Blood diseases can be cancerous or non-cancerous. This
article focuses on non-cancerous blood diseases. A non-cancerous blood disease
can be inherited or may develop due to an underlying condition affecting the
blood. Some blood diseases may not cause symptoms or require treatment. Others
are chronic (lifelong) diseases that require treatment but generally do not
affect lifespan. Some blood diseases, on the other hand, are serious conditions
that can be life-threatening. Doctors manage blood diseases by controlling
symptoms and treating underlying conditions.
How Do Blood Diseases Affect the Body? In general,
non-cancerous blood diseases are conditions that affect blood cells and
platelets and can cause the following problems:
- They
can increase the risk of blood clots. Factor V Leiden, an inherited blood
disease, is an example of a blood clotting disorder.
- They
can cause more bleeding than normal because the blood fails to form clots.
Inherited hemophilia is an example of a bleeding disorder.
What Are Common Blood Clotting Disorders? A blood
clotting disorder affects platelets or clotting factors (coagulation factors).
Clotting factors are proteins in the blood. Platelets and clotting factors form
blood clots that control bleeding. Blood clotting disorders may be called
hypercoagulable states or thrombophilia.
Blood clotting disorders include:
- Prothrombin
gene mutation: This inherited disorder increases the risk of
developing abnormal blood clots in veins (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs
(pulmonary embolism).
- Antiphospholipid
syndrome: This rare autoimmune disorder, which usually affects people
with lupus, can cause blood clots in various parts of the body.
- Protein
S deficiency: Protein S is a natural anticoagulant in the blood.
Anticoagulants prevent blood from clotting. Protein S helps prevent other
proteins from forming too many blood clots. This is a rare inherited
disorder.
- Protein
C deficiency: Like protein S, protein C is a natural anticoagulant
that protects a person from developing too many blood clots.
- Antithrombin
deficiency: This inherited disorder increases the risk of deep vein
thrombosis.
- Paroxysmal
nocturnal hemoglobinuria: This rare blood disease occurs when the
immune system attacks red blood cells, increasing the risk of blood clots.
- Disseminated
intravascular coagulation (DIC): Disseminated intravascular
coagulation is a rare blood clotting disorder that can cause
uncontrollable bleeding or clotting.
Some people with a blood clotting disorder have an increased
risk of stroke and heart attack. If a pulmonary embolism is suspected due to
chest pain and difficulty breathing, 911 (or local emergency services) should
be called. Heart attack and stroke are also other medical conditions requiring
emergency treatment.
What Are Common Bleeding Disorders? Bleeding
disorders occur when the blood does not clot normally, resulting in more
bleeding than usual.
Bleeding disorders include:
- Von
Willebrand disease: This condition is the most common bleeding
disorder in the US. Most people with Von Willebrand disease have inherited
a mutated gene from one of their biological parents. In some people, this
condition develops as a complication of certain cancers, autoimmune
disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.
- Inherited
hemophilia: This rare genetic condition can cause more bleeding than
normal. There are three types of hemophilia: Type A or classic hemophilia,
Type B or Christmas disease, and Type C (Rosenthal syndrome).
- Thrombocytopenia:
This condition occurs with a low platelet count. Immune thrombocytopenia
(ITP) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are examples of
diseases that cause thrombocytopenia.
- Fibrinogen
deficiency states: Fibrinogen is another protein that helps blood
clot. If there is not enough fibrinogen or if fibrinogen does not work as
it should, abnormal bleeding or clotting problems may be seen.
What Is the Most Common Type of Blood Disease? Anemia
constitutes the most common type of non-cancerous blood diseases. Anemia occurs
when there are not enough healthy red blood cells. Some types of anemia are
inherited, but people can also acquire or develop them later.
What Are Acquired Anemias?
- Pernicious
anemia: Pernicious anemia is one of the causes of vitamin B12
deficiency and is an autoimmune condition that prevents the body from
absorbing vitamin B12.
