What is Thalassaemia ?
World Thalassaemia Day-
How Thalassaemia impacts your blood?
Thalassemia- An inherited blood disorder that occurs when the body doesn’t make enough of hemoglobin protein. In the absence of hemoglobin, the body’s red blood cells don’t function properly and that impacts their ability to carry oxygen to the body’s organs and transport carbon dioxide from the tissues and organs back to the lungs.
Thalassaemia mainly affects people originating from South Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle Eastern origin, and Mediterranean regions. World Thalassaemia Day is commemorated every year on the 8th of May. This day is marked to raise awareness about thalassemia disease, its symptoms, prevention measures, and the significance of an early diagnosis.
Thalassemia Symptoms
The signs of Thalassaemia depend on the severity and type of one’s progression of the disease. Thalassemia symptoms may include slow growth, abdominal swelling, dark urine, fatigue, weakness, yellowish skin, and facial bone deformities.
Thalassemia Types
The types of Thalassaemia are subcategorized into-
Alpha or Beta Thalassaemia
Our hemoglobin comprises two components- alpha and beta. In the case of thalassemia, the hemoglobin lacks either alpha or beta. Alpha thalassemia refers to a low level of alpha.
Beta thalassemia is a disorder characterized by abnormally low beta levels.
The degree of thalassemia (trait, carrier, intermedia, or major)
A person who has thalassemia trait may not show any symptoms or may show minor anemia signs. A thalassemia major person may show signs of severe symptoms requiring regular blood transfusions.
Having enough vitamin D is vital for keeping safe from thalassemia. A ten-minute sunbath is all that is needed to fulfill the daily requirements of Vitamin D.
Add Folic Acid foods
Bananas, sweet potatoes, lentils, and beetroot can help relieve thalassemia symptoms. This is due to folic acid in these foods, which aids in the production of more red blood cells. Thalassaemia patients need to consume two large bananas every day to get results.
Thalassemia and Pregnancy
Thalassemia is often diagnosed during pregnancy or soon after delivery. Besides, it also raises several pregnancy-related issues and impacts the development of reproductive organs. Women with Thalassemia can experience infertility issues and those planning to conceive need to keep an eye on their iron levels.
Among women with thalassemia, pregnancy carries the following risks:
An increased risk of infection
Diabetes during pregnancy
Problems with the heart
Hypothyroidism (low thyroid) – a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive.
An anticipated rise in the number of blood transfusions.
Low bone density
At 11 and 16 weeks of pregnancy, thalassemia monitoring must be done regularly by taking fluid samples from the placenta or the foetus.
Thalassemia Diagnosis
People with mild to extreme types of thalassemia face severe anemia symptoms early in life which help to get thalassemia diagnosed at a beginning stage. People with less serious thalassemia may only find out when they are experiencing anemia symptoms or because a doctor discovers anemia during a regular blood test or another test.
Since thalassemia’s are hereditary, they can run in families. Some people learn about their thalassemia from relatives who have the same disease.
Thalassemia Treatment
People who have thalassemia major or other severe forms will need medical attention for the rest of their lives.
The following are the key thalassemia treatments:
Regular blood transfusions for treating and preventing anemia required once a month in extreme cases.
Chelation therapy is a medication-assisted procedure to remove extra iron from the body that accumulates from daily blood transfusions; certain people with thalassemia develop an iron build-up even without transfusions and need treatment for this.
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