Aplastic Anemia

Without our blood cells we are more apt to have infections, bleed more readily and tire more easily. A person with a rare condition known as aplastic anemia or hypoplastic anemia experiences all of those symptoms because their bodies stop producing any new blood cells. Although everyone can be at risk for aplastic anemia, it is a rare condition.

The symptoms of aplastic anemia are quite recognizable. They are pallor of the skin, dizziness, skin rash, headache, a racing heart, bleeding from the nose and gums, shortness of breath, fatigue, a frequency in infections or infections that do not clear easily, and cuts that are difficult to stop bleeding.

Because there are varying degrees of aplastic anemia it can develop quite rapidly or take weeks to months to manifest itself. It can also last for a short period of time or become an ongoing condition. If not treated, aplastic anemia can worsen or cause death.

The cause of aplastic anemia lies in the bone marrow functioning of your body. Bone marrow is very essential to stay healthy as it produces the blood cells that are required. When the bone marrow is damaged production of blood cells slows or completely stops.

A continual process of bone marrow production needs to take place as the majority of white blood cells live on the average 24 hours or less each day, red blood cells on the average of 4 months, and platelets on the average of one week. Further, bone marrow, which also contains the product of stem cells, is essential in the process of creating red blood cells, platelets, white cells and a greater number of stem cells.

There are a variety of things that can harm your bone marrow, such as toxic chemical exposure, chemotherapy, radiation, infections, pregnancy, medications, autoimmune deficiencies, and other factors, which are unknown by the medical profession.

There can also be cases of another type of syndrome that is sometimes confused with aplastic anemia. This condition is known as myelodysplastic syndrome. This condition occurs when the blood cells are not developed or malformed. It does have similar symptoms as are in aplastic anemia.

If aplastic anemia is suspected, your doctor will diagnosis this condition through the means of laboratory blood tests and bone marrow biopsies. If found to have aplastic anemia, depending on the severity of the condition, you will be treated through medications and/or blood transfusions.

There is no known prevention of aplastic anemia other than making wise health choices and being careful about your exposure to toxins in your environment. If you do have aplastic anemia some self-help measures would include proper rest, limiting exercise, and protecting yourself against injury or illness.

Frequent visits to your doctor will help you to stay healthy and allow you to discuss your condition in regards to medication and information. See your physician regularly to discuss any possible new advancements regarding aplastic anemia to give you optimal health options in the medical field. Your physician can keep you abreast on any new breakthrough treatments.