- Iron
deficiency anemia: As the name suggests, iron deficiency anemia occurs
when there is not enough iron in the body to produce hemoglobin. Red blood
cells need hemoglobin to carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Megaloblastic
anemia: Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia that can occur when
not enough vitamin B12 and/or vitamin B9 (folate) is taken.
- Aplastic
anemia: This anemia occurs when stem cells in the bone marrow do not
produce enough blood cells.
- Autoimmune
hemolytic anemia: In autoimmune hemolytic anemia, the immune system
attacks red blood cells.
- Macrocytic
anemia: This anemia occurs when the bone marrow produces larger red
blood cells than normal. Macrocytic anemia can be caused by
myelodysplastic syndrome, low folate level, low vitamin B12 level, liver
disease, alcohol use, and certain medications.
- Normocytic
anemia: In this type of anemia, there are fewer red blood cells than
normal. Normocytic anemia has many causes.
What Are Inherited Anemias?
- Sickle
cell anemia: Sickle cell anemia changes the shape of red blood cells,
turning flexible, round discs into rigid and sticky sickle cells that
block blood flow.
- Fanconi
anemia: Fanconi anemia is a rare blood disease. Anemia is one of the
symptoms of Fanconi anemia.
- Diamond-Blackfan
anemia: This inherited disorder prevents the bone marrow from
producing enough red blood cells.
- Thalassemia:
In thalassemia, the body produces less hemoglobin, resulting in small red
blood cells and anemia.
What Are Other Types of Anemia? Some types of anemia
can be inherited, but can also be acquired later:
- Hemolytic
anemia: In this anemia, red blood cells break down or die faster than
normal.
- Sideroblastic
anemia: Sideroblastic anemia results from abnormal iron utilization
during the development of red blood cells.
- Microcytic
anemia: This anemia occurs when red blood cells do not have enough
hemoglobin and are therefore smaller than normal. Microcytic anemia is
seen in iron deficiency, thalassemia, sideroblastic anemia, and some cases
of anemia of chronic disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Common Blood Diseases?
Symptoms of blood diseases depend on the specific blood disease and its effect
on the blood. For example, most people with anemia experience the following
symptoms:
- Fatigue
and weakness.
- Dizziness.
- Paler
skin than normal.
- Rapid
heartbeat (palpitations).
- Shortness
of breath.
What Are the Symptoms of Bleeding Disorders? The most
common symptom is excessive and persistent bleeding. Consider consulting a
doctor if any of the following symptoms are present:
- Nosebleeds:
Nosebleeds lasting longer than 10 minutes and occurring five or more times
a year.
- Excessive
bleeding: Bleeding from cuts or injuries lasting longer than 10
minutes.
- Internal
bleeding: May cause joint pain.
- Bruises:
Bruises appearing without an obvious reason or after a minor injury.
- Post-surgical
bleeding: Heavy bleeding following any surgery, including dental
surgery.
- Heavy
menstrual periods: Bleeding heavy enough to require changing a pad or
tampon every hour, or lasting longer than seven days.
- Heavy
bleeding after childbirth or miscarriage.
- Blood
in stool: Blood in stool or bleeding after defecation can be a symptom
of other medical conditions. A doctor should be consulted if there is
blood in the stool.
- Blood
in urine (hematuria): A doctor should be consulted especially if there
is an urgent need to urinate and blood is seen in the urine.
What Are the Symptoms of Blood Clotting Disorders?
Blood clotting disorders increase the risk of developing blood clots in veins,
lungs, and other parts of the body. People with blood clotting disorders may
experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling,
tenderness, and pain in the leg may mean deep vein thrombosis.
- Chest
pain accompanied by shortness of breath may indicate possible pulmonary
embolism.
- Heart
attack.
- Stroke.
What Is the Most Common Cause of Blood Diseases?
There is no single cause of blood diseases. Some people inherit blood diseases.
Other blood diseases occur due to the subsequent development of a condition
affecting the blood.
