic.  Decide for yourself if you would like to integrate a few or a majority of the blood type nutrition into your lifestyle.  It certainly doesn’t hurt to try as a few people I know have been successful with their own health after experimenting with the blood type nutrition.

A significant step that takes place before the actual freezing is testing the blood in order to avoid preserving blood infested with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, infant leukemia or other blood disorders and genetic conditions. Another safety measure is to collect the cord blood right after the birth, meaning in maximum 15 minutes. Before storing it, the blood is centrifugally divided into its components through a specialized apparatus. If this procedure is not applied, then a sediment is injected in the cord blood, in order to separate it in its elements. The basic elements of the cord blood are RBC cells, also called red cells, white blood cells WBC and plasmatic cells. Actually, the valuable stem cells are included in the white blood cells, so the red ones and the plasma are less important. The white blood cells produce protective antibodies that are immune to various kinds of germs and their utility in medicine is very complex. Stem cells are actually those cells which have the ability to differentiate and divide in other cells and due to this property, they have the ability to repair various systems of the body.

After separating the cells, the RBC cells are removed from the cord blood, as in this way, the chances of the stems to be compatible with many people increase considerably. This is due to the fact that patients have different blood types, even if they have the same blood required for the stems transplant. Besides these, the red blood cells of the cord blood can affect different organs of the patient, while the transplant proceeds. After the removal of the RBC cells, the remaining cord blood is deposited for freezing for unlimited periods of time. All these steps must be done quickly, as it is safest to freeze the cord blood after 24 to 36 hours since the actual birth. If the cord blood is processed and kept correctly, its benefits for future patients are unlimited, as it bases efficient treatments and medical operations in diseases like leukemia, various types of cancer, anemia, immune system disorders and rare genetic diseases.

Cord blood family services take into account the age and the health history of the families who want to donate or to bank their baby’s cord blood. There are questionnaires for helping clarifying the family health history and the likeliness of using the umbilical cord blood. Besides, cord blood family services offer information about cord blood in general, about the successfully cord blood stem cells transplantations and about the process of collection, testing and storing cord blood samples. Respectable cord blood family services ensure the shipping and handling process, taking care of all the details for the safe transportation of the umbilical cord blood. Most of them contract reliable medical courier services and in most cases the clients are informed about the successful delivery. Some of the existent cord blood family services have proposals for those families who would like to interrupt their baby’s cord blood after ten or more years of storage. Those families may donate it for public usage. In this sense, after the donation of the umbilical cord blood, those families may be refunded with some or even all invested money.

Blood is a liquid connective tissue, composed of plasma and different types of cells. Blood plays an important role in supplying oxygen and nutrients to all the body organs. Its two major functions are: 1. Transportation of oxygen and carbon dioxide, ions, food molecules such as lipids, glucose and amino acids, hormones and wastes 2. Protection of the body against infection and foreign bodies. It consists of different types of cells such as Red Blood Cells (RBCs), White Blood Cells (WBCs) and Platelets/thrombocytes.

What are White Blood Cells?

White blood cells or leukocytes are the cells of the immune system. They protect the body against the foreign materials and infections. They are divided into two categories such as granulocytes and agranulocytes. The granulocytes are of three types such as neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils. Lymphocytes and monocytes are the agranulocytes. The normal count of white blood cells is 4,000-10,000/mm3. They have a short lifespan, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. These cells offer defensive properties to blood in order to fight against the infections and the invading foreign bodies such as bacteria and viruses. If number of leukocytes increases than the normal count, the condition is known as leukemia. If the white blood cell count is below normal, it is known as leukopenia. There may be decrease in individual leukocyte percentage, e.g. neutropenia, i.e., a decrease in number of neutrophils. The reduction of all types of white blood cells is known as panleukopenia.

