Thalassemia and Chelation Therapy

Thalassemia is a blood disorder that causes the body to produce less hemoglobin than what is considered normal. The symptoms of thalassemia vary depending on which type is passed from parent to child. The primary treatment goal is to increase the amount of healthy red blood cells, but the treatment options also vary according to the severity of symptoms and which form of thalassemia is being treated. Mild cases of thalassemia might not require treatment at all. But for the more severe cases of thalassemia, treatment options include blood transfusions and chelation therapy, a process that removes excess metals, like iron, from the body.

Anemia is a condition that results from a lack of red blood cells or the presence of dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the organs. When you have a lack of red blood cells or they aren’t functioning properly, it causes you to feel tired and weak. One treatment for thalassemia includes receiving blood transfusions to boost red blood cell counts. For those with transfusion-dependent thalassemia, the symptoms are more serious and treatment includes regular blood transfusions.

Chelation Therapy

What is the connection between thalassemia and chelation therapy? The blood cells that are received during a blood transfusion contain a high amount of iron. After multiple transfusions, the amount of iron builds up in the body. Another symptom of thalassemia is that the body begins to absorb extra iron from food. Between the two catalysts, the excess iron in the body can build up and cause damage to organs like the liver, pancreas, and heart.

During chelation therapy, excess metals like iron are eliminated from the body. Chelation therapy products bind to the iron, and the metal is eliminated from the body during the waste removal process, usually through urination. Chelation therapy can be overseen by a physician, but there are also chelation products available from Chelation Health Products. Contact our experts today to see if chelation therapy is right for you!