Health Problems Due To Large Red Blood Cells

Thursday, May 28, 2015, 16:42 [IST]

Red blood cells do play a vital role in our health. It has a job to lug fresh oxygen throughout our body. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin which carries red blood cells to carry oxygen from our lungs to all parts of your body. It even tries to pass on carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs in order to breathe out.

Blood cells are formed in the bone marrow which includes red blood cells. Red blood cells are produced through a series of definite and complicated steps.

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RBC is created within the bone marrow and there are also many other factors involved its creation. Moreover to produce haemoglobin and red blood cells, the body has to have essential iron, vitamin B-12 and folate. It is even made with other nutrients that we consume from the food we take.

Red blood cells stay for about 100 days and th0e body constantly tries to replace them. Proper number of red blood cells and prevention of anaemia requires support among the kidneys, the bone marrow and essential nutrients within the body. If the kidney and bone marrow are not cooperative then the normal red blood cells’ function can become complex to retain.

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Moreover there are few types of anaemia which determines the size of red blood cells. If the red blood cells are larger than the typical size then it is called macrocytic anaemia. There are many health problems caused due to large red blood cells. Let’s look into some of the problems of large red blood cells.

Vitamin B-12

The underlying cause of larger blood cells is vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency. The vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia happens when there is a scarcity of that vitamin or folate and this causes the body to produce strangely large red blood cells which cannot function fittingly.

These are one of the health problems caused due to large red blood cells. Make sure to modify your diet by including foods that are rich in vitamins. Red meat has a good a source of vitamin B-12 and most of the green leafy vegetables contain folate.

Alcoholism

The problem of large red blood cells is usually intensified by alcoholism. Having large red blood cells is not dangerous. However, alcohol brings with it a number of side effects on different forms in the blood cells and their functions.

Over consumption may lead to suppression of the production of blood cells and this in turn produces an abnormal structure of red blood cell precursors. Regular drinkers will have enlarged red blood cells, however it is not dangerous.

Pregnancy

The major causes of macrocytosis include hypothyroidism, disorders of the bone marrow, production of immature blood cells, and also certain drugs, especially chemotherapathy. Marcorcytosis does occur in women in late pregnancy even without anaemia. It won't occur unless they take folic acid supplements. Women who routinely taking folic acid in prenatal vitamins can lessen this symptom during pregnancy.

Dementia

General symptoms of macrocytosis (usually large red blood cells is related to anemia). The severe health problems caused due to large red blood cells are neurological symptoms such as dementia, depression, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs and loss of balance.

Gastrointestinal Problems

Gastrointestinal problems such as celiac disease can cause large red blood cells. The health problems caused due to large red blood cells include vegan diet, bowel diseases (Crohn's disease) and genetic causes. The deficiency Vitamin in B12 can lead to the disease of the lethal ileum, especially Crohn's disease.