Deficiencies in blood: Experts reveal take care of them

Blood deficiencies, also referred to as blood disorders or hematological problems, can happen as a result of varied causes and might have important impacts on a person’s health. Some frequent blood deficiencies embody anemia, clotting problems and low platelet rely the place coping with these deficiencies requires a complete strategy that includes medical intervention, life-style modifications and dietary adjustments.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Rakesh Gupta, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in New Delhi, shared, “When it comes to anemia, which is characterised by a decrease in the number of red blood cells or a deficiency in hemoglobin, treatment options depend on the underlying cause. Iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type, can be managed by increasing iron intake through dietary sources such as leafy green vegetables, beans, and fortified cereals, or through iron supplements. Other types of anemia may require different treatments, such as vitamin B12 injections or medications to stimulate red blood cell production.”

For clotting problems, corresponding to hemophilia or von Willebrand illness, he instructed specialised medical care. He mentioned, “Depending on the severity of the disorder, treatment may involve infusing clotting factor concentrates or medications that enhance blood clotting. It is important for individuals with clotting disorders to take precautions to prevent injuries and bleeding episodes, such as avoiding activities that may pose a higher risk of trauma.”

Dr Rakesh Gupta added, “Low platelet count, known as thrombocytopenia, can be managed by identifying and treating the underlying cause. Treatment options may include medications that stimulate platelet production, addressing any nutritional deficiencies, or managing autoimmune conditions that affect platelet production. In severe cases, platelet transfusions may be necessary to prevent excessive bleeding. In addition to medical interventions, certain lifestyle modifications can also support the management of blood deficiencies. Regular exercise, as advised by healthcare professionals, can improve blood circulation and overall health. Avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption is important to maintain healthy blood vessels and prevent complications.”

He highlighted, “Diet plays a crucial role in dealing with blood deficiencies. Consuming a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods can help improve blood health. For instance, increasing the intake of iron-rich foods, such as lean meats, legumes, and fortified grains, can benefit individuals with anemia. Including vitamin C-rich foods, like citrus fruits and bell peppers, can enhance iron absorption. Similarly, individuals with clotting disorders may need to limit foods high in vitamin K, such as leafy greens, which can interfere with blood clotting.”

Bringing her experience to the identical, Dr Sangeeta Pathak, Associate Director and Head – Transfusion Medicine at Max Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi’s Saket, simplified that Blood Deficiencies can have an effect on any of the three principal elements of blood:

1. Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the physique tissues
2. White blood cells, which assist struggle infections
3. Platelets, which assist blood to clot
4. Blood deficiency may also have an effect on plasma.

I. Blood Disorders Affecting Red Blood Cells

According to Dr Sangeeta Pathak, blood problems that have an effect on crimson blood cells embody:

• Anemia: People with anemia have low hemoglobin ranges. Mild anemia usually causes no signs. More extreme anemia may cause fatigue, pale pores and skin, and shortness of breath with exertion.
• Iron-deficiency anemia: It is a typical kind of anemia — a situation through which blood lacks enough wholesome crimson blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the physique’s tissues. Low iron consumption and lack of blood as a result of menstruation, blood loss from the GI tract due to ulcers or most cancers are the most typical causes of iron-deficiency anemia. Treatment consists of iron drugs, or hardly ever, blood transfusion.
• Pernicious anemia (B12 deficiency): A situation that forestalls the physique from absorbing sufficient B12 within the weight loss program. This could be attributable to a weakened abdomen lining or an autoimmune situation. Besides anemia, nerve harm (neuropathy) can finally end result. High doses of B12 stop long-term issues.
• Aplastic anemia: In folks with aplastic anemia, the bone marrow doesn’t produce sufficient blood cells, together with crimson blood cells. This could be attributable to a bunch of circumstances, together with hepatitis, Epstein-Barr, or HIV — to the aspect impact of a drug, to chemotherapy medicines, to being pregnant. Medications, blood transfusions, and even a bone marrow transplant could also be required to deal with aplastic anemia.
• Anemia of persistent illness: People with persistent kidney illness or different persistent ailments are inclined to develop anemia. It doesn’t normally require therapy. Injections of an artificial hormone, epoetin alfa, to stimulate the manufacturing of blood cells or blood transfusions could also be needed in some folks with this type of anemia.
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: In folks with this situation, an overactive immune system destroys the physique’s personal crimson blood cells, inflicting anemia. Medicines that suppress the immune system, corresponding to prednisone, could also be required to cease the method
• Thalassemia: This is a genetic type of anemia that largely impacts folks of Mediterranean heritage. Most folks haven’t any signs and require no therapy. Others might have common blood transfusions to alleviate anemia signs.
• Sickle cell anemia: It is a genetic dysfunction. In this situation, the crimson blood cells are sticky and stiff. They can block blood circulation. Severe ache and organ harm can happen.
• Polycythemia vera: The physique produces too many blood cells, from an unknown trigger. The extra crimson blood cells normally create no issues however might trigger blood clots in some folks.