Causes of Low White Blood Cell Count

An abnormal low white blood cell count is associated with a number of causes and medical conditions. Some of the causes of leukopenia are aplastic anemia, chemotherapy, autoimmune diseases such as lupus, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, liver diseases, spleen diseases, a deficiency of vitamins and minerals such as zinc and copper, and autoimmune diseases. Certain infections such as viral infections can cause low white blood cell count. Some of the medications including chemotherapy drugs, some of the antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs also lead to leukopenia. Certain bone marrow diseases such as myelodysplastic syndrome or leukemia reduce the white blood cell count. Sometimes, the exact cause of leukopenia is not known, it is referred to as idiopathic.

Symptoms of Low White Blood Cell Count

When the white blood cell count is reduced, the body tends to catch the infection easily. Fever is the first indication of infection. The gastrointestinal system and bladder are the areas of potential infection. Hence, watch for the symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, rectal bleeding and urination problems. Mouth sores, sore gums or canker sores also indicate the decreased white blood cell count. Sore throat, cough, headache and sneezing are the signs of lung or sinus infection. Whenever you notice these symptoms, consult the doctor and if needed, have the blood test to determine the white cell count.

Effects of Low White Blood Cell Count

A reduction in white blood cell count leads to weakened immune system, as these cells are an integral part of the immune system. A person with low white blood cell count is at higher risk of bacterial, fungal and viral infections due to a compromised immune system. The infections of gastrointestinal system, lungs, throat and bladder are are some typical examples of low white blood cell count infections.

Treatment for Low White blood Cell Count

When you notice the symptoms of infection due to leukopenia, you should immediately consult the doctor. Complete blood count and absolute neutrophil count are the commonly recommended tests for the diagnosis of leukopenia. Sometimes, a bone marrow examination is suggested by the doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

The medications used to treat leukopenia are known as ‘growth factors’. They consist of cytokines, which stimulates the bone marrow to produce more number of white cells. Two commonly prescribed drugs are filgrastim and pegfilgrastim. Some antimicrobial medications and antibiotics are also prescribed by the doctors to treat the infections. If low white blood cell count is due to the chemotherapy drugs, it is advised to delay the chemotherapy treatment or reduce the chemotherapy dose. Have a balanced and nutritious diet.

Precautions for People with Low White Blood Cell Count

People with low white blood cell count need to take some precautions in order to minimize the risk of infection. Hands are the means of a spread of infections. Hence, wash your hands frequently with soap and plenty of water. Dry and chapped skin is more prone to infection. In order to keep your skin moisturized, use a body lotion after each wash. Try to avoid large crowds in order to avoid any contact with the infected and sick people. Stay away from the things that can cause cuts or wounds on your skin. Wear gloves and mask whenever possible. If you have any kind of wound or trauma, get it treated immediately.

The treatment of High Blood Pressure or Hypertension is essential. The course of treatment can be decided by the patient in consultation with his doctor. Leaving a High Blood Pressure untreated can prove fatal. Therefore, treatment of High Blood Pressure cannot be neglected. Thus, medication for High Blood Pressure is essential to prevent further complications.

Not all cases of High Blood Pressure can be medicated in the same form. The High Blood Pressure types are classified into three major groups. High blood pressure medication is different for each of them. The drugs used for the medication of high blood pressure are generally divided into eight categories. These categories are arranged, according to the stage of Hypertension.

In Stage I type of Hypertension, there are no other major health problems. The Systolic Pressure is between 140 and 159, while the Diastolic Pressure is between 90 to 99.The medication prescribed for High Blood Pressure is a simple Diuretic. Along with a healthy lifestyle to go with the medication, the High Blood Pressure is kept well under control.

In Stage II type of Hypertension, the Systolic Pressure is 159 and above, while the Diastolic Pressure is 100 and above. For this category of patients, High Blood Pressure Medication, a Diuretic and an ACE Inhibitor is recommended. The two drug formula works faster and keeps blood pressure in control. In this category, other High Blood Pressure Medications include Beta Blockers, CCBs and Angiotensin II receptor blockers.

