What are blood disorders?

There are a number of different kinds of blood disorders and blood cancers, such as anaemia, iron deficiency or overload, haemochromatosis, bleeding disorders and myelodysplasia. Some common blood cancers in Singapore are leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

A doctor can help diagnose a blood disorder and may refer you to a haematologist who can provide support in treating and managing your condition. A haematologist is a doctor who specialises in blood-related disorders and disease.

When something is wrong with your blood, it can impact your health and day to day life.

Icon diagnose and treat the causes and symptoms of a wide-range of blood disorders, including:

• Anaemia
  Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to your organs. Anaemia is a condition when your cells become starved of oxygen due to a low red blood cell count. There are many different causes of anaemia such as hereditary conditions, excessive blood loss, poor diet, kidney failure and reduced production of red cells by the marrow. Symptoms of anaemia include fatigue, chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, dizziness or a fast or irregular heart beat. ¹
• Iron deficiency
  Iron deficiency anaemia is a common condition with symptoms that include tiredness, shortness of breath and dizziness. Ensure to see your doctor to determine the cause before taking iron supplements.²
• Iron overload
  Iron overload is caused by excessive blood transfusion or haemochromatosis. Excessive iron can seriously harm the body’s organs and lead to cancer, diabetes, heart failure and liver poisoning.³
• Haemochromatosis
  Haemochromatosis refers to the improper absorption and storage of iron from the diet which builds up over time. It is an inherited genetic condition usually found in Caucasians and can be managed by regularly having blood drawn from the body. Haemochromatosis can seriously damage the body without treatment.³
• Myelodysplasia
  Myelodysplastic syndrome are a group of diseases that affect blood cells produced in bone marrow and cause the cells to die before they reach full maturity. The severity can range from very mild to severe, and could lead to other conditions including anaemia, bleeding, infections or leukaemia. Treatment may include immunotherapy, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants to manage the disease.⁴