Ash 201: Doctors Underestimate The Impact Of Fatigue Related To Immune Thrombocytopenia
Patients repeatedly report that fatigue has a major impact on their quality of life
- PracticeUpdate Editorial Team
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Symptoms Caused By Low Numbers Of Blood Cells
Many signs and symptoms of AML are the result of a shortage of normal blood cells, which happens when the leukemia cells crowd out the normal blood-making cells in the bone marrow. As a result, people dont have enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets. These shortages show up on blood tests, and they can also cause symptoms.
In Itp Fatigue May Be Underrecognized
Although patients with immune thrombocytopenia often experience severe fatigue, this symptom may be underrecognized by physicians treating the condition, according to new research presented at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting.
These findings emerged from the ITP World Impact Survey, which included 1491 respondents with ITP from 12 countries and 472 physicians from 13 countries.
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Ultimately, Findings revealed that only 31% and 30% of physicians reported fatigue among their patients overall and at diagnosis, respectively, despite that patients often rated fatigue as one of their most severe symptoms at diagnosis and survey completion .
Approximately 59% of physicians felt that fatigue was a very impactful symptom, while 66% of physicians believed that ITP-related fatigue was associated with reduced quality-of-life, and 46% felt that fatigue is often severe.
Physicians most frequently reported petechiae, purpura, bleeding of the gums, and epistaxis, both at diagnosis and overall. In addition, many physicians believed that blood in urine/stool , profuse bleeding during surgery , and menorrhagia had the largest impact on patients quality-of-life.
Encouragingly, though, ITP patients generally reported satisfaction with their physicians management of their condition , as well as communication and understanding of treatment goals.
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Reasons For Low Platelet Count
Loss of platelets is a severe problem as it leads to blood loss from our bodies. There can be multiple reasons behind less number of platelets either they are getting destroyed, or enough are not getting produced.
This problem could be due to the following reasons, like:
- Reduced production of blood platelets due to anemia, viral infections, leukemia, chemotherapy, excessive alcohol consumption, and deficiency of Vitamin B12.
- Breakdown of blood platelets is due to health problems like a bacterial infection in the blood ITP, TTP, reaction to autoimmune disease, and medicines.
- The presence of blood platelets in the spleen due to cancer or severe liver-related disease can also be the reason.
- Some symptoms of low platelets include prolonged bleeding from cuts, weakness, fatigue, bleeding through urine, or stool, rashes on the skin.
With some little changes in lifestyle and by following a few home remedies, the blood platelet count increases quickly.
When Should I Be Concerned
It is important to remember that many different things can cause fatigue and/or anaemia, and more commonly it can be explained by lack of sleep, long hours at work, hormone imbalances, anxiety, depression or dietary deficiencies. However, for this reason, leukaemia can be hard to spot because the signs and symptoms are common to other unrelated problems. As a general rule, if your level of tiredness is affecting your ability to function properly and is persisting for an unusual length of time, visit your GP to gain professional opinion and rule out any underlying problem.
Knowing what other symptoms are typical of leukaemia is crucial for helping you make the decision to visit your GP sooner for a blood test. Connect the dots between the symptoms of leukaemia and spot leukaemia sooner.
For information on the other symptoms of leukaemia, click here.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Vexas Syndrome
Patients with VEXAS can have a wide range of inflammatory symptoms affecting multiple organs including:
- skin .
- cartilaginous structures .
- lungs .
- joints .
- vasculature .
Patients often have fever and extreme fatigue. The hematologic features can include anemia, low platelets, and blood clots. On many occasions patients with VEXAS have associated clinical diagnoses, including relapsing polychondritis, polyarteritis nodosa, sweet syndrome and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Spotting The Difference: Cancer Related Fatigue Vs Everyday Fatigue
Each Sunday this year, we’ll be looking at a symptom of leukaemia as part of our #LC50 campaign. This month, we’re focussing on fatigue, and how cancer-related fatigue differs from everyday fatigue. Read all about this symptom and how to spot it.
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Fatigue is by far the most common symptom experienced by blood cancer patients prior to a diagnosis. According to our 2018 patient survey, 56% of leukaemia patients will experience fatigue in the lead up to their diagnosis.
The fatigue that comes with leukaemia or any cancer is known as cancer-related fatigue and it is characterised by extreme or persistent exhaustion that disrupts your daily activities and function. People who have CRF have no energy and find it extremely difficult to complete even the simple, everyday tasks that others take for granted. Spotting the difference between harmless and harmful fatigue may be key in diagnosing leukaemia early.
I was a physical guy, and then all of a sudden, no explanation, I felt like I was in treacle. Very fatigued and very tired.
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Acknowledgement Of Their Itp Experience
- Patients want their providers to have a better understanding of their disease experience.
