Table of contents:
- What are the types of blood disorders?
- Blood disorders that affect red blood cells
- 1. Anemia
- 2. Polycythemia vera
- Blood disorders that affect white blood cells
- 1. Lymphoma
- 2. Leukemia
- 3. Multiple myeloma
- 4.Myelodysplastic syndrome (praleukemia)
- Blood disorders that affect the platelets
- 1. Thrombocytopenia
- 2. Essential thrombocythemia
- 3. Thrombophilia
- Blood clotting factor disorders
- 1. Hemophilia
- 2. Deep vein thrombosis
- 3. Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- 4. Von Willebrand disease
- What are the signs and symptoms of a blood disorder?
- What causes blood disorders?
- 1. Heredity
- 2. Certain conditions
- 3. Infection
- 4. Nutritional deficiencies
- How to diagnose this condition?
- What are the treatment options for treating blood disorders?
- 1. Medicines
- 2. Bone marrow transplant
- 3. Blood transfusions
Your blood is composed of four main components, namely red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), platelets (platelets), and blood plasma. These four components can be problematic so that they cannot function properly. As a result, you may experience various blood disorders that can be acute and chronic. So, what are the most common blood disorders? Find out the answer here.
What are the types of blood disorders?
Blood is made up of fluids and solids. The liquid part, which is called plasma, is made of water, salt and protein. Meanwhile, solid portions of your blood contain red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Blood disorders can affect one or more parts of the blood. As a result, blood cannot do its job properly.
Below is a list of some of the most common blood disorders.
Blood disorders that affect red blood cells
A red blood cell disorder is a condition that attacks the cells responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs throughout your body. Various blood disorders that can affect red blood cells include:
1. Anemia
Anemia is caused by a low number of red blood cells in the body. If you have anemia, your body doesn't get an oxygen-rich blood supply. As a result, you may feel tired, lethargic, and not energized. You may also have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or headaches.
Depending on the cause, anemia is divided into several types which include:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency)
- Anemia due to chronic disease
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Anemia due to thalassemia
- Folate deficiency anemia
2. Polycythemia vera
Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, polycythemia vera is a condition when too many red blood cells are produced in the spinal cord. Increased production of red blood cells in the body can cause blood to clot and block blood flow. This condition increases the risk of blood clots.
If not treated promptly, a blood clot can pass through a blood vessel, causing serious conditions such as a stroke (cerebral blood vessel) or myocardial (heart artery) infarction.
Blood disorders that affect white blood cells
White blood cell disorders are conditions that attack cells that act as the body's immune system to fight disease. Any abnormality in your white blood cell count can make you susceptible to infection.
Various blood disorders that can affect white blood cells include:
1. Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes, thymus gland, bone marrow and other parts of the body. This condition occurs due to white blood cells that develop abnormally and out of control.
Lymphoma consists of various types, but the two main categories of lymphoma are Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
2. Leukemia
Leukemia is a type of blood cancer that occurs when white blood cells turn abnormal and multiply uncontrollably in the bone marrow. Leukemia is the most common type of blood cancer.
Based on how fast it develops and the types of white blood cells that are attacked, leukemia can be divided into acute and chronic. Chronic leukemia is much more dangerous and difficult to treat than acute leukemia.
3. Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a type of blood cancer that occurs when plasma cells become malignant and multiply out of control. In fact, plasma cells play a role in producing antibodies (or immunoglobulins) that help the body attack and kill germs.
Multiple myeloma causes abnormal antibody production, which results in your immune system becoming weak and susceptible to infection.
4.Myelodysplastic syndrome (praleukemia)
Myelodysplastic syndrome or also known as praleukemia is a type of blood cancer that attacks the bone marrow. This condition is caused by incompletely formed blood cells, so they cannot function properly.
Although often appearing slowly, this syndrome can also appear suddenly and lead to leukemia at a severe level.
Blood disorders that affect the platelets
This disorder attacks platelets, which are cells in the blood that circulate in the bloodstream and help the blood to clot. Some blood disorders that can affect platelets are:
1. Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia occurs because the platelets in the blood are too low. Platelets are blood cells that play an important role in the blood clotting process. This condition can be caused due to health problems or the effects of certain drugs.
In rare cases, the platelet count can become so low that dangerous internal bleeding can occur.
2. Essential thrombocythemia
Essential thrombocythemia is an increase in platelet count for no apparent reason. This condition causes excessive blood clotting and bleeding.