How Are Blood Diseases Diagnosed? Doctors perform a
physical examination and gather information about medical history and symptoms.
Several different blood tests may be conducted.
What Are Red Blood Cell Tests? Red blood cells carry
oxygen from the lungs to body tissues. Tissues use oxygen to produce energy and
release carbon dioxide. Red blood cells carry carbon dioxide waste to the lungs
to be exhaled. Doctors take blood samples to evaluate red blood cell count and
the components or structures of red blood cells. Tests can be performed to
determine how red blood cells look under a microscope.
Red blood cell tests may include:
- Hemoglobin
test: Hemoglobin is the primary component of red blood cells. This
test is usually used to detect anemia.
- Hematocrit
test: This test measures the percentage of red blood cells in the
blood.
- Reticulocyte
count: Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells. This test checks
whether the bone marrow is producing enough healthy red blood cells.
What Are White Blood Cell Tests? White blood cells
make up about 1% of the blood. They protect the body against infections.
Abnormal white blood cell levels can be a sign of various medical conditions. For
example, a high white blood cell count (leukocytosis) can mean infection,
inflammation, or cancer. A low white blood cell count (leukopenia) can be a
sign of conditions ranging from vitamin deficiencies to cancer.
There are three types of white blood cells: granulocytes,
monocytes, and lymphocytes. Granulocytes include three white blood cell
subtypes: eosinophils, basophils, and neutrophils. The doctor may perform a
complete blood count with differential to evaluate each white blood cell type.
White blood cells include:
- Eosinophils:
Eosinophils protect the body against infections. Blood tests may show high
eosinophil levels (eosinophilia). Eosinophilia can be a symptom of
underlying medical conditions.
- Basophils:
Basophils protect the body against allergens and other foreign substances.
Basophilia occurs when the body produces too many basophils. A high
basophil count can be a sign of some blood cancers.
- Neutrophils:
Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. Neutrophils are
the first responder cells in fighting infection. A low neutrophil count is
called neutropenia. Neutropenia can increase the risk of serious
infection.
- Monocytes:
These white blood cells find and destroy germs. High monocyte levels
(monocytosis) can be a sign of infectious diseases.
- Lymphocytes:
There are two main types of lymphocytes: T lymphocytes (T cells) manage
the body's immune system response. They attack and destroy infected cells
and other foreign substances; B lymphocytes (B cells) produce antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins targeting viruses, bacteria, and other foreign
invaders.
What Are Platelet Tests? Platelets help form blood
clots and control bleeding. Tests performed to evaluate platelet health may
include:
- Platelet
count: This test measures the number of platelets in the blood.
- Mean
platelet volume (MPV) test: This blood test measures the average size
of platelets.
- Peripheral
blood smear (PBS): The doctor can use this test to examine platelets
under a microscope. The doctor also uses this test to examine white and
red blood cells.
How Are Blood Diseases Treated? In general, doctors
focus on identifying and treating underlying conditions causing blood diseases.
They also treat symptoms of the blood disease.
Treatments may include:
- Watchful
waiting approach: Some blood diseases do not cause noticeable
symptoms. If this is the case, the doctor monitors the person's general
health status and pays special attention to new symptoms or signs of the
developing blood disease.
- Blood
and platelet transfusions: Doctors may administer blood transfusions
to increase red blood cell levels in people with severe forms of anemia.
Platelet transfusions may be administered to help clotting in people with
blood clotting issues.
- Anticoagulants:
These medications help treat blood clotting disorders by preventing blood
from clotting too easily.
- Growth
factor supplementation: This treatment stimulates the bone marrow to
produce additional red and white blood cells. Erythropoietin-stimulating
agents (ESA) are examples of growth factor supplements.
- Corticosteroids:
This treatment suppresses the immune system. Doctors may use steroids to
treat autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
These treatments have different side effects. Side effects
of treatment should be discussed with a doctor. The doctor will help manage
these side effects.
What Is the Prognosis for Non-Cancerous Blood Diseases?
