General measures
- Review of permanent medication due topossible effect on existing disease.
Regular check-ups
- Regular medical checkups
Nutritional medicine
- Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
- Nutritional recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means, among other things:
- A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruit daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruit).
- Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
- High-fiber diet (whole grains, vegetables).
- Observance of the following special dietary recommendations (for iron deficiency anemia):
- A vegetarian or vegan diet or even a one-sided diet can be the cause of anemia due to iron deficiency. To correct an iron deficiency, ensure a high dietary iron intake.Iron-rich foods:
In addition, increase the consumption of those foods that promote iron absorption in the intestine and reduce the intake of those foods that inhibit iron absorption in the intestine.Substances promoting iron absorption:
- Amino acids, such as methionine and cysteine/cystine – fish, poultry, meat (fillet), soybeans, peas, beans, cheese (Brie, Gouda, Edam), nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashew), wheat germ.
- Vitamin C – freshly picked vegetables and fruits such as black currants, peppers, broccoli, kiwi, strawberries, oranges, red and white cabbage.
Substances inhibiting the absorption of iron:
- A vegetarian or vegan diet or even a one-sided diet can be the cause of anemia due to iron deficiency. To correct an iron deficiency, ensure a high dietary iron intake.Iron-rich foods:
- Observe the following special dietary recommendations (for megaloblastic anemia):
- A vegetarian or vegan diet or even a one-sided diet can be the cause of megaloblastic anemia. Consequently, the diet should be versatile, varied and wholesome.
- In the presence of vitamin B12 deficiency, attention should be paid to a high consumption of vitamin B12-rich foods such as liver, yeast, liver sausage, herring, salmon, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese and whole milk.
- In case of folic acid deficiency, attention should be paid to the intake of folic acid-rich foods such as leafy vegetables, asparagus, tomatoes, cereals and liver. In women with megaloblastic anemia, folic acid should be given one month before pregnancy.
- Selection of appropriate foods based on the nutritional analysis.
- See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement.
- Detailed information on nutritional medicine is available exclusively to our partners.
Causal therapy in thalassemia major, sickle cell disease, and Diamond-Blackfan anemia
- Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (more precisely, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; HSCT; hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) – transfer of stem cells from an individual of the same species with different genetics (family donor):
- In children under 16 years of age, complete allogeneic stem cell therapy is now the goal. Most patients can even discontinue immunosuppressants after some time without the dreaded graft-versus-host reaction.
- For older patients, the concept of a “mini” stem cell transplant has been developed. As a result, these patients then have both erythrocytes (red blood cells) that are prone to sickle cell formation because of the genetic defect and healthy erythrocytes. The therapeutic success is shown by the increase of the hemoglobin of the patients (to well over 10 g/dl). The disadvantage of this form of therapy is that patients must take immunosuppressants.
Vaccinations
The following vaccinations are advised:
- Flu vaccination
- Pneumococcal vaccination