Iron is an essential mineral contained in your red blood cells and is what allows them to carry oxygen to every cell in your body, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes. Iron is also stored in your liver, muscles and bone marrow. Iron deficiency is a typical cause of anemia.

The International Normalized Ratio, or INR, gauges the effectiveness of blood thinning medication such as warfarin. People that are at high risk of blood clot formation, such as those that have suffered heart attacks or strokes, need an INR of about 2.5 to 3.5. However, people with an INR of 2.0 to 3.

When blood tests reveal you have a higher than normal number of white blood cells (WBCs), or leukocytes, this is known medically as leukocytosis. White blood cell counts usually fall between 4,000 and 11,000 cells per microliter.

Platelets are a component of the blood that help prevent bruising or stop bleeding. If you do not have enough platelets in your blood, you may need to have a blood platelet transfusion. This treatment infuses your body with blood platelets that have been donated by another healthy person.

Diabetes is one of the fastest growing health concerns in our nation. In 2010, an estimated 18.8 million Americans were diagnosed with diabetes and another 7 million were considered "prediabetic," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Exercise can cause certain hemorrhages. The severity and dangers associated with the hemorrhage depends on the type of hemorrhage you are experiencing. Strenuous exercise places significant strain on your body that, though uncommon, can result in your blood vessels bursting, causing a hemorrhage.

Nitrates may be well-known for their presence in processed meats, but you probably get more nitrates from vegetables than from eating bacon or bologna. You may lower the amount of nitrates when you cook vegetables, but it depends on how you cook them. Reheating vegetables, however, has little effect on nitrate content.

The carbohydrates in honeydew, a type of melon, will elevate your blood sugar levels. As a general rule, any food or drink that contains more than 5 grams of carbohydrate per serving will affect your blood glucose. A serving of honeydew contains about 15 grams of carbohydrate.

It's obvious that onions are more than a garnish in the United States; the National Onion Association reports that Americans eat 20 pounds of onions per capita each year.

An aneurysm refers to a dilated segment of an artery caused by weakness and thinning of the wall. Leg aneurysms are relatively rare, but occur more commonly than arm aneurysms. Most leg aneurysms develop in the popliteal artery, which passes behind the knee before branching to supply blood to the lower leg and foot.

Platelets are created in your bone marrow and are an important component of blood clot formation. They are stored in the spleen, but eventually, the liver and spleen destroy old platelets.

To prevent the long-term complications associated with chronically elevated blood sugar levels with diabetes, it is important to choose the foods that will help you keep your blood sugar levels within target.