Treating Blood Disorders at St. Luke's

Our blood is literally the lifeline of our bodily functions. There are many conditions that affect the blood, some of which are outlined below. If you have questions about any potential blood condition, please call your family physician or contact InfoLink at 866-STLUKES.

Blood Conditions Treated

Anemia – A condition in which the blood does not carry enough oxygen throughout the body. Anemia is most commonly caused by an insufficient amount of the iron the body needs to make a protein known as hemoglobin. The symptoms of anemia are dizziness, weakness, irritability and more.

Bacteremia – Symptoms caused by bacteria in the blood. These symptoms may include nausea, high fever, increased heart rate and more.

Hemochromatosis – A genetic disease in which the body retains too much iron. The excess iron is stored in the body’s tissues, including the heart and liver. Hemochromatosis could damage these organs.

Hemophelia – A disorder that prevents blood from clotting normally. For instance, people with this condition may bleed much longer than normal after being cut. Hemophelia also can cause people to bleed into their joints or, in what is an emergency case, into the brain.

Hypoglycemia – Low blood sugar that causes dizziness, weakness, hunger, anxiety and more. Sugar in the blood (called glucose) provides the body with energy. Hypoglycemia can be caused by some diabetes medications.

Leukemia – Cancer of the white blood cells, which develop in the marrow of the bone and help the body fight off infections. Meanwhile, the bone marrow in people with leukemia procuces abnormal white blood cells, which prevent the blood from working effectively. View Leukemia Clinical Trials.

Sickle cell anemia – Production of red blood cells that are shaped like sickles instead of the normal, round shape of healthy red blood cells. The abnormal blood cells die off quicker than normal red blood cells and tend to clog blood vessels, which can lead to organ damage.

Thalassemia – A disorder in which the body cannot adequately produce the protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body (hemoglobin). Without suffiecient oxygen, the body become anemic. The symptoms of anemia are dizziness, weakness, irritability and more.