Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands - (Page 53)

CHOOSE YOUR CONSULTANT SLUG IN HERE HAEMATOLOGY – BLOOD DISORDERS Healthy blood is vital to your wellbeing. We look at leukaemia, a malignant condition related to the blood cells, anaemia and haemophilia, diseases that Healthy blood is vital for all your body functions. We put leukaemia, anaemia, haemophilia and deep vein thrombosis under the microscope… blood BASICStrue BLOOD bone marrow, such as leukaemia, anaemia and haemophilia. The plasma, or liquid part of the blood, contains red and white blood cells. The red cells carry oxygen from the lungs around the body. The white cells are a part of your immune system and fight infection and disease. H LEUKAEMIA This is bone marrow cancer. It occurs when abnormal white blood cells multiply rapidly and accumulate within the bone marrow, where your blood cells are produced. About 7,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with leukaemia every year. Chronic leukaemia accounts for 3,000 of these cases, which is when the condition progresses slowly and may not need treatment straightaway. Acute leukaemia, which accounts for about 4,000 cases, is rapidly progressive and requires urgent treatment such as chemotherapy. Common symptoms for both types of leukaemia include excessive tiredness, weight loss, breathlessness and bruising. Patients with acute leukaemia may also experience nose bleeds and repeated infections. Almost a quarter of patients with chronic leukaemia aematology is the study of blood and its formation, as well as the investigation and treatment of disorders that affect the blood and have no symptoms at first. When they appear, they gradually worsen over time. WHAT CAUSES IT? Exact causes are not known, but risk factors for acute leukaemia include exposure to radiation and the industrial chemical benzene, smoking, previous cancer treatments and some genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome. For chronic leukaemia, risk factors include age, family history and exposure to electromagnetic fields. TREATMENT This is tailored to each case, but usually involves chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Beware of blood clots... Each year, one in every 1,000 people in the UK is affected by a risky blood clot Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) happens when a blood clot forms in a deep vein. DVT is most common in the veins of your lower leg (calf). It can also develop in the veins in your thigh and, more rarely, other deep veins such as those in your arm or pelvis. DVT causes pain and swelling and may lead to complications such as pulmonary embolism. This is when a piece of the clot breaks off and travels through your bloodstream to your lungs, where it blocks one of the blood vessels. This is serious and can be fatal. People at risk are those who smoke, are aged over 60, immobile or bed bound, travel long distances, are obese, have a family history of blood clots, or have experienced a clot in a vein before. ANAEMIA This is when the level of haemoglobin – the iron-containing molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body – is too low, so not enough oxygen gets to the tissues. WHAT CAUSES IT? Iron is needed to make haemoglobin and a shortage of it is the most common cause of anaemia. This may be due to blood loss, or it can develop over time, particularly in women who are pregnant or suffer heavy periods. It may also be due to a lack of vitamin B12 or folate. TREATMENT Usually a diet rich in iron, found in red meat, liver, green vegetables, eggs, dried apricots, sardines, spinach, fortified breakfast cereals and wholemeal bread. You may also be advised to take iron supplements. HAEMOPHILIA This is a rare, life-long genetic condition in which the blood’s ability to clot is severely reduced. The main danger is internal bleeding into joints, muscles and soft tissues. WHAT CAUSES IT? Although it’s normally inherited, for a third of sufferers, it is the result of a spontaneous gene abnormality, with no family history of the condition. TREATMENT There is currently no cure for haemophilia, and you will need regular injections to help your blood to clot. n Dr Hilary Jones’ Healthcare guide – West Midlands 053 WORDS: Lynne Maxwell | PHOTOGRAPH: Getty Images

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands

EDITOR’S LETTER
A HEALTHY HELLO FROM DR HILARY
NEWS AND VIEWS
THE BIG INTERVIEW
QUESTION TIME
A WEIGHTY ISSUE
FITNESS FOR FREE
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
TOP NOSH
DR HILARY'S WELCOME
MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION
CHOOSING THE BEST
BREAST CANCER
COLORECTAL
COSMETIC SURGERY
DERMATOLOGY
EARS, NOSE AND THROAT
FERTILITY
GASTROENTEROLOGY
HAEMATOLOGY
NEUROSURGERY
OBESITY
OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY
OPHTHALMOLOGY
ORTHOPAEDICS
PAIN MANAGEMENT
PLASTIC SURGERY
PLASTIC SURGERY
UROLOGY

Dr Hilary Jones' Healthcare Guide - West Midlands

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