Red Cross Announces Critical Need for Type O Negative Blood

The American Red Cross is urging eligible people to donate blood this summer, especially those with Type O negative, as the supply in the United States has dropped to critically low levels. Type O negative blood is always in high demand because it can be transfused to patients with any blood type, particularly in emergency situations when doctors do not have enough time to cross-match a patient’s blood.
There are four major blood groups that include eight different common blood types which are determined by the presence or absence of certain antigens – substances that can trigger an immune response if they are foreign to the body. Group A has only the A antigen on the red blood cell, for example, and Group B only has the B antigen. Those with Group AB blood has both A and B antigens on red cells. Group O blood has neither of these antigens, so they are safe to administer to a person of any type and the patient will not reject the transfusion.
In addition to A and B antigens, there is a third called the Rh factor, which can either be present (+) or negative (-). In general, Rh-negative blood is given to Rh-negative patients, but either Rh-positive or Rh-negative blood can be given to Rh-positive blood. O positive is the most common blood type. Only 7% of people in the US have type O negative blood.
Blood shortages are not unusual in the summer, because there are fewer donors giving due to summer vacations and fewer community hosted blood drives. But the need for blood doesn’t go away. More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day because every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.
Donating blood is a safe and simple process. Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements, and be in good health. At the time of donation, each blood donor is given a “mini-physical” to check temperature, blood pressure, pulse, and hemoglobin to ensure it is safe for the donor to give blood. The entire blood donation process typically takes about an hour and 15 minutes.

Brittany Murphy Death Ruled Pneumonia Complicated by Anemia

The LA County coroner’s office has completed it’s investigation into the December 20th death of actress Brittany Murphy. Officials have ruled her death as accidental as a result of community acquired pneumonia complicated by an iron deficiency anemia and multiple drug intoxication.
Murphy, 32, went into cardiac arrest at her home in the Hollywood Hills and was pronounced dead at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Assistant Chief Ed Winter told PEOPLE Magazine that the actress’ death was preventable. “Murphy was planning on seeing a doctor, but she unfortunately passed away before she did. This was a case of a person with pneumonia who was anemic who was taking medication when she should’ve been getting medical treatment.”
Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most common infectious illnesses, but unfortunately remains the seveth leading cause of death in the United States. About four to five million cases occur each year, with about 25% requiring hospitalization. It is usually acquired by inhalation of a pathogenic organism, most commonly Streptococcus pneumoniae, into the lung, but can also result from a secondary bacteremia, such as a urinary tract infection.
According to a study published in the journal CHEST, diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased susceptibility to infection and increased morbidity and mortality. Patients with diabetes who contract pneumonia are associated with having a less postive prognosis due to an increase in pleural effusion – an accumulation of fluid between the layers of tissue that line the lungs and chest cavity. Brittany Murphy had type 1 diabetes.
Iron-deficiency anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. It is most prevalent in women of child-bearing age and can be caused by an increased loss of blood, poor absorption of iron by the body, or too little iron in the diet. Among the prescription medications in Ms. Murphy’s nightstand was a prescription pain killer called Vicoprofen, which she was taking for severe menstrual cramps. Heavy menstrual bleeding can cause the blood loss that leads to iron deficiency anemia.
Ms. Murphy was buried in Los Angeles on Christmas Eve. Hopefully, her tragic situation will underscore the importance of seeking medical help for health conditions before they cause harm.