In recent media coverage, red blood cells have been described as having a “harmful function” that could be “switched off” to prevent stroke and myocardial infarction.

Such formulations may appear harmless, but they are biologically imprecise.

Erythrocytes are fundamental to human physiology. They transport oxygen, contribute to blood rheology, and participate in vascular signaling. Their existence is not optional, nor are their core functions pathological.

Under certain disease conditions, erythrocytes may behave differently. Changes in deformability, membrane composition, or enzymatic activity reflect systemic stress—metabolic, inflammatory, or oxidative. These changes do not imply that red blood cells themselves constitute a disease mechanism.

When complex biological systems are described using binary metaphors, interpretation becomes distorted. Precision in language is not pedantry; it is a prerequisite for responsible scientific communication.