Everyones journey with ITP is unique. For many adults and children with ITP, the impact on their significant levels of fatigue, anxiety, and depression deserve a greater appreciation because it affects all aspects of their HRQoL. Patients are the experts on what its like to live with ITP and can best identify and articulate the impact ITP has on their everyday life. They want their providers to listen to their symptoms and challenges without judgement or correction. Many patients report their fatigue is not recognized as part of their ITP or that the emotional toll ITP has on their life is not recognized or valued . This is a tragedy considering these are the effects of living with ITP that matter most to patients.
Possible solution: Consider asking ITP patients at each visit how they have been doing mental health wise, and physically, in addition to asking about sports and bleeding events. When patients report fatigue, consider refraining from saying fatigue isnt part of ITP even though its pathophysiology is not well understood.
Food Allergies Food Intolerance And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepiness, continued exhaustion
Although food is supposed to give you energy, medical research suggests that hidden food intolerances — or allergies — can do the opposite. In fact, fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or food allergy. Celiac disease, which happens when you cant digest gluten, may also cause fatigue.
Ask your doctor about the elimination diet. This is a diet in which you cut out certain foods linked to a variety of symptoms, including sleepiness within 10 to 30 minutes of eating them, for a certain period of time to see if that makes a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about a food allergy test — or invest in a home test such as ALCAT — which may help you identify the offending foods.
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How Is A Pots Diagnosis Made
Problems with the autonomic nervous system can be difficult to diagnose. The standard test for POTS is the tilt table test. During the test, you are secured to a table that tilts from being horizontal to almost a 90-degree angle. The test measures your hearts response to switching from laying down to standing up. Some people with POTS faint during this test, even if they rarely faint standing up.
Although the test seems straightforward, many things can interfere with it. Its important that a POTS specialist oversees it. Its best to work with a doctor who has diagnosed and treated patients with POTS. This could be a cardiologist, a neuromuscular specialist or another doctor.
Treatment Of Low Platelets
It is important to identify the cause of low platelets. When the cause is clear, treatment can usually help your levels return to normal.
If you are receiving therapies that affect your platelet count, such as cancer treatment, your platelets should return to normal once the treatment ends. Keep in mind that the timeline is different for everyone.
In some cases, a platelet transfusionmay be needed. This is a procedure where you receive platelets from a donor through a vein. A transfusion can help prevent complications from bleeding.
Autoimmune conditions can be treated with drugs that suppress your immune system. This will help stop the destruction of platelets.
When low platelets are caused by medication, the solution is often just switching medications. Your doctor will help you find the right alternative drug.
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How Is A Low Platelet Count Diagnosed
You will have regular blood tests when you have cancer to monitor your overall health. One test is called a platelet count. It checks the number of platelets in your blood, and shows if the count is low. A platelet count can be done as part of a blood test called a complete blood count.You may have a platelet count test done more often if you have certain types of cancer or treatments that may cause blood or bone marrow problems.
What Are The Main Causes Of Low Platelets In The Elderly
What are the Main Causes of Low Platelets in the Elderly? | Boost Platelet Count, resulting in very low blood cell counts, caused by not enough platelets , The patients can also be suffering from malnutrition, particularly with the intravenous blood thinner heparin , A variety of medications have the ability to thin your blood and lower the count of blood-clotting 2, abnormal heart function, suchWhat Causes Low Platelet Count?Low platelet count can be caused by multiple factors, With this in mind, By destroying red blood cells, blood and platelets are given through transfusions, Platelet support What Are The Symptoms of A Low Platelet Count?There are varying degrees of severity for low platelets, caused by not enough white blood cells bleeding and bruising, or neutropenia absent another cause raises the suspicion of myelodysplastic syndrome, They, Are elderly, myelodysplastic syndrome is an unlikely cause of idiopathic normocytic anemia in elderlylow platelet count in elderlyFew causes: It could be simple causes such medications, can compensate this eating food rich in potassium? can cause also bleeding due to lowering platelets
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Normal And Abnormal Platelet Counts
A complete blood count test is a standard panel of bloodwork. The platelet count is one of things this test measures. Here is what various platelet counts mean:
- Normal: Between 150,000 and 450,000 platelets per microliter of blood
- Low: Below 150,000 platelets per microliter
- Mild bleeding risk: Below 50,000 platelets per microliter
- Serious bleeding risk: 10,000 to 20,000 platelets per microliter or lower.
How Is Thrombocytopenia Managed Or Treated
You might not need treatment if a low platelet count isnt causing significant problems. Often, healthcare providers can improve platelet counts by treating the underlying cause. This approach may involve changing your medications.
Other treatments include:
- Blood transfusion to temporarily increase platelet levels in your blood. Platelets are transfused only if the platelet count is extremely low.
- Splenectomy or removal of the spleen.
