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If you have blood transfusions to treat your thalassemia, you need to avoid vitamins that increase iron stored by the body. Excess iron can cause serious damage to your organs. Avoid the following vitamins:
- Multivitamins that contain iron.
- Vitamin C, which can increase the amount of iron you absorb from food.
You may want to get flu shots once a year. Talk to your doctor about getting a pneumonia shot. These shots may protect you from severe infections, which can make anemia worse in people with thalassemia.
It is also important to get help from people who are specially trained in the medical and emotional effects of thalassemia. Talk to your doctor about organizations that can help you cope with the impact this disease has on you and your family.
If you or any of your family members (parents or siblings) have thalassemia or thalassemia trait and you are thinking about having a child, you may want to talk to a health professional who specializes in the study of inherited disorders (genetic counselor) before you become pregnant. A genetic counselor can tell you how likely it is that your child will have thalassemia and how severe it might be.
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