Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

What is PNH?

PNH (paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: (hee-muh-gloe-buh-NYOOR-ee-uh) The presence of hemoglobin in the urine. ) is a very rare blood disease that causes red blood cells to break apart. PNH occurs because of a genetic change to some of your blood-forming stem cells: Cells in the body that develop into other cells. There are two main sources of stem cells. Embryonic stem cells come from human embryos and are used in medical research. Adult stem cells in the body repair and maintain the organ or tissue in which they are found. Blood-forming (hemapoietic) stem… . These defective stem cells become PNH blood cells that are missing an important coating (protein) that protects them from your immune system. If you have PNH, there will be times when your immune system destroys many red blood cells very quickly, causing low red blood cell: The most numerous type of blood cell in healthy people. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that picks up oxygen in the lungs and brings it to cells in all parts of the body. Also called erythrocyte, RBC. counts, as well as blood clots, muscle spasms and dark urine. This destruction of blood cells is called hemolysis: (hi-MOL-uh-suss) The destruction of red blood cells.

Emotional Health

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A disease diagnosis is unquestionably a difficult life event. Nevertheless, many patients develop a positive attitude about managing stress and undergoing treatment - and you can too.

Exercise

Why Exercise?

The many benefits of regular exercise have been known for years, and each year new research data supports this.

Apart from enhancing overall health and quality of life, exercise improves physical functioning of your body, improves efficiency of heart and  lungs, strengthens and firms muscles, and reduces tension, anxiety and depression.

PNH: Diagnosis

How does my doctor know I have PNH?

PNH is a rare disease. Many doctors have never seen a case of it. So people with PNH may have symptoms for several years before they get a correct diagnosis.

3 Types of Blood Cells

With PNH, your doctor can usually divide your blood cells into 3 types:

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