A recent study suggests that red blood cells (RBCs), responsible for transporting oxygen in the bloodstream, can offer protection against myocardial infarctions (heart attacks) when exposed to oxygen deficiency. RBCs, formed in the bone marrow, play a vital role in delivering oxygen to body tissues and removing carbon dioxide. They contain hemoglobin, a protein that binds oxygen and helps transport carbon dioxide. These biconcave-shaped cells lack a nucleus and have a unique structure for efficient gas exchange. A low RBC count, known as anemia, can lead to symptoms like fatigue, while sickle cell anemia is an inherited blood disorder with treatments aimed at symptom relief and complications management.
Facts/Terms for UPSC Prelims
- Myocardial Infarction: Also known as a heart attack, it occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked, leading to damage or death of heart tissue.
- Anemia: A condition characterized by a lower-than-normal number of RBCs or a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in fatigue and other symptoms due to reduced oxygen delivery.
- Hemoglobin: A protein in RBCs responsible for binding and carrying oxygen from the lungs to body tissues and transporting carbon dioxide back to the lungs.
- Sickle Cell Anemia: An inherited blood disorder caused by abnormal hemoglobin molecules, resulting in misshapen and rigid RBCs that can obstruct blood flow and lead to various complications.
- Bone Marrow Transplantation: A medical procedure where healthy bone marrow or stem cells are transplanted into a patient with a blood or bone marrow disease, offering a potential cure for conditions like sickle cell disease.