Blood Disorder Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
A blood disorder or blood disorder is a condition in which there is a disturbance in one or several parts of the blood, thereby interfering with the amount and function of blood.
This condition can be acute or chronic. In general, human blood is composed of four main components, namely:
- Red blood cells (erythrocytes) which function to deliver oxygen to all body tissues
- White blood cells (leukocytes) which function to fight bacterial infections
- Platelets (thrombocytes) which function to help the process of blood clotting
- Blood plasma functions to assist the coagulation process, play a role in the immune system, as well as a means of transportation to deliver electrolytes, nutrients, and so on throughout the body.
A person is said to suffer from a blood disorder if one of the above blood components cannot function normally.
Blood Disorders
| Medical specialist | Specialist in internal medicine (sub-hematology) |
| Symptom | Easy fatigue, shortness of breath, pale, bruised, bleeding |
| risk factor | Heredity, infections, drug side effects, autoimmune |
| How to diagnose | Medical interview, physical examination, supporting examination |
| Treatment | Medicines, blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants |
| Drug | Supplements (vitamin B12, folic acid, iron), corticosteroids |
| Complications | Bleeding, impaired concentration, impaired child development |
| When to see a doctor? | Immediately if experiencing symptoms of blood disorders |
The following are some common blood disorders, including:
1. Diseases of Blood Disorders Affecting Red Blood Cells
- Anemia
Anemia occurs when red blood cells are low. Anemia is divided into several types depending on the cause, namely:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Pernicious anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency)
- Folic acid deficiency anemia
- Anemia due to chronic disease
- Aplastic anemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
- Megaloblastic anemia
- Thalassemia
Thalassemia is a fairly common red blood cell disorder called thalassemia. This blood disorder is hereditary.
- Polycythemia vera
Polycythemia vera occurs when the spinal cord produces too many red blood cells. The exact cause of polycythemia vera is not known with certainty.
As a result of this condition, the risk of blood clots can occur causing problems such as strokes or heart attacks.
2. Diseases of Blood Disorders Affecting White Blood Cells
- Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that develops in the lymph nodes.
In this condition, white blood cells develop to become more malignant and spread unnaturally.
Lymphoma is divided into two major groups, namely Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Leukemia
Apart from lymphoma, the most common blood cancer is leukemia.
Leukemia is a blood cancer characterized by an excessive number of white blood cells and becomes malignant. Leukemia can be acute or chronic.
- Multiple myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a malignancy in the blood characterized by uncontrolled growth of plasma cells.
Plasma cells produce abnormal antibodies that attack the person’s own immune system.
- Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
MDS is a blood disorder that affects the spinal cord. As a result, the bone marrow produces abnormal cells.
3. Diseases of Blood Disorders Affecting Platelets
- thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the platelets in the blood are too low.
This condition can be caused by certain medical conditions, for example dengue hemorrhagic fever infection or side effects of certain drugs.
- Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
A blood disorder that affects the platelet count is ITP. This condition has no known cause.
ITP sufferers will generally complain of complaints such as easy bruising or the appearance of red spots on the skin.
- Primary thrombocythemia
In primary thrombocythemia, the body produces excessive platelets for no apparent reason.
As a result, platelets cannot perform their function properly and actually increase the risk of the body experiencing bleeding.
4. Diseases of Blood Disorders that Affect Blood Clotting Factors
- Hemophilia
Hemophilia is a genetic blood disorder. Hemophilia occurs due to a lack of blood clotting proteins known as blood clotting factors.
Patients become prone to bleeding suddenly.
- Von Willebrand’s disease
Like hemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease is also a genetic blood disorder.
This disease occurs because the body lacks a clotting protein, namely von Willebrand factor.
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
DIC is a condition when there is an excessive blood clotting process.
Generally, this condition occurs in people who have had infections or serious injuries, after surgery, or complications from pregnancy, such as placental abruption and HELLP syndrome.
- Deep venous thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a disease that occurs due to blood clots in the veins.
This condition causes blood flow to slow down resulting in complaints of pain and swelling in the legs.