Essential thrombocythemia can occur due to disruption in the process of stem cell formation (stem cell) blood-forming. Unfortunately, until now the experts do not know the exact cause of essential thrombocytosis.
3. Thrombophilia
Thrombophilia or what is also called blood clotting is a disease related to blood clots. This condition makes it easier for the blood to clot. Some people diagnosed with this disease must take blood thinners every day to avoid blood clots.
Blood clotting factor disorders
Clotting factors or coagulation factors are proteins in the blood that work with platelets to form blood clots. Any problem that affects the function or amount of clotting factors to cause bleeding disorders.
Some blood disorders that can affect blood clotting factors are:
1. Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a genetic disease that makes it difficult for blood to clot. This condition is caused because the body lacks blood clotting proteins (clotting factors).
If a person with hemophilia has bleeding, the bleeding will be difficult to stop. As a result, blood will continue to flow out. If not treated immediately, this disease can cause serious complications.
2. Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a disease that occurs when there is a blood clot in a vein. Usually the veins that most often experience clotting are the legs.
This condition causes blood flow to slow down. As a result, the blocked area becomes swollen, red, and painful. When the blood clot travels to the lungs, it can cause pulmonary embolism, which can lead to serious breathing problems.
3. Disseminated intravascular coagulation
Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a rare, but serious, condition that causes abnormal blood clots throughout the body's blood vessels. This condition is caused by a disease or other condition, such as an infection or injury, that makes the blood clotting process overactive.
4. Von Willebrand disease
Von Willebrand disease (VWD) or von Willebrand disease is a genetic disorder caused by one of the clotting proteins, namely von Willebrand factor (VWF). VWF binds to factor VIII (the main clotting protein) and platelets in the walls of blood vessels. This factor helps form a platelet plug during clotting.
What are the signs and symptoms of a blood disorder?
The signs and symptoms of blood disorders may vary, depending on the cause and what blood components are abnormal. However, there are some typical symptoms that can appear when a person has a blood disorder, including:
- Weak, lethargic, powerless
- Fever
- Headache
- Dizzy
- Pale skin
- Redness of the face
- Excessive blood clotting
- Petechiae or red spots appear
- Wounds that don't heal or are slow to heal
- Bleeding uncontrollably after being injured
- The skin bruises easily even with a small impact
Generally, blood disorders cause very heavy bleeding in cases of:
- Nosebleed
- Dental procedures
- Menstrual bleeding
- Give birth
- Teething in babies
There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. You can check your suspected symptoms here. However, for more definite results, it is best if you consult your doctor about specific symptoms.
What causes blood disorders?
There are several main causes of blood diseases, including:
1. Heredity
Blood diseases can run in families. This means that if a parent or sibling has a blood disorder, you are likely to experience the same thing.
2. Certain conditions
Certain conditions can increase the risk of blood disorders. One of them is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases like lupus keep your immune system from working properly. Your immune system may destroy your own blood platelets, which makes it difficult for your body to stop bleeding when injured.
3. Infection
Some infections can reduce the number of white blood cells from your blood. Even so, sometimes infection can also increase the production of white blood cells in your body.
4. Nutritional deficiencies
Poor nutrition can also cause blood disorders. For example, if you are deficient in iron, your body can't produce enough red blood cells. As a result, you will be more susceptible to anemia.
How to diagnose this condition?
In order to find out the cause of your blood disorder, your doctor will usually recommend that you do some of the tests below.
- Complete blood count. This procedure serves to evaluate all the cellular components (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) in the blood.
- Reticulocyte count. This test measures the number of newly formed red blood cells (erythrocytes) in a certain volume of blood.
- Special blood cell tests. Most of the tests are done on a blood sample, but some require a sample of bone marrow.
- Blood clotting tests include many types of tests. Some clotting tests can count the number of platelets in your blood.
- Measurement of protein and other substances. This test is performed on a urine sample.
What are the treatment options for treating blood disorders?
Your doctor can suggest a combination of treatments to help correct your blood cell disorders. The following treatment options your doctor may suggest:
1. Medicines
If your condition is not classified as severe, you may only be given certain drugs to relieve the symptoms you are complaining about.
2. Bone marrow transplant
Meanwhile, in cases when the medication is not working well, you may be advised to have a bone marrow transplant. This procedure can repair or replace damaged bone marrow, so that it can return to function properly.
3. Blood transfusions
Blood transfusions are another option to help you replace blood cells that are lost or damaged. During a blood transfusion, you receive a healthy infusion of blood from a donor.
