Dr. Joel David Bessman MD

Anemia should not be accepted as an inevitable consequence of aging. A cause is found in approximately 80 percent of elderly patients. The most common causes of anemia in the elderly are chronic disease and iron deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency, gastrointestinal bleeding and...

Blood is the lifeline of the body. It performs various functions, from defending against infections and viruses to transporting nutrients and oxygen to all parts of the body. The blood is made up of various components, i.e., red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Each of these...

When a community or group of friends bands together to help one another, miracles happen. There is nothing more humbling than seeing a community take time of their own to help a friend or community member in need. The more people there are, the bigger difference they can make. There are hundreds of...

What Is Bone Marrow?Bone Marrow is the flexible tissue present in the interior of the bones. Constituting only about 4% of the body mass in the human body, Bone marrow is responsible for 500 billion blood cells every day. It is also a key component of the lymphatic system as it produces lymphocytes...

Porphyria is an inherited group of disorders that affect the skin and nerves. Porphyria that affects the skin is referred to as cutaneous porphyria, while the condition that affects the nerves is known as acute porphyria. Both types result in the accumulation of the chemical porphyrin in the body....

Anemia is a type of blood disorder where the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood is lower than normal. Megaloblastic anemia, on the other hand, is a type of anemia that is characterized by larger than normal red blood cells (megaloblasts) and not having enough of them. When the red blood...