What are the most common types of blood disorders?

What are the most common types of blood disorders?

Benign blood disorders include bleeding (platelet) disorders, red blood cell disorders like anemia, and white blood cell disorders. Other blood disorders can cause chronic illness or are life-threatening like sickle cell anemia, leukemia and lymphoma.

Bleeding (platelet) disorders

Platelets form clots and help control bleeding. Bleeding (platelet) disorders are uncommon. If you have a bleeding disorder, you may have too much bleeding during or after injury or surgery. Bleeding disorders can be acquired, or caused by medications or medical conditions. Some are caused by your genes. Sometimes, there is no known cause for bleeding disorders.

Red blood cell disorders

Red blood cells transport oxygen throughout the body. You can develop a red blood cell disorder if a component of these blood cells is not working properly. Red blood cell disorders include:

• Anemia.
• Polycythemia vera.
• Sickle cell disease.
• Thalassemia.

White blood cell disorders

White blood cells are mainly produced in the bone marrow. Unless you have an infection or a blood disorder, you produce about 100 billion white blood cells each day. There are five types of white blood cells: basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils. Each type of white blood cell has its own special function in your blood.

Blood disorders involving abnormally low levels of white blood cells are called leukopenias. If you have leukopenia, you are at increased risk for infections.

A blood disorder involving abnormally high levels of white blood cells is called leukocytosis.