– Blood disorders are conditions that affect the normal functioning of blood cells or plasma. They can cause various symptoms and complications, depending on the type and severity of the disorder.
🔅 Common Types of Blood Disorders
Anemia
• A condition where the red blood cells are low in number or hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen. Anemia can cause fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. There are many causes of anemia, such as iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic diseases, bone marrow failure, and genetic mutations.
Leukemia
• A type of cancer that affects the white blood cells, which are responsible for fighting infections. Leukemia causes the bone marrow to produce abnormal or immature white blood cells that crowd out the normal ones. Leukemia can cause fever, infections, bleeding, bruising, and bone pain. There are different types of leukemia, such as acute or chronic, lymphocytic or myeloid.
Lymphoma
• A type of cancer that affects the lymphocytes, which are a type of white blood cell that helps regulate the immune system. Lymphoma causes the lymphocytes to grow and multiply abnormally, forming tumors in the lymph nodes or other organs. Lymphoma can cause swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and fatigue. There are two main types of lymphoma, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin.
Myeloma
• A type of cancer that affects the plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies. Myeloma causes the plasma cells to produce abnormal antibodies that interfere with the normal function of the immune system and damage the bones and kidneys. Myeloma can cause bone pain, fractures, kidney problems, infections, and nerve damage.
Thrombocytopenia
• A condition where the platelets are low in number or function. Platelets are small cell fragments that help with blood clotting and prevent bleeding. Thrombocytopenia can cause easy bruising, bleeding gums, nosebleeds, and heavy menstrual periods. There are many causes of thrombocytopenia, such as infections, medications, autoimmune diseases, and cancers.
Hemophilia
• A genetic disorder that affects the clotting factors in the blood. Clotting factors are proteins that help the blood to form clots and stop bleeding. Hemophilia causes excessive bleeding after injuries or surgeries, as well as spontaneous bleeding into the joints or muscles. Hemophilia is more common in males than females and can be mild, moderate, or severe.
Sickle cell disease
• A genetic disorder that affects the shape and function of the red blood cells. Sickle cell disease causes the red blood cells to become sickle-shaped and rigid, which makes them prone to breaking down and blocking the blood vessels. Sickle cell disease can cause pain crises, anemia, infections, organ damage, and stroke. Sickle cell disease mostly affects people of African or Mediterranean descent.
– The above conditions are just but a few of the highlighted blood disorders.
