Here's How To Stay Well With Thalassemia!

Thalassemia is a grave blood disorder. That is why people who have been diagnosed with it need to be extra careful with how they live their lives. The focus is on always making healthy lifestyle choices. This improves the quality of their lives, helps manage the disorder and will have a less detrimental impact on their lifespan.

1. Keep the illness under control - With proper care and intervention, thalassemia can be managed efficiently. To continue being healthy, thalassemia patients must opt for regular blood transfusions and chelation therapy. Since thalassemia depletes the haemoglobin content of blood and the body becomes starved of oxygen, fresh blood through transfusion provides the body with the haemoglobin it needs. Simultaneously, patients need folate therapy (iron supplements). Chelation therapy too is a must to remove the extra iron that builds up due to blood transfusion and folate intake. Otherwise, the excess iron may damage the liver and cause a heart attack. Do not miss any appointment with you haematologist or any therapy session.

2. Vaccination for immunization - People with thalassemia are prone to infections and precautions are necessary to prevent them. Otherwise, complications might arise. A few vaccines that every thalassemia patient needs-

• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Meningococcal vaccines
• Pneumococcal vaccine
• Vaccines for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B

Keep tabs on vaccination schedules and ask your doctor if booster shots are needed.

• Exercising - Thalassemia can be weakening and many people with this blood disorder find high-intensity workout difficult. But moderate exercise is highly recommended for them. Exercise improves blood circulation and even improves immunity. Here are a few exercises that thalassemia patients should try-

1. Bicycling
2. Jogging
3. Brisk walking
4. Swimming
5. Yoga

• Diet - Diet is as important as exercising in keeping the thalassemia patient healthy. But they have to be very cautious about what they eat and it is best to consult a doctor and a dietician to plan a meal routine. Since blood transfusion and iron supplements result in a lot of iron entering the body, it is best to limit your intake of iron through foods. Avoid cereals and fruit juices that are fortified with iron, spinach, meat and all other foods that are rich in iron.

• Support network - Having a group of loving people around you is crucial for psychological health. The stress generated by having to live with thalassemia, the frequent trip to the doctor’s clinic, the blood transfusion sessions and uncertainty over the future can bring on anxiety and depression.

Having a strong support system can help in many ways-

• They can accompany you to the clinic
• Your family or friends can remind you to take your medicines on time
• You can unburden yourself by talking to them about your fears

Thalassemia need not affect the quality of your life. With a few measures, you can live a normal happy life.