{"id":6212,"date":"2022-02-02T12:14:06","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T12:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryoviva.com.sg\/?p=6212"},"modified":"2023-05-24T20:29:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T12:29:08","slug":"a-brief-guide-to-thalassemia-a-genetic-blood-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/a-brief-guide-to-thalassemia-a-genetic-blood-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"A brief guide to thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"6212\" class=\"elementor elementor-6212\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4115b24 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4115b24\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ff5b88b\" data-id=\"ff5b88b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-98bc562 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"98bc562\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.1 - 09-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A brief guide to thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-37bb7c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"37bb7c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.1 - 09-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"775\" src=\"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158-1280x827.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-9503\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158-1280x827.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158-640x414.jpg 640w, https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158-320x207.jpg 320w, https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/shutterstock_259719158.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-baa0a1b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"baa0a1b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.1 - 09-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><em>Thalassemia is one of the 80+ diseases\/ health conditions for which cord blood stem cell transplant is known to have proven effective. Here\u2019s a short, \u2018layman\u2019s guide\u2019 to this genetic blood disorder.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that inhibits the body\u2019s capacity to produce haemoglobin. A component of red blood cells, haemoglobin helps carry oxygen from the lungs to various body parts. Without it, the oxygen carrying capacity of blood is severely hampered which could lead to adverse effects on one\u2019s health.<\/p>\n<p>Being genetic in nature, thalassemia is associated with certain ethnic groups like Greeks, Turkish, Italians, Middle\u00a0 Easterners, Southeast Asians, Indians and Egyptians, among others. Let\u2019s try to understand how this disease affects a patient and how it can be treated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6e50a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d6e50a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Types of thalassemia<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b82befb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b82befb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are two major types of thalassemia \u2013 <strong>alpha and beta<\/strong>\u2013 depending on the exact mutation. This also denotes which factor of the haemoglobin the body is unable to produce.<\/p>\n<p>There are other ways to categorise the disease, too such as <strong>major, minor and intermedia<\/strong> to denote the severity of the disease. Major is the most severe form and occurs when both parents have passed on the thalassemia gene. It causes severe anemia, requiring the person affected to get regular blood transfusions. Intermedia is when the person develops anemia but doesn\u2019t require transfusions. Those with thalassemia minor carry the gene for the disorder but do not manifest any symptoms.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d447764 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d447764\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Causes<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a377b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a377b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Thalassemia is inherited genetically, i.e it is <strong>passed on from parent to child<\/strong>. A mutation in the genes responsible for production of haemoglobin leads to the condition. It may get passed on from one or both parents. The chances of a person both of whose parents are carriers of this genetic mutation being afflicted by this condition is higher.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9dce3a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9dce3a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Symptoms of thalassemia<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21feac8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21feac8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Lack of sufficient haemoglobin in thalassemia patients often leads to <strong>anemia<\/strong>. Lower oxygen count in the blood results in constant <strong>tiredness<\/strong>. Some other common symptoms of the condition include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Children not hitting the growth milestones in time<\/li>\n<li>Bones being weak or prone to breaking<\/li>\n<li>Prone to get infections<\/li>\n<li>Enlarged spleen<\/li>\n<li>Poor appetite<\/li>\n<li>Heart diseases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Like with all diseases, not every person afflicted by thalassemia would manifest all these symptoms. In some cases, they may be barely noticeable or even absent.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2332034 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2332034\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Diagnosis<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d77132 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5d77132\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>There are many types of blood tests available to find out whether a person has thalassemia, like the <strong>complete blood count <\/strong>and <strong>haemoglobin electrophoresis<\/strong>. Usually, symptoms appear right after the birth, and diagnosis is generally made before the child turns two.<\/p>\n<p>For expecting couples, it isprudent thing to undergo genetic counseling, especially if there is a family history of the condition, or they belong to an ethnic group known to have it. There are also certain tests that can be done during the pregnancy that can determine if the child has thalassemia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62d528d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"62d528d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Prevention<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1797052 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1797052\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Parents-to-be can undergo the test themselves if they are not sure of their thalassemia status. If they test positive, they can consult a genetician for risk assessment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-656634c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"656634c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Management\/ treatment<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0a569ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0a569ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In case of the milder forms of the disease, the consequence is usually limited to continuous fatigue. This can be managed with good dietary practices. Doctors can recommend calcium, vitamins and other supplements to help overcome the difficulty.<\/p>\n<p>The most urgent requirement for those having severe forms of thalassemia is to get <strong>regular blood transfusions<\/strong> to compensate for the haemoglobin insufficiency of the body. However, this also leads to excessive iron in the bloodstream. In order to remove it, doctors use <strong>chelation therapy<\/strong> which consists of medicines that help flush out heavy metals from the body.<\/p>\n<p>Some patients need <strong>spleen removal surgery<\/strong> if it becomes too large.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, cord blood stem cell transplant is another important method for the treatment of thalassemia. This obviously requires the stored cord blood of either the patient or of an immediate family member such as sibling to be available.<\/p>\n<p>It makes sense for would-be parents to consider cord blood banking with a family cord blood bank to be prepared for such unforeseen circumstances. There is an extremely small window of opportunity \u2013 the birth of the child- for the cord blood to be collected and stored, and we believe it is an opportunity not to be missed, keeping the long-term health of the baby (and the family) in mind.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A brief guide to thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder Thalassemia is one of the 80+ diseases\/ health conditions for which cord blood stem cell transplant is known to have proven effective. Here\u2019s a short, \u2018layman\u2019s guide\u2019 to this genetic blood disorder. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder that inhibits the body\u2019s capacity to produce haemoglobin. A component of red blood cells, haemoglobin helps carry oxygen from the lungs to various body parts. Without it, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9503,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6212"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15408,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6212\/revisions\/15408"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9503"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ontarget-media.com\/cryoviva_new\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}