What are the common blood disorders and their symptoms?

Common blood disorders include anaemia, haemophilia, leukaemia, and thrombocytopenia, with symptoms ranging from fatigue to abnormal bleeding.

Anaemia is a condition characterised by a deficiency of red cells or of haemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness. There are several types of anaemia, but the most common is iron deficiency anaemia. This occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to produce haemoglobin. Symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, irregular heartbeats, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness, and chest pain.

Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. People with haemophilia often bleed longer than normal after an injury or surgery. Symptoms can include many large or deep bruises, joint pain and swelling, unexplained bleeding, and blood in urine or stool.

Leukaemia is a group of cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal white blood cells. These white blood cells are not fully developed and are called blasts or leukaemia cells. Symptoms can include fatigue, fever or chills, frequent infections, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, easy bleeding or bruising, recurrent nosebleeds, tiny red spots in your skin, and excessive sweating.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition characterised by abnormally low levels of platelets, also known as thrombocytes, in the blood. Platelets are the cells that help blood clot, so people with thrombocytopenia can bleed and bruise easily. Symptoms can include easy or excessive bruising, superficial bleeding into the skin that appears as a rash, prolonged bleeding from cuts, and fatigue.

Each of these disorders can have serious implications for a person's health, and they require medical diagnosis and treatment. Understanding these disorders can help you recognise their symptoms and seek appropriate medical attention.