This article provides comprehensive insights into common blood disorders, including leukemia, hematomas, and anemia. It covers their symptoms, causes, and risk factors, helping readers understand these prevalent conditions and their impact on health. Understanding these blood issues can aid in early detection and management for better health outcomes.
Blood health issues encompass numerous conditions such as anemia, clotting disorders like hemophilia, and blood cancers including lymphoma and leukemia. This article sheds light on the key symptoms, root causes, and potential risk elements associated with these common blood diseases. Read on to understand three major blood disorders and their impacts on overall health.
Leukemia
Signs often include severe fatigue and general discomfort. Patients may experience spontaneous bleeding, with blood showing in urine or stool, and bleeding from gums and nasal passages. Swollen lymph nodes, weight reduction, and loss of appetite are also typical.
Causes: Leukemia arises when genetic mutations in blood cells trigger uncontrolled growth. Damaged blood cells die and are replaced by abnormal cells that accumulate in the bone marrow, pushing out healthy cells.
Risk Factors: Factors increasing risk include viral exposures like human T-lymphotropic virus, prior chemotherapy, and benzene contact. Family history also plays a role.
Hematomas Symptoms vary by type but frequently include neurological issues such as headaches, seizures, and confusion. Epidural hematomas may cause vision issues, vomiting, and dizziness, whereas subungual hematomas often lead to nail pain, discoloration, and weakness.
Causes: Hematomas develop after blood vessel damage from trauma or accidents. Minor injuries can cause small vessels to bleed, forming hematomas, especially noted with subungual types after nail trauma.
Risk Factors: Physical trauma, advanced age, and blood-thinning medication use increase the likelihood of hematoma formation.
Iron-deficiency anemia features symptoms like constant fatigue, weakness, dizziness, cold hands and feet, pale skin, sore tongue, and brittle nails.
Causes: This anemia is commonly due to inadequate iron intake, internal bleeding from health conditions, heavy menstrual bleeding, childbirth, or endometriosis.
Risk Factors: Women of reproductive age, pregnant women, frequent donors, and those with poor iron diets are most at risk.