Alpha Thalassemia Center - Towson, MDTowson 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 Towson * Maryland Oncology Towson PA  Baltimore Oncology & Hematology  Sinai Hospital Cancer Institute  Baltimore RH Typing Laboratory & Therapeutic Apheresis Center  University of Maryland Pathology  University of Maryland Pathology  Meyer R Heyman MD  Hicken Cranley & Taylor PA  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Chesapeake Oncology & Hematology Associates  Annapolis Oncology Center  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 Towson, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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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 ThalassemiaHeart attack facts
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Nearby Towson Hospitals *St Joseph Medical Center Greater Baltimore Medical Center Sheppard Pratt Health System Good Samaritan Hospital of Maryland Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital Sinai Hospital of Baltimore Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital Union Memorial Hospital Kennedy Krieger Institute Maryland General Hospital Johns Hopkins Hospital Mercy Medical Center Franklin Square Hospital Center Baltimore VA Medical Center University of Maryland Medical Center Bon Secours Baltimore Health System University Specialty Hospital Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center  Kernan Hospital  Saint Agnes Hospital  Northwest Hospital  Harbor Hospital Center  Spring Grove Hospital Center  Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City  Upper Chesapeake Medical Center  Baltimore Washington Medical Center  Springfield Hospital Center  Howard County General Hospital  Carroll Hospital Center  Laurel Regional Hospital  Anne Arundel Medical Center  Harford Memorial Hospital  Montgomery General Hospital  Perry Point VA Medical Center  Upper Shore Community Mental Health Center  Chester River Hospital Center  Doctors Community Hospital  Hanover Hospital 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. |
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