If this blood clot breaks free and travels to the lungs it can cause a pulmonary embolism.
Symptom
Symptoms of blood disorders can vary, depending on which blood component is affected.
Some of the characteristics of blood disorders that commonly appear are:
- Easily tired
- Hard to breathe
- Pale
- Often feel pounding
- Nosebleed
- Easy bruising
- Bleeding gums
- Weight loss
- Easily infected or contracted a disease
- Headache
Reason
The causes of blood disorders can vary, ranging from genetics, the effects of using certain drugs or other medical conditions such as infections, exposure to poisons, or malnutrition.
Not infrequently in some cases, the cause of blood disorders is not known with certainty.
Risk Factors
The risk of blood disorders may increase if a person has conditions, such as:
- There is a history of blood disorders in the family
- Have certain medical conditions such as autoimmune disease, cancer, infection, severe injury or trauma, impaired liver function
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Immobility
- Pregnancy
Diagnosis
In making a diagnosis of blood disorders, a specialist in internal medicine (sub-hematologist) will conduct an in-depth medical interview.
For example, the patient’s medical history and risk factors (eg family history of blood disorders).
After that, the doctor will carry out a physical examination and supporting examinations.
Physical examination may include:
- Examination of the skin and mucous membranes, to see if there is paleness, bruising, or red spots
- Examination of lymph nodes
- Examination of the joints to assess whether there is swelling
- Examination of the abdomen to assess the liver and spleen for enlargement
In addition, several supporting examinations that can be carried out include:
1. Blood Test
A complete blood count or complete blood count helps to see the number of each type of blood cell you have.
2. Blood smear
Examination of blood smears is sometimes also needed, this examination serves to see if there are any abnormalities in the blood components.
3. Platelet Aggregation Test
Platelet aggregation tests serve to evaluate platelet function and help diagnose platelet-related diseases.
4. CT ( Clothes Time ) and BT ( Bleeding Time ) tests
The BT CT test functions to find out how fast the body can process blood clots if you experience bleeding.
5. Spinal Cord Biopsy
Bone marrow biopsy examination aims to see the condition of the spinal cord, whether there are abnormal cells or not.
This examination is done by taking a small amount of blood and tissue in the bone marrow and examining it in the laboratory.
Treatment
Treatment of blood disorders is based on the type and cause. The treatment of blood disorders can include:
1. Drugs
The drugs given are based on which blood components are problematic. For example, in patients with iron anemia, iron supplementation can be given.
In conditions of blood disorders due to autoimmune, corticosteroid therapy can be an option.
2. Blood Transfusion
In addition to the use of drugs, under certain conditions, blood transfusions are an option for treating other blood disorders.
Blood transfusions help replace lost or damaged blood cells.
3. Chemotherapy
In patients with blood disorders due to blood cancer such as leukemia, chemotherapy is also an option.
4. Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplant is an option to replace unhealthy bone marrow so that later the bone marrow can produce normal cells.
Prevention
Not all blood disorders can be prevented, considering that one of the causes of blood disorders is heredity.
However, in conditions where blood disorders due to non-heredity can be prevented, several steps can be taken, including:
- Ensuring adequate nutritional intake every day, such as consuming foods high in iron, such as beef, liver, spinach; food sources of folic acid, such as green vegetables, avocado, broccoli; and food sources of vitamin B12, such as meat, fish, tempeh
- Completely and effectively treat or control existing medical conditions such as infections, autoimmune diseases
- Carry out regular health checks
- Conduct premarital examinations and genetic screening before marriage, especially for those who have a genetic history of blood disorders in the family
- Use personal protective equipment in the work environment, especially for those who work under exposure to radiation, chemicals, and so on
Complications
Common complications of blood disorders include:
- Bleeding
- Productivity disturbances, difficulty concentrating
- Developmental disorders in children
- Recurrent infection
- Spread of cancer cells to other organs
When to See a Doctor?
Immediately consult a doctor if you experience one or more of the symptoms mentioned above.
A quick and precise diagnosis can help control the blood disorder you are experiencing.