Red blood cells, known as erythrocytes, are estimated to make up around 25% of the total cells in the entire body. They are produced in the red bone marrow at the staggering rate of more than 2 million cells per second (Higgins 2015) and their production is controlled by erythropoietin, a hormone produced primarily by the kidneys. Erythrocytes live up to 120 days in the circulation. They contain hemoglobin, which binds to oxygen and carbon dioxide and transports them around the body. Mammalian erythrocytes are unique among animal cells in having no nucleus in their mature, functional state. It is suggested that the biconcave shape of the erythrocyte has evolved out of a necessity to maximize non-turbulent blood flow and minimize the scatter of platelets (Yoshizumi et al. 2003).
Anemia is a decrease in the number of erythrocytes or a less than normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood and is most commonly the result of iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency or inflammation. A randomized control trial by Sharma et al. (2014) concluded that yoga can be used efficiently to improve the hemoglobin count in individuals with anemia.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25676371/
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