Red cell distribution width (RDW) laboratory test is a part of a standard complete blood count (CBC), and it is used along with other RBC indices, especially mean corpuscular volume (MCV) to help determine the causes of anemia.ed cell distribution width (RDW) is a parameter that measures variation in red blood cell size or red blood cell volume.
Heart failure puts very significant health and financial burdens on patients, their families and society as a whole. According to the American Heart Association, in 2008 the estimated total cost of heart failure in the United States will be more than $35 billion. On the next page, we'll learn about the increased incidence of heart failure and why it might be happening.
Risk factors for heart failure include high blood pressure, prior heart attack, obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, vitamin deficiencies, sleep apnea, heavy metal toxicity, eating an unhealthy diet (including animal fat and salt), and being sedentary. The cause of heart failure is a weakened or thickened cardiac muscle. For example, in chronic high blood pressure (hypertension), the heart must pump extra forcefully against the additional blood pressure. First it becomes enlarged and thickened.