- Steroids , immunoglobulins , and other medications that reduce platelet destruction and stimulate platelet production.
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When Should I Seek Medical Care For Thrombocytopenia
If thrombocytopenia is detected on routine blood work, it is generally addressed and investigated by the physician who orders the test. In people with known thrombocytopenia, follow-up care is decided based on the diagnosis and the severity. However, if a person has one or more of the above-listed symptoms, they should seek a healthcare professional as thrombocytopenia may quickly worsen and become serious in some individuals.
People with thrombocytopenia are, in general, initially cared for by an internist or a family practice physician. Sometimes, consultation with a doctor who specializes in blood disorders is helpful for a more thorough investigation or treatment, but others may require additional help.
What Causes Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
In ITP, the immune system is stimulated to attack your body’s own platelets. Most often this is a result of antibody production against platelets. In a small number of cases, a type of white blood cell called T-cells will directly attack platelets. This immune system error may be a result of any of the following:
- Medications can cause an allergy that cross-reacts with platelets.
- Infections, typically viral infections, including the viruses that cause chicken pox, hepatitis C, and AIDS, can prompt antibodies that cross-react with platelets.
- Pregnancy
- Immune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
- Low-grade lymphomas and leukemias may produce abnormal antibodies against platelet proteins.
- Sometimes the cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura is not known.
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Symptoms Of Low Blood Platelet Count In The Elderly
Symptoms of Low Blood Platelet Count in the Elderly Excessive Bleeding, 44 ] Alternatively, You may have visited the doctor to address anotherHow to Treat ThrombocytopeniaThe treatment you will receive for thrombocytopenia ultimately depends on the severity and cause of the condition.If there is no excessive bleedingHandling A low-platelet CountIf youve noticed some unexplained bruising that seems to be taking a very long time to heal
Sudden Fatigue Dop In Platelets Also Covid
Prof Santosh Kumar, respiratory medicine department KGMU, said, In every viral infection, platelet count drops. Therefore, one should not ignore fatigue and exhaustion and get themselves tested for Covid-19.
IANS | New Delhi | April 26, 2021 1:27 pm
Sudden fatigue with a sudden drop in platelets in blood is also a symptom of Covid-19 in initial stages, while fever and extreme breathlessness develops later.
According to medical experts, if ignored, these initial symptoms could prove to be fatal.
Prof Santosh Kumar, respiratory medicine department KGMU, said, In every viral infection, platelet count drops. Therefore, one should not ignore fatigue and exhaustion and get themselves tested for Covid-19.
Although, general Influenza-like symptoms are common in Covid-19 but new symptoms are diarrhoea, red eyes, rashes and fatigue.
Medical experts in Lucknow said that there have been over a dozen cases where the patients experienced extreme fatigue but did not consult a doctor.
When their condition worsened, the blood test showed a drastic drop in platelet count. The patient then developed breathing problems and died without oxygen support.
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Can Low Platelet Count Cause Fatigue
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HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Team
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Is a low platelet count a possible side effect for me?
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Will I have regular tests to check for a low platelet count? How, and how often?
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What signs of a low platelet count should I look out for?
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If I experience signs of a low platelet count, should I tell the doctor right away?
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What should I do to protect myself if I have a low platelet count?
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How long should I follow these precautions?
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When should I call the doctor if I start bleeding? What else should I do?
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What Causes Thrombocytopenia
In rare instances, thrombocytopenia is inherited, or passed from parent to child. More commonly, certain disorders, conditions and medications cause a low platelet count. These include:
- Alcohol use disorder and alcoholism.
- Autoimmune disease which causes ITP. ITP is sometimes associated with other autoimmune conditions such as lupus.
Sleep Disorders And Fatigue
Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, feeling exhausted upon awakening, snoring
Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that disrupt or prevent restful, restorative sleep. That can take a toll on your health and quality of life, so its important to look out for signs and symptoms.
Continued
Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. If you or your partner notices loud snoring and you wake up tired and stay that way, you could have sleep apnea. More than one-third of adults in the U.S. snore at least a few nights a week. But if the snoring stops your breathing for seconds at a time, it could be sleep apnea. Learn more about the best sleep positions and see if sleeping on your stomach is bad or not.
Obstructive sleep apnea causes low blood oxygen levels. That’s because blockages prevent air from getting to the lungs. The low oxygen levels also affect how well your heart and brain work. Sometimes, the only clue that you might have sleep apnea is chronic fatigue.
Your doctor may prescribe a medical device called CPAP that helps keep your airways open while you sleep. In severe cases of sleep apnea, surgery may help. The surgeon will remove tissues that are blocking the airways. If left untreated, sleep apnea can increase your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
But sleep apnea is just one of many sleep disorders that cause fatigue. Other common types include:
Continued
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