In the Stage III type of blood pressure, the patient usually has serious health problems along with High Blood Pressure. The common problems are diabetes, heart and kidney problems, previous stroke, coronary artery disease and even previous heart attack. Medication for High Blood Pressure in such cases is usually fixed after other forms of medications have been tried out. Usually, the doctor tries to put a different High Blood Pressure Medication Strategy, where he tries to reduce blood pressure to a fixed goal.

If you suffer from high blood pressure, one thing you probably dread is the use of strong medicine. Some even believe that this is their only option. There are, however, many types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Provided here are five types of alternative medicine techniques you can use to control your high blood pressure.

1. Lose Weight and Eat Healthy

One of the most effective types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure is to lose weight. A major cause of high blood pressure is obesity, so losing weight is a great way to lower your blood pressure. This isn’t the easiest thing in the world for a lot of people. It takes dedication and consistency, but it is your health and, overall, it is your life. Losing weight involves changing your diet and getting plenty of exercise and the best time to start is now!

2. Relieve Stress

Stress can cause a lot to go wrong with your body and high blood pressure is no exception. Another type of alternative medicine for high blood pressure is simply to learn how to relax. Learn some relaxation techniques such as:

> Meditation

> Yoga

> Massage

> Music

There are many more ways to relax and apart from lowering your blood pressure, it will also improve your quality of life.

3. Magnet Treatment

This can definitely be classified as an alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Not much is known behind why this works, but copper and iron bracelets can help reduce the effects of blood pressure. There are no side effects or any type of harm that can come of it, so it doesn’t hurt to try it out.

4. Chiropractic Treatment and Acupuncture

Another great alternative medicine for high blood pressure is visiting your chiropractor. Realigning the vertebrae in the spine can reestablish the body’s balance and help you function properly. Acupuncture can help release strain on your heart. Both treatments contribute to reducing stress, therefore dramatically reducing high blood pressure.

5. Herbs and Vitamins

I’m sure you’ve heard of using supplemental vitamins for health reasons and you may even take vitamins already. This is a great alternative medicine for high blood pressure. Not only can you take supplements, but you can also increase the amount of vegetables and fruits in your diet. This will also contribute to eating healthier, which will help you lose weight. You are looking to increase three major elements in your diet

> Calcium

> Potassium

> Magnesium

All five types of alternative medicine for high blood pressure will give you options for treating your high blood pressure other than taking strong medicine. They may not be your cure, but they can work together to help improve your quality of life and lower your high blood pressure.

What is Leukemia?
It is like other cancers, result from somatic mutations in the DNA which activate oncogenes or deactivate tumor suppressor genes, and disrupt the regulation of cell death, differentiation or division. These mutations may occur spontaneously or as a result of exposure to radiation or carcinogenic substances and are likely to be influenced by genetic factors. Cohort and case-control studies have linked exposure to petrochemicals, such as benzene, and hair dyes to the development of some forms of leukemia.

Types of Leukemia:
1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (Also known as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia or ALL) is the most common type of leukemia in young children. This disease also affects adults, especially at age 65 and older. This type of Leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells, characterized by the overproduction and continuous multiplication of malignant and immature white blood in the bone marrow. It is a hematological malignancy.

2. Acute myelogenous leukemia (also known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia or AML) occurs more commonly in adults than in children. This type of leukemia was previously called acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

3. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) most often affects adults over the age of 55. It sometimes occurs in younger adults, Children are never affected by CLL.

4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) occurs mainly in adults. A very small number of children also develop this disease. This type of leukemia characterized by increased and unregulated clonal production of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow.

Leukemia is clinically and pathologically split into its acute and chronic forms.

Acute leukemia is characterized by the rapid growth of immature blood cells. This crowding makes the bone marrow unable to produce healthy blood cells. Acute forms of leukemia can occur in children and young adults. (In fact, it is a more common cause of death for children in the US than any other type of malignant disease). Immediate treatment is required in acute leukemia’s due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other organs of the body. If left untreated, the patient will die within months or even weeks.

Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, blood cells. Typically taking months to years to progress, the cells are produced at a much higher rate than normal cells, resulting in many abnormal white blood cells in the blood. Chronic leukemia mostly occurs in older people, but can theoretically occur in any age group.

Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes monitored for some time before treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness of therapy.

Furthermore, the diseases are classified according to the type of abnormal cell found most in the blood.

When leukemia affects lymphoid cells (lymphocytes and plasma cells), it is called lymphocytic leukemia.

Causes of Leukemia:
The causes of Leukemia are not defined in general, as the causes of leukemia are different for different types of Leukemia. Researchers have strong suspicions about four possible causes:
i) natural or artificial ionizing radiation
ii) certain kinds of chemicals
iii) some viruses
iv) genetic predispositions

Regular and unprotected exposure to some chemicals can lead to the development of leukemia. However, exposure to chemicals while on the job is the cause of the leukemia. Persons with Down syndrome are also at a greater risk of developing leukemia than the general public. Anyone who has received chemotherapy treatments as treatment for another form of cancer is also much more likely to develop leukemia than a person who has never received chemotherapy treatments. Persons who suffer with the blood disease known as Myelodysplastic syndrome may also find themselves with a diagnosis of leukemia as a natural progression of their condition.

The leukemia specialist will determine the specific type of leukemia that has developed. It is easier to evaluate overall health conditions which come up with a leukemia treatment program that will be right for the leukemia patient. Radiation therapy may be determined to be the best leukemia treatment. For the next person, biological therapy may be seen as the right leukemia treatment.

The main cause of leukemia is the exposure to very high levels of radiation. However, radiation exposure at a nuclear reactor or being exposed to the massive amount of radiation released when an atomic bomb explodes definitely is linked to leukemia.

The fact of the Leukemia is that the viruses have also been linked to some forms of leukemia. Fanconi anemia is also a risk factor for developing leukemia. Until the cause or causes of leukemia are found, there is no way to prevent the disease. Even when the causes become known, they may prove to be things which are not readily controllable, such as naturally occurring background radiation, and therefore not especially helpful for prevention purposes.

We all know about blood gushing through our veins, but have we stopped to think what this very same blood is made of? Blood consists of Red Blood cells, White blood cells and platelets.

Introduction to Leukocytes

Leukocytes or White blood cells are those cells in your blood that have the responsibility of defending your body against infections and diseases. They not only fight infections but also guard the body against foreign objects like germs and bacteria. White blood cells and red blood cells are both produced from the stem cell of the bone marrow. There are more that 6000 white blood cells in every millimeter of blood in the body, which is equivalent to more than ½ million white blood cells in every drop of blood! The life expectancy of white blood cells in only 2 or 3 days, after which they die and destroyed by the other white blood cells in blood and replaced with new and fresh cells. Where the number of leukocytes in the blood increases, it is an indication of a disease or infection. Under normal conditions, there should be 4×109 and 11×109 white blood cells per liter or blood, which is equivalent to 1% of the healthy blood in the body. In case the body is suffering from leukemia, this count will be must higher and in case of leukopenia it will be much lower.

Composition of leukocytes

Leukocytes or White blood cells, as the name suggests are white or rather colorless. This is because they do not contain hemoglobin that is responsible for the red color in the red blood cells. They are rather asymmetrical in shape and consist of a nucleus, and much larger than red blood cells. These leukocytes can easily change their shape, which enable them to squeeze into walls of blood vessels and between other cells.

Types of Leukocytes

There are different types of leukocytes, though their most common classification is as per the presence of granules.

