Important Guidelines For People Living With Thalassaemia

1. Important Guidelines for People with Thalassaemia Patients with Thalassaemia need to follow certain guidelines for managing their condition. Some important tips related to Thalassaemia diet and exercise, substance abuse, dental care, travelling etc. have been offered. Dental care- People with Thalassaemia who started taking the transfusion treatment late could suffer from malocclusion. Orthodontic care should be taken to enhance masticatory function and correcting unaesthetic dental appearances. Travelling- People with Thalassaemia should gather information regarding a hospital offering Thalassaemia management service before visiting a remote place. The vaccinations, tests, etc. should be done in advance. Physical activity- Generally, patients with chronic conditions are encouraged to indulge in physical activity. Patients with thalassaemia can participate in any physical activity unless they have a secondary medical condition which requires precautionary measures. People with other conditions like splenomegaly, heart disease and osteoporosis must avoid contact sports. Intake of Alcohol- People with Thalassaemia should abstain from consuming alcohol, as it facilitates the oxidative damage of iron and aggravating the effect of HBV and HCV on liver tissue. Heavy consumption of alcohol could lead to cirrhosis, hepatocarcinoma and unexpected interactions with medication. Smoking- People with Thalassaemia must avoid smoking as it adversely affects the bone remodeling and leads to osteoporosis and has many other adverse effects on the general well being. Drug abuse- For an individual with a chronic disease, drug abuse can prove to be a serious threat. A transparent discussion with a medical expert can prove to be helpful in knowing in exact risks involved. Diet Iron- Patients with Thalassaemia should not take iron supplements. They should also avoid foods like liver, cereals, etc., which are rich in iron. Calcium- Thalassaemia condition leads to calcium depletion in the body. So a diet rich in calcium, i.e. milk, cheese, dairy products etc. must be taken. Folic acid- People with thalassaemia could develop foliate deficiency in case of low transfusion regimens. Foliate supplements (1mg/day) should be taken by these people. Vitamin C- Thalassaemia leads to iron overload in the body which increases the rate of oxidation of Vitamin C in the body. So a diet rich in citrus fruits and vegetables is recommended. Vitamin E- People with Thalassaemia condition require Vitamin E in good quantity. Vegetable oils should be made a part of the diet.

2. Zinc- People undertaking chelation could suffer from zinc deficiency. So zinc supplementation can be taken. The above mentioned guidelines would certainly be useful for people with Thalassaemia. For more details visit –http://www.trackurhealth.com/