Non-cancerous blood diseases vary greatly. For example, many people with a
blood clotting disorder can have a normal lifespan, but may need medication and
treatment for the rest of their lives. However, some blood diseases like sickle
cell anemia can be life-threatening. People's prognosis also depends on factors
such as age and general health status. People with a blood disease should ask
their doctor what to expect.
Can Non-Cancerous Blood Diseases Be Prevented? This
depends on the specific disease. Some blood diseases are inherited, meaning
they cannot be prevented. Others arise from underlying conditions whose
preventability varies. Although blood diseases cannot always be prevented,
there are steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of developing
complications.
How Can the Risk of Developing These Diseases Be Reduced?
Taking care of general health can reduce the risk of developing conditions that
cause blood diseases. Recommendations include:
- Eating
a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals: This includes
iron-containing foods such as eggs, turkey, lean beef, and organ meats
like kidneys and liver. Legumes, including black beans, green leafy
vegetables, and brown rice, are other foods that help increase iron
intake.
- Staying
active: Regular exercise helps support the immune system.
- Maintaining
a healthy body weight: A doctor should be consulted about reaching and
maintaining an appropriate body weight.
- Taking
precautions to prevent infection: Hands should be washed thoroughly
and frequently. A doctor should be consulted regarding seasonal flu shots
and other vaccines to be evaluated.
- Having
regular check-ups: In people who have a blood disease or are at risk
of developing a blood disease, the doctor will schedule regular
appointments to check general health status. Blood tests may be performed.
How to Live with Blood Diseases? Blood diseases can
change lifestyle. However, there are some practices that can help maintain
quality of life. For example:
- Informing
family and friends: How the blood disease may affect the person should
be explained to family and friends. Thus, they can understand which
activities may not be performed and know what to do during a medical
emergency.
- Considering
wearing a medical alert bracelet: In case of severe illness or injury,
this bracelet helps healthcare personnel provide necessary care by giving
information about the person's condition.
- Eating
an iron-rich diet: Eating healthy can be beneficial for anyone living
with a blood disease.
- Treating
any bleeding immediately: For people with bleeding disorders, the
doctor may prescribe medication (factor) to help blood clot. People with
bleeding disorders should treat bleeding quickly using the prescribed
medication.
- Reducing
risk of injury: People with bleeding disorders should avoid contact
sports that may increase the risk of falling or receiving a blow.
Seatbelts should always be worn. If riding a bicycle, a helmet should be
worn.
When Should You Consult a Doctor? A doctor should be
consulted if body changes that could indicate worsening of the condition are
noticed.
When Should You Go to the Emergency Room? Some
non-cancerous blood diseases can cause medical emergencies. People with blood
clotting disorders have an increased risk of blood clots forming that can cause
pulmonary embolism, heart attack, and stroke. If a person with a blood clotting
disorder has chest pain, emergency services (911/112) should be called. If a
person with a bleeding disorder is injured, they may have difficulty
controlling the bleeding. The emergency room should be consulted if the
prescribed medication does not slow the blood flow.
What Questions Should Be Asked to the Doctor? There
are many types of non-cancerous blood diseases. People diagnosed with one of
these diseases may want to ask the doctor the following questions:
- What
type of blood disease do I have?
- How
will this condition affect me?
- Is
this condition life-threatening?
- What
are the treatments?
- What
are the side effects of the treatment?
- Will
treatment cure me?
- If
it will not cure me, will I always need to use medication?
- Why
and how did this blood disease develop in me?
- If
this disease is inherited, do close family members need to get genetic
testing?
Non-cancerous blood diseases are conditions that prevent
blood from performing its function. Blood may not form enough blood clots to
prevent a person from bleeding more than normal. Blood can also clot too
easily, increasing the risk of forming blood clots that could cause stroke or
heart attack. These conditions are mostly chronic (long-term) and require
lifelong medical care. Most people with non-cancerous blood diseases have a
normal lifespan and a good quality of life with treatment.