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Signs & Symptoms of Blood Disease

A blood disease affects the blood and blood-producing tissues. This includes anemias and cancers as well as clotting diseases like hemophilia. Symptoms of blood diseases vary, and are often vague and non-specific. However, per the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, certain groups of symptoms might suggest the possibility of a blood disease. These symptoms may indicate one of three conditions: an decrease in blood cells, an increase in blood cells or a clotting disorder.

  1. Signs and Symptoms of Decreased Blood Cells

    • Decreases in red blood cells, anemia, can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath and weakness. Decreases in white cells, leukopenia, may cause recurring fevers and infections. Decreased platelets, thrombocytopenia, can cause someone to bleed and bruise easily.

    Signs and Symptoms of Increased Blood Cells

    • An increase in any of the blood cells can cause blood thickening, which can lead to shortness of breath and headaches. The disorder can also cause confusion and dizziness.

    Signs and Symptoms of Clotting Disorders

    • Clotting disorders can either cause problems with insufficient clotting, or abnormal clotting. Insufficient clotting can manifest itself as excessive bleeding and bruising, as well as small red or purple spots on the skin. Abnormal clotting may cause warm and painful areas in the legs, chest pain and shortness of breath.

    Diagnostic Signs

    • Doctors may first run tests to rule out non-blood diseases, like endocrine disorders, which may be causing symptoms. Once the doctor rules out other diseases, he may order a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC may show irregularly-shaped blood cells, as with sickle cell anemia or certain cancers, as well as a reduction or increase in cells. A CBC can also determine the amount of hemoglobin, oxygen-carrying proteins, in the red blood cells. Doctors may also order clotting tests to determine if a clotting disorder is present. There are also bone marrow tests, which examine the tissue that forms white and red blood cells.

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