* Granulocytes – these are leukocytes that are commonly characterized by the presence of different granules in their cytoplasm. These types of leukocytes are responsible mainly for the digestion of endocytosed particles in the blood stream. There are three different type of Granulocytes: Neutrophils, Basophils and Eosinophils, these names are given according to their staining properties.
* Agranulocytes – these are leukocytes, which lack specific types of granules in the cytoplasm. There are two different types of Agranulocytes: Monocytes and Macrophages

Function of different types of leukocytes:

* Neutrophils – these types of leukocytes help in fighting and defending the body against infections of bacterial and fungal variety. They also play a part in minute inflammatory processes and also initially respond to microbial infections. Pus is formed in the body when these Neutrophils are active. These are also called polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
* Eosinophils – these are responsible for dealing with infections of the parasitic variety and an increase in these is the indication of such infections. Eosinophils are active in the body when the body is suffering from asthma, hay fever, hives and other parasitic infections.
* Basophils – the function of Basophils is to help the body fight against allergies and antigens, this is possible as they help in releasing chemical histamine.
* Monocytes – these leukocytes are the cleaners for Neutrophils. But other than that they are responsible for presenting the T cells with pathogens for their destruction.
* Macrophage – these are converted Monocytes that help in cleaning out the dead cells in the blood stream.

The first blood transfusion on humans was performed around 1600 with animal blood and the results were disastrous. It was in 1800s that James Blundell proposed the concept of using human blood transfusion for human beings. However, it was only in early 1900s that the four types of blood group were identified by Karl Landsteiner. This lead to successful blood transfusions in humans and better results were produced when the type of blood was the same in the donor and receiver.

Blood Types

A blood type, also known as the blood group is the classification of blood bases based on the presence or absence of antigens that we inherit from our parents and is present on the surface of the red blood cells. These antigens can be proteins, carbohydrates, glycoproteins or glycolipids and depends mainly on the blood group.

To identify the blood type, the presence or absence of these immunogenic blood group antigens, classified as antigen A, antigen B along with the antigen RhD is identified. The type is stated as a combination of either A or B along with the presence or absence of the RhD antigen, for example, A positive, B negative, etcetera. The blood type AB indicates the presence of both A and B antigens while the blood type O indicates the absence of both types of antigens.

Red Blood Cell Compatibility

* AB Group: Individuals with the blood group AB contain both antigen A and antigen B. Hence, they can receive blood from individuals of all blood groups but can donate blood only to people who have the AB blood group.
* A Group: Individuals with the blood group contain antigen A. Hence, they can receive blood from individuals who have the blood group A or O and can donate blood to people who have A or AB blood group.
* B Group: Individuals with the blood group contain antigen B. Hence, they can receive blood from individuals who have the blood group B or O and can donate blood to people who have B or AB blood group.
* O Group: Individuals with the blood group do not contain antigen A or antigen B. Hence, they can receive blood from individuals who have the blood group O and can donate blood to people who have A, B or AB blood group.

Apart from these, people who have the RhD antigen present in their blood can receive blood from people whose blood may or may not contain the antigen while people who do not have the RhD antigen present in their blood cannot receive blood which contains the antigen RhD. However, this particular antigen does not come into the picture when plasma is to be donated or received. The listing mentioned above holds good.

From the list above it is easy to understand as to why people with blood group O (especially O negative) are referred to as ‘universal donors’ and people with blood group AB (especially AB positive) are referred to as ‘universal recipients’.

Rare Blood Types

I was very surprised to read that the concentration of a blood group varies in ethnic groups and geographically too. In the United States of America, the rarest blood type is AB Negative. It has been estimated that only about 1 in about 170 people have this blood type. However, as people with this blood group can be transfused with all other blood groups, even in cases of low resources, there is not too much of an issue. Next in line is the B Negative blood type. About 1 in every 70 people has this blood type.

The most common blood group is the O Positive blood group. In a way this is our good fortune as people with this blood type can donate blood to all people who have any blood type with the RhD antigen present.

With the advance in technologies over the years, the human race has been able to understand as to which blood type of blood is best suitable for transfusion to a particular individual. It is up to us to use this information diligently. Be well advised so that when there is an emergency, you can take a well informed decision which will not lead to any unnecessary complications.