As a board-certified hematologist, Dr. Delfino Crescenzo provides his patients with his medical experience in blood health and blood diseases.
Your red and white blood cells are composed of liquids and solids. The liquid part of your blood, known as plasma, contains water, proteins, and salt. The solid part of your blood, red blood cells and white blood cells, have different functions. The red blood cells transport oxygen from your lungs to your body’s tissues while the white blood cells, known as leukocytes, protect your body from infection. Platelets, also a small blood component, control bleeding. When you have an injury, platelets combine together to form a clot and prevent bleeding at the injury site. When you have a blood disorder, something in your blood is preventing the blood in your body from functioning. It could be the result of other diseases, medications, or even a lack of nutrients in your diet. Some disorders are chronic and lifelong and don’t affect your lifespan, other disorders can be fatal.
Some of the hematological conditions, also known as blood disorders, include:
- Anemia
- Red blood cell disorders
- White blood cell disorders
- Platelet disorders
- Hemophilia
- Leukocytosis
- Polycythemia vera
- Sickle cell disease
- Thalassemia
- Von Willebrand disease
- Cancer
- Hypoxia
- Thrombosis
- Hematological disorders related to pregnancy, including:
- Iron deficiency
- Congenital or acquired anemias
- Coagulation/Bleeding disorders/Clotting disorders
- Patients who are at high risk for hypercoagulable dysfunction during their pregnancy and postpartum phase.
- Hematological malignancies, including:
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
- Hodgkin’s Disease
- Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
- Plasma cell dyscrasias
Common Symptoms Of Blood Cell Disorders
Red blood cells function to carry oxygen throughout your body whereas white blood cells function to protect your body against infection. The symptoms for disorders of the blood cells will be different.
Red blood cell disorders may include the following symptoms:
Felling Tired
Shortness of breath
Feeling weak
Headache
White blood cell disorders may include the following symptoms:
Fever
Frequent infections
If you have a platelet disorder, the symptoms may include the following:
Excessive bleeding after an injury
Excessive bleeding during or after a dental or medical procedure
Blood clotting
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Bruising easily
Skin rash
Diagnosis of a Blood Disorder
A medical condition or illness in another part of your body can often affect the blood. It could also be a disorder that has occurred on its own. Dr. Crescenzo will review your medical history and perform a physical examination. He will order a series of blood tests to help to determine your blood disorder and possibly other blood tests that will identify it further.
Treatment of a Blood Disorder
Treatment for blood disorders will vary depending on the diagnosis of the disorder. There are some blood disorders that may be cured with treatment. There may be treatments for other blood disorders that can help relieve your symptoms and prevent complications even though they may not cure the disorder. In consultation with Dr. Crescenzo, you will have a better idea about the outlook for your disease and what treatment is appropriate.