II. Blood Disorders Affecting White Blood Cells

Dr Sangeeta Pathak revealed that blood problems that have an effect on white blood cells embody:

• Leukemia: A type of blood most cancers through which a white blood cell turns into malignant and multiplies inside bone marrow. Leukemia could also be acute (fast and extreme) or persistent (slowly progressing). Chemotherapy and/or stem cell transplantation (bone marrow transplant) can be utilized to deal with leukemia, and will end in a remedy.
• Lymphoma: A type of blood most cancers that develops within the lymph system. In lymphoma, a white blood cell turns into malignant, multiplying and spreading abnormally. Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are the 2 main teams of lymphoma. Treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiation can usually lengthen life with lymphoma, and typically remedy it.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome: A household of blood cancers that have an effect on the bone marrow. Myelodysplastic syndrome usually progresses very slowly, however might out of the blue remodel right into a extreme leukemia. Treatments might embody blood transfusions, chemotherapy and stem cell transplant
• Multiple myeloma: A blood most cancers through which a white blood cell turns into malignant. The plasma cells multiply and launch damaging substances that finally trigger organ harm. Multiple myeloma has no remedy, however stem cell transplant and/or chemotherapy can permit many individuals to reside for years with the situation.

III. Blood Disorders Affecting Platelets

Dr Sangeeta Pathak defined that blood problems that have an effect on the platelets embody:

• Thrombocytopenia: A low variety of platelets within the blood; quite a few circumstances trigger thrombocytopenia, however most don’t end in irregular bleeding.
• Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: A situation inflicting a persistently low variety of platelets within the blood, as a result of an unknown trigger; normally, there are not any signs, but irregular bruising, small crimson spots on the pores and skin (petechiae), or irregular bleeding may end up.
• Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: A uncommon blood dysfunction inflicting small blood clots to type in blood vessels all through the physique; platelets are used up within the course of, inflicting a low platelet rely.

IV. Blood Disorders Affecting Blood Plasma

Dr Sangeeta Pathak concluded that blood problems that have an effect on blood plasma embody:

• Hemophilia: A genetic deficiency of sure proteins that assist blood to clot; there are a number of types of hemophilia, ranging in severity from gentle to life-threatening.
• von Willebrand illness: von Willebrand issue is a protein in blood that helps blood to clot. In von Willebrand illness, the physique both produces too little of the protein, or produces a protein that does not work effectively.
• Deep venous thrombosis: A blood clot in a deep vein, normally within the leg; a deep venous thrombosis can dislodge and journey by means of the center to the lungs, inflicting a pulmonary embolism.
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC): A situation that causes tiny blood clots and areas of bleeding all through the physique concurrently; extreme infections, surgical procedure, or issues of being pregnant are circumstances that may result in DIC.