Serious Warning Signs Of Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder where the body does not make enough hemoglobin or protein that binds with and carries oxygen throughout the body. Without enough hemoglobin, red blood cells have a shorter lifespan and cannot properly oxygenate the body's cells. The body cannot produce hemoglobin without both of its components called alpha and beta. When an individual doesn't have enough beta, they have beta thalassemia, and when they don't have enough alpha, they have alpha thalassemia. This disorder is inherited from an individual's parents. Four genes in an individual's DNA make up the alpha hemoglobin chain, and two make up the beta hemoglobin chain. The severity of a patient's thalassemia depends on how many of these genes are mutated. Treatment for thalassemia includes regular blood transfusions and taking medication that helps with the elimination of excess iron, and in select cases, a stem cell transplant may be an option. Several warning signs may indicate thalassemia. Get to know them now.

Pale Or Yellow Skin

Pale or yellow skin, the latter of which is known as jaundice, can be a warning sign of thalassemia. Jaundice is a result of an elevated amount of bilirubin in the blood. The hemoglobin in red blood cells of healthy individuals is broken down into bilirubin upon cellular death. Bilirubin then moves to the liver where it is concentrated and altered so it can be used for digestion in the small intestine. Most of it is then discarded through feces and urine. Individuals with this condition have an increased rate of red blood cell death because their red blood cells die quicker without enough hemoglobin. This malfunction results in increased production of bilirubin that overwhelms the liver, gallbladder, and the blood. Once it reaches high levels in the blood, the yellow pigment of bilirubin reflects as a yellow tint in the skin. Pale skin can indicate thalassemia because of the way light reflects through the skin off of the dark red of poorly oxygenated blood. Because there is not enough hemoglobin to bind to oxygen in the individual's blood, it has a poor oxygen concentration that causes their skin to appear grey, blue, or pale.

Get more details on the symptoms of thalassemia now.