Inova Hematology

Blood disorders happen when there's something wrong with your blood, which can affect your overall health. They can involve issues with the different parts of your blood: red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which fight infections), or platelets (which help with blood clotting).

Some common blood disorders include:

Anemia: When you don’t have enough red blood cells, making you feel tired and weak.

Bleeding disorders: Like hemophilia, where your blood doesn’t clot properly, causing excessive bleeding.

Blood clots: When blood clumps together too much, which can lead to blockages in your veins or arteries.

While some blood disorders might not cause noticeable symptoms or need treatment, others can be chronic and require medical care.

Blood cancer affects your blood cells, often originating in the bone marrow where blood is produced. Stem cells in the marrow develop into red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. In blood cancer, an excess of abnormal or cancerous cells disrupts the blood's ability to fight infections or prevent bleeding.

There are three primary types of blood cancers:

Leukemia involves the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells in the blood and bone marrow. These cells fail to combat infections and hinder the production of red blood cells and platelets.

Lymphoma targets the lymphatic system, which manages fluid balance and immune function. It involves abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, which multiply and accumulate in lymph nodes and other tissues, weakening the immune system.

Myeloma affects plasma cells, which are responsible for producing antibodies that fight infections. Myeloma cells disrupt this antibody production, compromising the immune system's ability to defend against disease.