It's in the blood

摘要

Blood,of course,plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies alive and functioning.Red blood cells carry oxygen from our lungs to our muscles.White blood cells are the first responders of our immune systems,detecting infections and foreign agents and triggering the immune response needed to deal with the problem.Plasma,the liquid part of blood,transports not only the cells but also proteins,such as antibodies,and hormones,such as insulin,to every part of the body.It is a beautifully complex system that is the key to our bodies’functioning correctly.Parasites,viruses and bacteria all use the circulatory system to spread around the body.When cancer metastasises and spreads to other parts of the body,it is through tumour cells circulating within the bloodstream.There arc also myriad blood cancers,such as leukaemias and lymphomas,and blood disorders,such as sickle cell anaemia,not to mention autoimmune diseases like diabetes or lupus.Sepsis,also known as blood poisoning,is a deadly overreaction to an infection which also has its roots in blood.