What's Whole Blood? Whole blood is simply our blood as it flows in our bodies -- with not one of its elements separated or removed. In medicine, whole blood is an uncommon type of transfusion. It's used to treat patients who need large quantities of all of the elements of blood, like people who have sustained significant blood loss due to trauma or heart surgery. What Are the Components of Blood? how many pints of blood in the human body? Whole blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, all which can be suspended in a liquid called plasma. Whole blood and each of it's four elements are all valuable tools in modern medicine. The quantity of blood in a person's body depends on their size (the bigger the individual's body is, the blood it will comprise ). A newborn infant's body will contain only around a cup of blood whereas a 150-180 lb. Adult will have roughly 1.2-1.5 gallons (or 10 units) of blood in their body. Blood is roughly 10 percent of an adult's weight. Our red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, constitute about 45 percent of the volume of our blood. The remaining 55% is liquid plasma. Complete blood is used to help patients in two ways. It can be transfused into a single individual. Whole blood can also be split into its specific components of red cells, plasma and platelets. These components can be given to different patients, which is why we say that a donation of a single unit or pint of whole blood can help numerous men and women. (Though white blood cells are occasionally utilized in medicine, they aren't derived from a whole blood donation.) Why You're So Important Recent studies show that there is a demand for blood transfusions every 2 seconds. how many pints in a human body? Complete blood is the simplest, most frequent kind of blood donation. An appointment to donate whole blood can take as little as one hourand the actual donation is only 8-10 minutes of that time. 38 percent of the population in the USA are eligible to donate blood, but only 3 percent people actually contribute. Which Exactly Are Red Blood Cells? Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, are among the elements of blood. (The others are plasma, platelets and white blood cells) They are always produced in our bone marrow. Just two or three drops of blood may contain approximately one billion red blood cells -- in fact, that's what gives our bloodstream that distinctive red color. Red blood cells carry oxygen from our lungs to the rest of our bodies. Then they make the return trip, taking carbon dioxide into our lungs to be exhaled. What Does a Low Red Blood Cell Count Mean? A low red blood cell count, also called anemia, can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness and other symptoms. If untreated, anemia may result in serious complications. In many cases, anemia occurs when we don't eat a nutrient rich diet; choosing foods that are full of iron and other vitamins and minerals can help raise the red blood cell count. Learn about heme iron and which foods are thought to be abundant in iron. how many blood pints in a human body? Anemia can also be caused by pregnancy and certain medical conditions like bleeding disorders and kidney disease. Talk with your physician to determine the best course of treatment. How Are Red Blood Cells Used in Medicine? Red blood cells are the most commonly transfused blood component. Patients who benefit most from receiving red blood cells include people who have chronic anemia resulting from kidney failure or gastrointestinal bleeding, and people with severe blood loss caused by trauma. They may also be used in the treatment of blood disorders like sickle cell disease.
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