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From other websitesContent disclaimerContent on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Red blood cells carry fresh oxygen all over the body. This is important to your health. Red blood cells are round with a flattish, indented center, like doughnuts without a hole. Your healthcare provider can check on the size, shape, and health of your red blood cells using a blood test. Red blood cells at workHemoglobin is the protein inside red blood cells. It carries oxygen. Red blood cells also remove carbon dioxide from your body, bringing it to the lungs for you to exhale. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow. They typically live for about 120 days, and then they die. Nutrition and red blood cellsFoods rich in iron help you maintain healthy red blood cells. Vitamins are also needed to build healthy red blood cells. These include vitamins B-2, B-12, and B-3, found in foods such as eggs, whole grains, and bananas. Folate also helps. It is found in fortified cereals, dried beans and lentils, orange juice, and green leafy vegetables. Illnesses of the red blood cellsMost people don't think about their red blood cells unless they have a disease that affects these cells. Problems with red blood cells can be caused by illnesses or a lack of iron or vitamins in your diet. Some diseases of the red blood cells are inherited. Diseases of the red blood cells include many types of anemia. This is a condition in which there are too few red blood cells to carry enough oxygen all over the body. People with anemia may have red blood cells that have an abnormal shape or that look normal, larger than normal, or smaller than normal. Symptoms of anemia include tiredness, fast heart rate, pale skin, feeling cold, and, in severe cases, heart failure. Children who don't have enough healthy red blood cells grow and develop more slowly than other children. These symptoms show how important red blood cells are to your daily life. These are common types of anemia:
What is the difference between red and white blood cells?Red blood cells transport oxygen to your body's organs and tissues. White blood cells help your body fight infections. Platelets help your blood to clot.
What are the different functions between red and white blood cells?Hemoglobin (Hgb) is an important protein in the red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of our body. The main job of white blood cells, or leukocytes, is to fight infection.
What is the difference between red blood cells and other cells?Unlike many other cells, red blood cells have no nucleus and can easily change shape, helping them fit through the various blood vessels in your body.
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