Guide To Understanding Bone Marrow

Bone marrow is a spongy substance that fills the insides of the bones. It is responsible for manufacturing blood cells and storing fat. When bone marrow does not function properly, patients could develop low blood counts and other blood-related conditions such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, or myeloproliferative disorders. These disorders could result in symptoms such as fatigue, fever, easy bleeding and bruising, and shortness of breath. Patients with bone marrow issues might also notice they get colds and other infections more often than usual. Doctors may perform blood tests to investigate these symptoms. If the results show abnormalities in blood cell counts, doctors might ask for a bone marrow biopsy to be conducted. Individuals who have bone marrow abnormalities may need to have a bone marrow transplant.