Haematology
Blood is the fluid of life. It
carries oxygen from the lungs to the
body tissues and carbon dioxide from
the body tissues to the lungs. It also
transports the products of digestion
and hormones around the body and conveys
disease-fighting substances to infected
tissues and waste to the kidneys.
The majority of blood cells are red
blood cells (also called erythrocytes).
They are red because they contain
haemoglobin, a protein that binds
to oxygen, enabling it to be carried
in the bloodstream to the organs and
tissues of the body. The most common
blood disorder is anaemia, a reduction
in the number of erythrocytes in the
blood. One of the most important causes
of anaemia is a deficiency of erythropoietin,
a protein secreted chiefly by the
kidneys that promotes the production
of red cells.
Anaemia is characterized by numerous
symptoms, such as fatigue and exhaustion
severe enough to impair the ability
to work or perform even routine tasks.
It is a risk factor in many diseases,
including chronic renal failure, HIV
infection and cancer, as well as in
patients undergoing surgery. Until
recently, the only available treatment
for anaemia was blood transfusion,
which is not without attendant risks.
Diabetic
Foot Ulcers
An estimated 15 percent of all
people with diabetes will develop foot
ulcers during their lifetime. Foot ulcers
often go undetected since other ailments
associated with diabetes - such as nerve
damage and visual and circulatory problems
- make it difficult for patients to
feel or see the ulcer as it develops.
These open sores often do not heal and
may lead to serious complications including
severe infection and amputation.
Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious
problem and they result in thousands
of amputations each year. Diabetic
foot disease is a tremendous financial
burden to the health care system.
|
