Getting treatment:

• How does removing the spleen help treat thalassemia?
• What is a blood transfusion?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) helps promote and improve the health of people with certain blood disorders. The CDC promotes research, provides education to patients and health professionals, and promotes prevention programs.

Cooley's Anemia Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people afflicted with various forms of thalassemia, most notably the major form of this genetic blood disease, Cooley's anemia (thalassemia major). The foundation's mission is to advance the treatment and cure for thalassemia, enhance the quality of life of people who have it, and educate the medical profession, trait carriers, and the public about this fatal blood disease. The foundation encourages donations of blood, since thalassemia patients are the single largest users of blood supplies in the nation, and also sponsors chapters and support groups.

The Iron Disorders Institute is a national voluntary health agency that provides information about iron disorders such as hemochromatosis, acquired iron overload, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, iron deficiency anemia, and anemia of chronic disease. The organization works with a scientific review board as well as various medical professional groups. A free newsletter, idInsight, is available.

The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) information center offers information and publications about preventing and treating:

• Diseases affecting the heart and circulation, such as heart attacks, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease, and heart problems present at birth (congenital heart diseases).
• Diseases that affect the lungs, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, sleep apnea, and pneumonia.
• Diseases that affect the blood, such as anemia, hemochromatosis, hemophilia, thalassemia, and von Willebrand disease.

The National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) supports genetic and genomic research, investigation into the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding genetics research, and educational outreach activities. (Genome refers to a complete gene sequence in a organism.) NHGRI also supports the training of investigators and provides genome information, including fact sheets and school materials, to the public and to health professionals.