Photo credit: Wix What is Sickle Cell Disease Sickle cell Disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder where red blood cells (RBCs) become sickle shaped and clump together. This clumping blocks the flow of blood in the blood vessels, depriving the tissues and organs of oxygen-rich blood. What causes SCD? Sickle cell disease is caused when a person carries two defective copies of the beta-globin gene, also known as the HBB gene. This gene help RBCs produce hemoglobin A, a

by Catherina Pascale Blood pressure is one of the most important indicators of cardiovascular health, yet many people do not fully understand what the numbers mean or why they matter. High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects millions of people worldwide and is a major contributor to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other serious medical conditions. Because hypertension often develops without obvious symptoms, it is frequently referred to as a “silent

Did you know hemophilia B is also called Christmas disease? Despite the name, it has nothing to do with Christmas. Stephen Christmas a 5-year old boy, born in England in 1947, used to get bruised easily and had been hospitalized nine times for hematomas i.e. his blood would collect outside a blood vessel. Initially he was diagnosed with classic hemophilia amongst variety of other conditions. But researchers looking into his case found that he lacked the clotting factor IX n

What Are Terry’s Nails and Why Do They Matter? Terry’s nails are a clinical nail finding in which most of the nail bed appears white, with a narrow red, pink, or brown band at the tip. This presentation is a form of leukonychia characterised by a ground-glass appearance of the nail. Although it may occur with ageing, Terry’s nails are more commonly associated with systemic conditions such as liver cirrhosis, heart failure, and metabolic or blood-related disorders ¹˒⁵. Haemato

Understanding Hypertension and Its Silent Nature Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated. Blood pressure is generated by the force of blood being pumped by the heart through blood vessels, and when this pressure is too high, it forces the heart to work harder than normal. One of the most concerning aspects of hypertension is that it often presents without

Blood is a limited and highly valuable resource. Blood donations and transfusions are routinely practiced for sustaining human health and welfare. However, hemorrhage is still a global cause of death estimated at 1.9 million per year (1). Scientists are working on new ways to increase the blood supply, from growing blood in the laboratory to synthetic blood alternatives (2, 3, 4). But before we explore these solutions, we need to understand what blood is, and why it is a limi

Sickle cell disease is a chronic, inherited blood disorder in which the red blood cells are shaped like crescents, which causes restricted blood flow. Sickle cell is characterized by frequent hospitalization, damage to vital organs, and chronic pain. The disease disproportionately affects those of African, Caribbean, South Asian, and Middle Eastern descent. It affects approximately 100,000 people in the United States. As a result of the disease producing damaged blood cells i

Eosinophils in our Immunity While Eosinophils account for less than 5% of our white blood cells, they pack quite a punch (Jackson et al., 2022). Most people have likely heard about eosinophils in terms of their role in allergies, but their original purpose is to fight parasites (Vieira et al., 2026). Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell we call granulocytes. They’re named because they store toxic granules which they use to fight and kill infections. But this is far fro

Despite both being medical emergencies involving the brain, there is a significant difference between the diagnosis of Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and Stroke. Understanding this distinction is crucial, as it impacts treatment decisions and patient prognosis.

What is hypertension Hypertension is frequently termed "the silent killer" because it typically lacks early symptoms while acting as the primary driver for atherosclerosis and its complications. As an independent risk factor, it predisposes patients to heart failure, stroke, and coronary, renal, and peripheral artery diseases. Consequently, it remains the leading contributor to cardiovascular illness and death in developed nations. Hypertension is characterised by consistentl

Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions worldwide. It is often referred to as the “silent killer” because many individuals with hypertension do not experience noticeable symptoms until serious complications occur. Over time, uncontrolled high blood pressure can damage vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and brain. Early detection and proper management are therefore essential to prevent long-term health p

Feeling constantly exhausted, lightheaded, or short of breath, even after a full night’s sleep, is something many women brush off as “just stress.” But for millions of women, the real cause may be iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide, and women of reproductive age are at especially high risk. Yet it often goes undiagnosed because its symptoms can be subtle or mistaken for everyday fatigue. Here’s what you need to know a

The normal pH of blood lies between 7.35 to 7.45 which is right around the neutral mark of 7. Generally anything over 7 is termed basic, while anything under is acidic. With respect to blood pH, anything under 7.35 is termed acidosis and anything over 7.45 is termed alkalosis. pH in the blood can change for a wide variety of different reasons, including breathing changes, exercise, and health complications. For example, during strenuous exercise, lactic acid accumulates in th

Cerebral Venous Thrombosis is the leading cause of strokes in younger populations, despite being a relatively rare type of stroke. Symptoms can vary massively from patient to patient, but often most patients present with a severe headache.

HbA1c measures the percentage of sugar coated on hemoglobin, acting as a "metabolic memory" of your blood sugar over the last 2–3 months. Unlike daily finger-pricks, it provides a long-term view of your health. Understanding this number is vital for diagnosing diabetes and preventing complications like heart or kidney disease. It is the gold standard for tracking treatment success and maintaining long-term wellness.

“I’m just tired.” A 21-year-old college student keeps cancelling plans. She sleeps for eight hours but wakes up exhausted. Her hair seems thinner than before, her nails break easily, and climbing a single flight of stairs leaves her breathless. Friends tell her she is overthinking. Family members say she is lazy or stressed. She starts believing them. She is not lazy. She is iron deficient. Approximately one in three women of reproductive age (15-49 years) worldwide is affect

Why “High Cholesterol” Is More Serious Than It Sounds Many people casually say they have “high cholesterol,” usually followed by advice to cut down on oily foods. What often gets missed is that this simple phrase describes a medical condition called dyslipidemia, one of the leading risk factors for heart disease and stroke worldwide. Dyslipidemia rarely causes pain or obvious warning signs. That silence is exactly why it is dangerous. Problems can build quietly in the blood v

Graphic illustration depicting sickle cell disease, retrieved from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4579-sickle-cell-anemia In the United States alone, 100,000 individuals suffer from sickle cell anemia, more commonly known as sickle cell disease. Out of this population, around 90,000 are of African American Descent; it is hypothesized that the gene mutation responsible (HBB) was acquired due ot the environmental defense mechanism of fighting against malaria, m

Introduction We all live in hectic times and its natural to feel tired after a long day's work. But if youre feeling tired all the time - like after a good night's sleep or minimal work, then maybe there's an underlying condition that people often overlook - iron deficiency. People brush off fatigue as stress or blame it on a bad sleep the previous night. But the cause is probably hidden deeper in your blood. Iron deficiency is a very common issue all over the world; and fati

Introduction Many of us have occasionally felt very tired and achy, and perhaps thought that it could be due to iron deficiency. However, not many people would think that the symptoms they are experiencing could actually be caused by too much iron in their body. Over time, excess iron can build up in organs such as the liver, heart, and pancreas, which may lead to long-term complications, if left untreated. 1–3 What is hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis is a condition in which