Among all other blood-related disorder, thalassemia is really one of the deadliest. It is an inherited blood disorder that happens due to less production of red blood cells and hemoglobin in your body. Hemoglobin is the component of red blood cells that is responsible for carrying oxygen to different parts of your body. If you are suffering from thalassemia, that means your body is not getting enough oxygen, needed for growth and energy. That’s why you always remain fatigued.
Causes of Thalassemia
You may find best thalassemia treatment India, but before that, you need to know more about this disorder. The main reason of thalassemia is the mutation of the DNA of those cells that create hemoglobin which can take oxygen to different parts of your body. This genetic defect is inherited from the parents. If one of your parents is the carrier of thalassemia, there is a chance of developing this blood disorder in you. But, in that case, you may only be the carrier and the disease you will have is known as thalassemia minor. You may not have any symptoms of this. But, if both of the parents are the carriers of thalassemia, you are at the risky position of developing the disorder in more serious form. In that case, your body won’t produce much hemoglobin and red blood cells and due to that, you will always feel fatigued for lacking oxygen.
Different Types of Thalassemia
Basically, the types of thalassemia depend on the gene mutations that you have inherited from your parents. When the gene is more mutated, you have a higher risk of having more serious kind of thalassemia. As the molecules of hemoglobin are made of alpha and beta parts, they get more affected by the gene mutation. The types of thalassemia are as followed-
- Alpha-Thalassemia
To make the alpha hemoglobin chain, four genes are required. You inherit 2 from your parents. Based on the inheritance, you may have thalassemia of a different kind-
- 1 Mutated Gene– You will just be a carrier of thalassemia that will pass on to your child. There won’t be any symptoms.
- 2 Mutated Genes– Symptoms will be mild. This is known as alpha-thalassemia trait.
- 3 Mutated Genes– Symptoms will be moderate to serious.
- 4 Mutated Genes– This is more than serious and rare too. This condition often causes stillbirth or children die shortly after birth. Other than that, they require lifelong treatment of blood transfusion and bone marrow transplant
- Thalassemia Minor
To make beta hemoglobin chain, two genes are required. Again, you get 2 from each of your parents-
- 1 Mutated Gene– You will have mild thalassemia symptoms and it is known as beta-thalassemia or thalassemia minor.
- 2 Mutated Gene– You have cooley thalassemia where the symptoms are from moderate to severe. Babies born healthy with this gene condition, but the signs and symptoms will develop further.
Often mild thalassemia may not require any kind of treatment. But, when things get worse, blood transfusion is the only way to fight back the disease. Along with that, you should maintain proper exercise regime and healthy diet on regular basis.