Blood circulates through the circulatory system, carries gases and substances dissolved in it, which were formed as a result of metabolic processes. Almost all processes in the body are associated with it. This is both digestion and breathing - life is impossible without them. Regulation of body temperature is also directly related to blood. The science that studies blood, blood-forming organs, blood diseases, treatment and diagnostics is called hematology. Unfortunately, blood diseases are still not fully understood, and a disease such as blood cancer cannot always be cured. The main thing is to recognize the disease at an early stage, then the chances of winning are much greater.
Consider blood diseases, symptoms and treatment of blood diseases.
Blood diseases
Blood consists of plasma and formed elements: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets. Their content in a healthy body is maintained at a constant level. If there is a strong shift in one direction or another, then we can already talk about problems.
Based on the composition of the blood, it is possible to divide the disease into four groups.
1. Violation of the functions and structure of red blood cells. These are diseases such as:
- Anemia.
- Anemia.
- Polycythemia.
2. Violation of the functions and structure of white blood cells. These include:
- Leukopenia
- Leukemia
- Lymphopenia
3. Violation of the functions and structure of platelet cells. The following diseases are included:
- Thrombocytosis.
- Thrombocytopenia.
4. Change in the properties of blood plasma:
- Radiation sickness.
- Hemophilia.
- Agammaglobulinemia.
- The tendency to bleeding also carries a blood disease.
Symptoms in adults in the early stages may not attract attention, but they cannot be ignored.
Symptoms of blood diseases
The problem lies in the fact that blood diseases often manifest symptoms similar to many other diseases. Here are some possible signs that indicate blood problems:
- Weakness.
- Feeling unwell for no apparent reason.
- Frequent headaches.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue
- Pain in the heart, tachycardia.
- Pallor.
- Noise in ears.
- Visual impairment.
- Itchy skin is possible.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
All these symptoms are characteristic of many diseases, but if they are, therefore, the immune system is weakened, and this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Blood disease is very dangerous, symptoms in adult patients noticed by a patient or doctor cannot be ignored.
Causes of the disease
Blood diseases have been studied for a long time, and there are studies that have shown that there is a genetic predisposition to these problems.
If there have been cases of blood disease in the family, then it is necessary to keep the situation under control: more often take tests, undergo a medical examination, consult a hematologist.
Now consider the causes of some blood diseases.
- Anemia is a lack of iron, vitamin B 12 , folic acid in the body, and a decrease in hemoglobin levels. Anemia occurs for a variety of reasons. It:
- A drop in hemoglobin.
- The destruction of red blood cells in a very short period of time - this condition is called hemolytic anemia.
- Regular short bleeding or severe one-time blood loss - posthemorrhagic anemia.
2. Leukemia. This serious disease is not fully understood. But it is known that a hereditary predisposition, ionizing radiation, chemicals, and viruses play a large role.
Most often, the disease is caused by a number of reasons that only exacerbate the situation.
Blood disease in children
If there is a blood disease, the symptoms in adults and children are very similar. However, the child’s immunity is much stronger than that of an adult, and if the disease is recognized in time, the chances of recovery are much higher. Parents should be alert for the following symptoms:
- Frequent colds.
- Fast fatiguability.
- Poor appetite.
- Pallor of the skin.
- Frequent bleeding that is difficult to stop.
- Multiple bruising on the body.
A large percentage of children suffer from anemia. Therefore, it is very important that the child receives proper nutrition with a sufficient amount of vitamins and beneficial amino acids. Particular attention should be paid to babies with a genetic predisposition.
Let us dwell on a disease such as blood cancer - leukemia. Symptoms, causes and treatment are discussed below. A huge number of patients with such a problem are registered annually.
Symptoms of blood cancer
What is blood cancer, how to identify and treat it? Symptoms in adults at first do not attract much attention. Often, close people notice a deterioration in health status. The patient has:
- Weakness.
- Frequent dizziness.
- Temperature rise for no reason.
- Pallor, dryness, yellowness of the skin is possible.
- Weight loss and loss of appetite.
- Bone pain.
- Enlarged lymph nodes.
- Skin rashes are possible.
- Excessive drowsiness and irritability.
These are symptoms characteristic of a disease such as blood cancer. A blood test in adult patients should be the first in the methods of research and diagnosis, but not the main one. Confirm the presence of the disease should a thorough examination.
