Your friend, Lady, is suffering from a deficiency of iron. Explain how this affects the transport of oxygen by the red blood cells. (d)Suggest ONE sign or symptom which may result from a deficiency of iron.
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When someone suffers from an iron deficiency, it can significantly affect the transport of oxygen by red blood cells. Iron is a crucial component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to the body's tissues.
Without sufficient iron, the body cannot produce an adequate amount of functional hemoglobin. This deficiency in hemoglobin compromises the red blood cells' ability to effectively bind and transport oxygen. As a result:
- Decreased Oxygen Transport: With insufficient hemoglobin, red blood cells are unable to carry enough oxygen to body tissues. This can lead to a condition called anemia, where the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to its tissues and organs.
- Symptoms of Anemia: One common symptom resulting from an iron deficiency is fatigue or generalized weakness. When tissues and organs receive insufficient oxygen, it can lead to feelings of tiredness, weakness, and decreased stamina. Other symptoms of anemia may include pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, and an increased heart rate.
Therefore, a deficiency in iron impairs the synthesis of functional hemoglobin, which in turn affects the red blood cells' ability to transport oxygen efficiently, resulting in symptoms associated with anemia, such as fatigue and weakness.