In our interactions with patients, we find that when the conversation turns to blood diseases, there is often a lack of awareness
- Who is a haematologist and when should I see one?
- What are the symptoms of blood diseases?
Haematology is a specific branch of medical science that studies blood and blood diseases. A haematologist is therefore a specialist who diagnoses and treats blood diseases. His or her field of work also includes the study of the functioning of the bone marrow or lymph nodes.
Blood diseases are complicated by the fact that our body usually does not show any specific symptoms of a possible blood disease at the beginning. So we turn to a haematologist when the disease slowly progresses, with abnormalities in the general blood count, lumps of unknown origin in the armpits, neck, groin, enlargement of lymph nodes or spleen, and bleeding disorders.
The most common blood diseases are anaemia (anaemia), acute or chronic leukaemia, lymphoma, haemophilia, leucocytosis, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, etc.
As we have already mentioned, the body has little idea of the onset of a blood disorder, but in addition to preventive general blood tests and their results, bear in mind that you may have felt or noticed these or similar symptoms:
- general weakness that is tiring and constant;
- oppressive fatigue without cause, without rest;
- weight loss;
- night sweats;
- hair loss;
- feeling of aching bones;
- pronounced fluctuations in body temperature.
Talk to your family doctor about your general wellbeing and if necessary book an appointment with a haematologist without delay.