Tell Me Why Thalassemia is an inherited disorder

Dr. Maryam Darwish, MD, Hematology, Oncology Center, Sheikh Khalifa Specialty Hospital, joins podcast host Maria Botros on this week’s Tell Me Why episode to explain what Thalassemia is and the effect it has on the human body. 

• The definition of the word Thalassemia is ‘anemia of the Mediterranean Sea’, says Dr. Maryam. There are two types of thalassemia: alpha and beta. The classification depends on whether the genetic defect affects the alpha-globin or beta-globin chain of hemoglobin.

• If I have a problem with the red blood cell, which is responsible for carrying oxygen to tissues, it can no longer transmit oxygen to the organs, says Dr. Maryam

• Dr. Maryam: When people have thalassemia or an abnormality in the gene, the red cell’s lifespan is shorter, as opposed to a normal blood cell which can live up to 120 days.