Black Blood
What Does Black Blood Mean?
Black blood is something that carry a lot of significance. In the first place, it is important to note that the color of blood has a relation with the amount of oxygen in the red blood cells. The implication is that the higher the oxygen in the blood, the more red it will appear. To put it another way, if the blood oxygenation gets lower, the blood will keep getting darker in color. In some cases where there is acute shortage of oxygen level, then the blood will become black. It is important to note that when black blood becomes significant, it can be an indication that there is no circulation of blood in the periphery veins of the body.
One thing to note about black blood is that both the male and female genders could experience bleed where the color is considered to be dark or black during an injury in which a wound draws blood from the vein. This is normally because the blood from the vein is considered to be where the least amount of oxygen can be found in the body. For examples, areas such as fingers and toes are known to have blood that are less oxygenated. This is why it is not actually uncommon to see some dark blood when there is an injury in the toe or finger.
In addition, there is also a possibility of women having menstrual cycle to experience some black blood occasionally. This is because blood clot breaks and gets released out of the body regular circulation for a period of time. However, one thing that is important to note here is that this should not be regular. If dark blood menstrual cycle starts becoming regular, then a medical examination should be needed immediately.
Possible Causes of Black Blood
The main cause of black blood in the body is due to low blood oxygen levels. This occurs especially when there are few or inadequate red blood cells in the body that can carry oxygen to several organs and tissues in the body. There is also a situation where fluid buildup in the lung sacs. It is important to note that as fluid continues to accumulate, the amount of oxygen reaching the blood becomes less. This will lead to black blood if an injury occurs during this situation.
Another possible cause of black blood can be traced to Emphysema damage of the air sacs in the lungs. It is important to note that this can be done when they break down their inner walls and then have them fused into a large mass. When this happens, the surface area of each of the lungs will be reduced and the implication of this is that the amount of oxygen getting into the blood will be greatly reduced. Deoxygenated blood tends to become black at some point and this is as a result in color difference between the oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin.
Treatment of Black Blood
There are a lot of ways in which problems of black blood can be treated. However, it is important to note the conditions in which you need to see a doctor before it gets out of hand. For example, one very important symptom to note is shortness of breath especially when you are at rest. In addition, if shortness of breath start getting worse after some physical activities or exercises, then it calls for concern and a kind of treatment will be required.
The treatment of black blood problems may also require some self-care to reduce the risk of escalation of the problem. For example, if you are suffering from black blood as a result of low oxygen levels in the blood, stopping smoking could be a good thing. In fact, experts recommend that people in this category should quit smoking entirely. For other who do not smoke directly but known as passive smokers, it is also important that they avoid those places where others smoke. Then another thing you can do is to get some regular exercises which could improve your overall system.
It is important to note that treating black blood problems will require getting more oxygen into the body. You will need to go to the hospital and get some proper diagnosis on your oxygen level. However one way of getting more amount of oxygen into the bloodstream is the home oxygen therapy. There are a lot of benefits associated with home oxygen therapy and one of the main aim is the improvement of oxygen supply in the blood stream which is part of the treatment of black blood. It is important to note that this therapy is very sensitive and must be administered under the supervision of a doctor through some oxygen devices considered to be safe for use at home.
In treating black blood problems, the doctor will likely examine and determine whether the affected person will require a supplemental oxygen which is called the oxygen therapy treatment. Part of the treatment will require that the doctor write a prescription that suits the individual after confirming the oxygen levels while the individual sleeps, exercises and rests. By monitoring the therapy, the doctor will have to determine whether the treatment will be for long or short term.
Should I be Worried?
If you are having problems of black blood, then getting worried would depend on the situation at hand or the level of the problem. It is important to note that black blood could be minor or severe depending on the level of oxygen in the bloodstream. If problem is mild, it is important to get a medical examination in order to ascertain the cause and treatment of the condition. In severe situations, it is not out of place to be worried as it could lead to other severe symptoms like chest pain or difficulty in breathing. However, no matter the level of problem, seeking an emergency medical attention remains a good way to overcome the problem of bad blood.
