Alpha Thalassemia Center - Montgomery Village, MD
Montgomery Village Hematologist Doctors for Alpha ThalassemiaType of Physician: Hematologist What is a Hematologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine or Pathology; Hematologists treat diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph glands such as anemia, clotting disorders, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, leukemia, and lymphoma. They perform special types of transfusions and biopsy the bone marrow for analysis. Specialty: Hematology Common Name: Blood Doctor Hematologist Doctors in Montgomery Village * Cancer Care Center of Frederick & Mount Airy  Cancer Care Center of Frederick & Mount Airy  Cancer Care Center of Frederick & Mount Airy  Drs Barr & Schwartz MD  Cancer Quality Care  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Hicken Cranley & Taylor PA  Meyer R Heyman MD  Sinai Hospital Cancer Institute  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  University of Maryland Pathology  University of Maryland Pathology  Baltimore RH Typing Laboratory & Therapeutic Apheresis Center  Baltimore Oncology & Hematology  Maryland Oncology Towson PA  Annapolis Oncology Center Montgomery Village, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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Alpha and Beta ThalassemiaRead the Alpha and Beta Thalassemia article » What are thalassemias?Thalassemias (thal-a-SE-me-ahs) are inherited blood disorders. "Inherited" means they're passed on from parents to children through genes. Thalassemias cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin) than normal. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells. It carries oxygen to all parts of the body. It also carries carbon dioxide (a waste gas) from the body to the lungs, where it's exhaled. People who have thalassemias can have mild or severe anemia (uh-NEE-me-uh). This condition is caused by a lower than normal number of red blood cells or not enough hemoglobin in the red blood cells.
What Causes Thalassemias?Your body makes three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets (PLATE-lets). Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Hemoglobin also carries carbon dioxide (a waste gas) from your body to your lungs to be exhaled. Hemoglobin has two kinds of protein chains: alpha globin and beta globin. If your body doesn't make enough of these protein chains, red blood cells don't form properly and can't carry enough oxygen. Your body won't work well if your red blood cells don't make enough healthy hemoglobin. Genes control how the body makes hemoglobin protein chains. When these genes are missing or altered, thalassemias occur. Thalassemias are inherited disorders. That is, they're passed on from parents to their children through genes. People who get abnormal hemoglobin genes from one parent but normal genes from the other are called carriers. Carriers often have no signs of illness other than mild anemia. However, they can pass the abnormal genes on to their children. People with moderate to severe forms of thalassemia have inherited abnormal genes from... Recommended Reading Related to Alpha ThalassemiaIntroduction to ArrhythmiaAn irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia). Heart rates can also be irregular. A normal heart rate is 50 to 100 beats per minute. Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don't necessarily occur together. Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias -- less than 50 beats per minute). Arrhythmias can also occur with rapid heart rates (called tachyarrhythmias -- faster than 100 beats per minute). In the United States, more than 850,000 people are hospitalized for an arrhythmia each year. What causes an arrhythmia?Arrhythmias may be caused by many different factors, including:
Other Related Alpha Thalassemia ArticlesEmergency Contact for Montgomery Village
Nearby Montgomery Village Hospitals *Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Montgomery General Hospital Suburban Hospital National Institutes of Health Holy Cross Hospital Inova Loudoun Hospital Center Reston Hospital Center Walter Reed Army Medical Center Psychiatric Institute of Washington Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington Adventist Hospital Howard County General Hospital North Spring Behavioral Healthcare Laurel Regional Hospital Georgetown University Hospital National Rehabilitation Hospital  Providence Hospital  Washington DC VA Medical Center  Washington Hospital Center  Children's National Medical Center  The HSC Pediatric Center  Virginia Hospital Center  Howard University Hospital  Graydon Manor Behavioral Health  Springfield Hospital Center  The George Washington University Hospital  Frederick Memorial Hospital  Dominion Hospital  Inova Fairfax Hospital  Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children  Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute  Inova Fair Oaks Hospital  The Specialty Hospital of Washington  Doctors Community Hospital  Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital  Prince George's Hospital Center  Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City  Inova Alexandria Hospital  Saint Elizabeth's Hospital  United Medical Center  The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley  Northwest Hospital  Spring Grove Hospital Center  Kernan Hospital  Carroll Hospital Center  Saint Agnes Hospital  Inova Mount Vernon Hospital  Bon Secours Baltimore Health System  Baltimore Washington Medical Center  Prince William Hospital  Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital  Sinai Hospital of Baltimore  Harbor Hospital Center  Baltimore VA Medical Center  University of Maryland Medical Center  Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital  Fort Washington Hospital  Maryland General Hospital  University Specialty Hospital  Mercy Medical Center  Union Memorial Hospital  Kennedy Krieger Institute  Southern Maryland Hospital Center  Johns Hopkins Hospital  Greater Baltimore Medical Center  Sheppard Pratt Health System Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Alpha Thalassemia by Our Doctors
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Anemia
- Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, and more. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.
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Gallstones
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Arrhythmia
- An arrhythmia is an abnormal heart rhythm. With an arrhythmia, the heartbeats may be irregular or too slow (bradycardia), to rapid (tachycardia), or too early. When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a prmature contraction.
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Heart Attack
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Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly)
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Jaundice
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Malaria
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Abnormal Heart Rhythms (Heart Rhythm Disorders)
- Heart rhythm disorders vary from minor palpitations, premature atrial contractions (PACs), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), sinus tachycardia, and sinus brachycardia, to abnormal heart rhythms such as tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), Wolf-White-Parkinson syndrome, brachycardia, or heart blocks. Treatment is dependant upon the type of heart rhythm disorder.
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Heart Disease
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Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle Cell Anemia)
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Puberty
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Beta Thalassemia
- Beta Thalassemia is the most familiar type of thalassemia. Thalassemia is not just one disease but rather a complex series of genetic (inherited) disorders all of which involve underproduction of hemoglobin.
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G6PD Deficiency
- G6PD deficiency (Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase) leads to a condition called hemolytic anemia. Causes of G6PD deficiency is an abnormal gene located in the X-chromosome, therefore, it is more common in males. Hemolytic anemia caused by G6PD deficiency generally occurs after exposure to malaria medications, antiitching drugs, and fava beans. Pneumonia and other infections can also precipitate hemolytic anemia in individuals with G6PD deficiency. Treatment is generally discontinuing the drug or compound treating infection. Blood transfusions are necessary in some individuals.
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Heart Failure
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Pregnancy Planning
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Genetic Counseling
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