Aplastic anemia is an inherited disorder where the bone marrow does not make enough of the blood components called hemoglobin. This occurs because the normal blood producing cells (platelet cells) are replaced by fat cells. Without enough numbers of red blood cells, people with aplastic anemia become prone to infections (red and white blood cell counts are also low). Aplastic anemia can occur at any age, but it usually begins in childhood and often repeats itself.
People who are diagnosed with aplastic anemia often experience emotional problems. Because they lack the energy to do physical activities, they find it hard to move around or even breathe. Aside from that, Anemia can also cause bone loss. This means that a person is at risk of developing bone cancer. Aplastic anemia treatment cost in India is affordable enough in the sector of homoeopathy.
What is Aplastic Anemia?
In the world of medical ailments, Anemia is one that can be quite serious. The bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells in it are damaged to such degrees that they become unable to new blood cell production- resulting in complete lack or deficiency across all three types: red blood cells (anemias), white leukocytes (leukemias) and platelets thrombocytopenia). A Sanskrit term meaning “without form” has been given to this disorder because mature cells never seem able to differentiate themselves from immature ones even though there have been cases where people have had successful treatment using homeopathy medicines as well as traditional treatments like chemotherapy therapy.
What are the Causes of Aplastic Anemia?
Aplastic anemia is a disease that can cause your body to produce fewer or no red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The bone marrow becomes damaged as it produces fewer stem cells, which leads to the reduction in production of these important components necessary for healthy living.
Aplastic anemia is caused when there is an insufficient amount of red blood cells. The body needs these red blood cells to make proteins, mainly hemoglobin. If aplastic anemia is due to an underlying disorder that affects the autoimmune system (one that attacks its own healthy tissues), then it can be life-threatening. Autoimmune disorders such as sickle cell anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis, etc.
Drugs are the number one cause of aplastic anemia. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are two of the most common forms of treatment used in the treatment of cancer and AIDS. Certain drugs (such as those used for anesthesia) increase the risk of aplastic anemia. These include certain anti-epileptic drugs, antineoplastic drugs, lithium and thalidomide.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy reduce the ability of white blood cells to fight infection and will reduce the number of red blood cells available for use by your body. Your body will struggle to keep up with the increased need for oxygen, which is one of the functions of your autoimmune cells. This reduced ability can increase your risk of developing aplastic anemia. This is because some drugs used in the treatment of these diseases, such as bleomycin and methotrexate, reduce the number of good bacteria in the blood, also known as the microflora.
Infection, injury and trauma are also known to cause aplastic anemia. These are obviously not the cause of the condition, but they can make it more severe. These conditions can affect any part of the body, but they tend to cause the most damage to the kidneys. If you have kidney problems, or have just had surgery, you are at greater risk of developing aplastic anemia. You may also be prone to aplastic anemia if you have a faulty immune system, especially if you have contracted HIV or received chemotherapy.
One thing that can help you to cope with aplastic anemia is diet. Junk foods and refined carbohydrates can reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your body, so cutting these out of your diet can help to bring aplastic anemia under control. In addition to cutting down on junk food and carbohydrates, there are some foods that actually help the body to develop antibodies against itself, so intake of these should be cut back. Some drugs, including those used to treat cancer, have the ability to change the types of cells in your body and so these, too, can lead to the production of antibodies. Taking regular medication that interferes with autoimmunity is one way of dealing with the problem.
Diagnosis of anemia can be done through blood transfusions. Blood test results will tell doctors if an illness is acquired. If it is acquired, your doctor will need to do bone marrow testing. If the marrow does not produce enough hemoglobin, then the illness is called aplasia. In some rare instances, the illness is caused by an inherited gene defect.
Final Take
Anemia, if left untreated, could lead to a life-threatening condition called pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary embolism is when blood flows into your lungs, instead of into your heart. This could be life-threatening since it causes your heart to enlarge and could force it to collapse, resulting in either death or paralysis of both the upper and lower portions of your lungs.
