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Diseases of the red blood cells include problems in the development of the cells, infections, destruction in the circulation, and genetic problems. Many start in the bone marrow where red cells differentiate and develop from the stem cells before they enter the circulation.
Normally, the bone marrow makes a constant supply of red cells. These cells mature, enter the circulation, do their job for about 120 days, die and are recycled. If more cells are needed (i.e., there is bleeding and loss of red cells, or if a unit of blood is donated) the body easily compensates.
However, there are circumstances in which the body cannot keep up. Too much bleeding, not enough nutrients like iron, diseases that slow down production, increased cell destruction and genetic disorders that affect production or survival are a few of the causes of anemia.
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