What is blood cancer? This is a tumor that develops from one bone marrow cell through its uncontrolled division, while it displaces healthy cells. Moreover, only white blood cells are reborn, hence another name for blood cancer - leukemia. There are several types of this dangerous disease:
- Leukemia is a tumor from brain cells.
- Acute leukemia - proceeds aggressively, affecting young, immature blood cells.
- Chronic leukemia - from mature cells, it is easier.
- Hematosarcoma is extremely malignant, formed from lymphatic tissue.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination.
Blood Cancer Diagnosis
Medicine does not stand still, there are many different examination methods, and the diagnosis is not made by a single blood test. The doctor will prescribe the necessary studies if there are suspicions, symptoms, signs of blood cancer. In adults The following examination will be carried out:
- Blood chemistry.
- Bone marrow puncture Histological examination.
- Cytochemistry
- Immunocytochemistry
- Flow cytometry.
- Molecular genetic research.
- Cytogenetics.
- CT scan.
- MRI
- Ultrasound examination.
All of these procedures are necessary in order to detect and recognize tumor cells. If a tumor is found, it is necessary to know its nature for treatment. Possessing such data, thanks to modern diagnostic methods, the doctor can choose the right treatment, the necessary drugs for a particular type of tumor.
Causes of the disease
Now it’s clear what the symptoms of blood cancer are. Blood cancer can have a variety of causes, they are not fully understood. Only one thing is clear that this is one of the most dangerous diseases. But we can highlight some risk factors:
- Genetic predisposition to cell mutations.
- The effect of radioactive radiation.
- Work in hazardous industries.
- Chemotherapy and certain medications.
- Exposure to viruses that affect healthy cells. Of particular note is the human immunodeficiency virus.
- Smoking and drinking.
Blood cancer treatment
Regardless of who has the blood disease, the symptoms in adults and children are largely similar, and the treatment methods are almost the same.
Given the type of tumor (and this can be determined by diagnosis), treatment is prescribed. You can not hesitate with therapy, since the disease can progress very quickly. Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor in a hematological hospital.
Of course, the main way is a course of chemotherapy. They also use blood transfusion, the prevention of infectious complications, and the reduction of intoxication.
The latest invention is a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. This treatment method gives excellent results. After surgery, the immune system recovers and improves even in those patients who have been poorly helped with medications.
Blood Disease Prevention
Despite the fact that it is almost impossible to predict the occurrence of blood diseases, preventive measures aimed at reducing the risks of blood diseases, there are still:
- It is necessary to diagnose and treat diseases that are accompanied by blood loss in time.
- If there is blood loss, it is necessary to take iron supplements, vitamin B 12 and folic acid.
- This should also be done by donors, pregnant, lactating, as well as women with heavy menstruation.
- Exclude exposure to radiation, chemicals.
- With hemophilia, vaccinations are contraindicated.
- Unreasonable blood transfusion from different donors is not recommended.
- When working in hazardous production, annually undergo examination and take a blood test.
- The negative effect of smoking on the hematopoietic system has been proven.
Still, science has not yet fully studied blood diseases. The classification, symptoms and treatment discussed above indicate that a person is still trying to defeat this ailment, therefore, there are folk remedies for combating these diseases.
Folk remedies for blood disease
From time immemorial, medicinal plants have been used to treat diseases.
So, in the treatment of anemia it is recommended to take:
- Rosehip tincture. It is rich in vitamin C, improves metabolism and cleanses the circulatory system.
- A good remedy for anemia is carrots, grated, it must be mixed with sour cream and eat when you want.
- It is also recommended to use as much garlic as possible or a tincture prepared in this way: peel 300 grams of garlic, add alcohol, insist in a dark place for 21 days. Take 20 drops before meals, stirring in a glass of milk.
- To reduce bleeding with hemophilia, you can take underground peanuts 100 grams before meals.
- For the treatment of sepsis, blood purification agents are used . For this, cranberry juice has proven itself well. To achieve the desired effect, you need to take it every day for half a glass three times a day in the first week, two times in the second, and once in the third.
The use of folk remedies does not exclude drug treatment. Only in combination can various therapies give a positive result. Be more attentive to your health, do not self-medicate, only in this case you can guarantee high chances of recovery.