For Patients
Blood
- It makes up 7 percent of your body weight.
- It carries nutrients and waste products throughout your body.
- It fights infections and heals wounds.
What is Blood?
Blood is a specialized body fluid that is actually classified as a tissue. Blood has many different functions, including:
- transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues
- forming blood clots to prevent excess blood loss
- carrying cells and antibodies that fight infection
- bringing waste products to the kidneys and liver, which filter and clean the blood
- regulating body temperature
Blood is made up of four main parts, and each part has a specific function:
- Plasma: liquid that carries blood cells and nutrients throughout the body and contains proteins that help the blood clot
- Platelet: helps to clot the blood and control bleeding
- Red Blood Cell: picks up oxygen in the lungs and delivers it throughout the body
- White Blood Cell: helps the body fight off infection
What is Hematology?
Learn more about the types of diseases that hematologists study and treat, as well as the importance of having a hematologist as part of your health-care team.
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Why Should I Know About Blood Conditions?
When something is wrong with your blood, it can affect your total health. That is why it is important for you to know about some of the common blood disorders that may affect you.
People may be affected by many different types of blood conditions and blood cancers. Common blood disorders include anemia, blood clots, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma.
Talking to your doctor is the first step to take if you believe you may have a blood condition. If you are diagnosed with a blood disorder, your doctor may refer you to a hematologist.
What is Hematology?
Hematology is the study of blood in health and disease. It includes problems with the red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting (hemostasis and thrombosis). A hematologist is medical doctor who applies this specialized knowledge to treat patients with blood conditions.