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"&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Red blood cells normally live for about 120 days. After that, they die and break down.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Red blood cells carry oxygen to all of the body. If red blood cells are breaking down abnormally, there will be fewer of them to carry oxygen.\u00A0Some diseases and conditions\u00A0cause red blood cells to break down too soon, causing\u00A0fatigue and other more serious symptoms.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Types of Hemolytic Anemia&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;There are many types of &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-anemia-2249045&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;1&amp;quot;&amp;gt;hemolytic anemia&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; and the condition can be inherited (your parents passed the gene for the condition on to you) or acquired (means\u00A0you are not born with the condition, but you develop it sometime in your lifetime).\u00A0The following disorders and conditions are some examples of different types of hemolytic anemias:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Inherited Hemolytic Anemias.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;You may have problems with the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/hemoglobin-level-test-1942658&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;2&amp;quot;&amp;gt;hemoglobin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, cell membrane, or enzymes that maintain your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/red-blood-cell-rbc-count-1942659&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;3&amp;quot;&amp;gt;healthy red blood cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. This is usually due to a faulty\u00A0gene(s) that control red blood cell production.\u00A0While moving through the bloodstream, abnormal cells may be fragile and break down.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Sickle Cell Anemia.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0A &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/sickle-cell-anemia-2861015&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;4&amp;quot;&amp;gt;serious, inherited disease&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; where the body makes abnormal hemoglobin. This causes the red blood cells to have a crescent (or sickle) shape.\u00A0&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/things-may-not-know-sickle-cell-disease-401318&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;5&amp;quot;&amp;gt;Sickle cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; usually die after only about 10 to 20 days as the bone marrow can&amp;amp;#39;t make new red blood cells fast enough to replace the dying ones.\u00A0In the U.S., sickle cell anemia mainly affects African Americans.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Thalassemias&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;. These are &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-thalassemia-401314&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;6&amp;quot;&amp;gt;inherited blood disorders&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; where the body can&amp;amp;#39;t make enough of certain types of hemoglobin, which causes the body to make less healthy red blood cells than normal.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Hereditary Spherocytosis. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;When\u00A0the outer covering of red blood cells (the\u00A0surface membrane) is defected, red blood cells\u00A0have an &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/what-is-a-complete-blood-count-401322&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;7&amp;quot;&amp;gt;abnormally short lifespan and a sphere&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, or ball-like, shape.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Hereditary Elliptocytosis (Ovalocytosis).&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0Also involving a problem with the cell membrane, red blood cells are abnormally oval in shape, are not as flexible as normal red blood cells, and have a shorter lifespan than healthy cells.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;When your red blood cells are missing an important enzyme called &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/things-to-avoid-if-you-have-g6pd-deficiency-401319&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;8&amp;quot;&amp;gt;G6PD&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, then you have G6PD deficiency. The lack of enzyme causes your\u00A0red blood\u00A0cells to rupture and die when they come into contact with certain substances in the bloodstream.\u00A0&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For those who are\u00A0G6PD deficient, infections, severe &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/stress-management-4014642&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;9&amp;quot;&amp;gt;stress&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, certain foods or drugs, can cause the destruction of red blood cells.\u00A0Some examples of such triggers include antimalarial drugs, &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/aspirin-what-you-should-know-189374&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;10&amp;quot;&amp;gt;a&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/aspirin-what-you-should-know-189374&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;11&amp;quot;&amp;gt;spirin&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/sulfa-drug-allergy-83067&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;12&amp;quot;&amp;gt;sulfa drugs&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, naphthalene (a chemical\u00A0in some mothballs) or\u00A0fava beans.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;When the body is missing an enzyme called pyruvate kinase, red blood cells tend to break down easily.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Acquired Hemolytic Anemias.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;When your hemolytic anemia is\u00A0acquired,\u00A0your red blood cells may be normal but some disease or other factor causes your body to destroy the red blood cells in the &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/spleen-function-and-injuries-1760091&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;13&amp;quot;&amp;gt;spleen&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; or bloodstream.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Immune Hemolytic Anemia. &amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;In this condition, your &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/immune-thrombocytopenia-itp-401334&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;14&amp;quot;&amp;gt;immune system destroys healthy red blood cells&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;. The 3 main types of immune hemolytic anemia are:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0This is the most common hemolytic anemia condition (AIHA accounts for half of all cases of hemolytic anemia). For some unknown reason, AIHIA causes\u00A0your body&amp;amp;#39;s own immune system to make antibodies that attack your own healthy red blood cells. AIHIA\u00A0may become serious and come on very quickly.\u00A0\u200B&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Alloimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA).\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;AHA occurs\u00A0when the immune system attacks transplanted tissue, a &amp;lt;a href=&amp;quot;https://www.verywell.com/the-risks-of-blood-transfusions-3156815&amp;quot; data-component=&amp;quot;link&amp;quot; data-source=&amp;quot;inlineLink&amp;quot; data-type=&amp;quot;internalLink&amp;quot; data-ordinal=&amp;quot;15&amp;quot;&amp;gt;blood transfusion&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;, or in some pregnant women, the\u00A0fetus. Since AHA can happen if the transfused blood is a different blood type than your blood, AHA can also happen during pregnancy when a woman has\u00A0Rh-negative blood and her baby has Rh-positive blood. Rh factor is a protein on red blood cells and\u00A0&amp;amp;#34;Rh-negative&amp;amp;#34; and &amp;amp;#34;Rh-positive&amp;amp;#34; refers to whether your blood has Rh factor.\u00A0&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Drug-induced hemolytic anemia.&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;\u00A0When a medicine triggers your body&amp;amp;#39;s immune system to attack its own red blood cells, you may be a drug induced hemolytic anemic.\u00A0Chemicals in medicines (such as penicillin) can attach to red blood cell surfaces and cause the development of antibodies.&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Mechanical Hemolytic Anemias.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Physical damage to red blood cell membranes can cause destruction at a faster rate than normal. The damage may be caused by changes in the small blood vessels, certain medical\u00A0devices, high blood pressure during pregnancy (preeclampsia), or eclampsia (a\u00A0condition that causes seizures in pregnant women), malignant hypertension or a rare blood disorder like thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura,\u00A0which causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels throughout the body. In addition, strenuous activities can sometimes result in blood cell damage in the limbs (such as running a marathon)&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH).\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;You body will destroy abnormal red blood cells (caused by a lack of certain proteins) more quickly than normal with this condition. Individuals with\u00A0PNH are at an increased risk for:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Blood clots in the veins &amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Low levels of white blood cells and platelets&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Other Causes of Damage to Red Blood Cells.\u00A0&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;Certain infections, chemicals and substances can also damage red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. Some examples include toxic chemicals, malaria, tick-borne diseases or snake venom.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h3&amp;gt;Blood Tests Used to Diagnose Hemolysis&amp;lt;/h3&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Seeing your doctor is the first step to getting a diagnosis for hemolytic anemia. Your doctor may evaluate your medical and family history in addition to a physical exam, and ordering blood tests.\u00A0Some blood tests used to diagnose hemolysis are:&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Red blood cell count (RBC), also called erythrocyte count&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Hemoglobin test (Hgb)&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;li&amp;gt;Serum haptoglobin test&amp;lt;/li&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/ul&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Newborn screening programs as mandated by each State\u00A0usually screens (using routine blood tests) for sickle cell anemia and G6PD deficiency in babies. Early diagnosis of these inherited conditions are vital so that children can get proper treatment.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;source:&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;National Institutes of Health.\u00A0Types of Hemolytic Anemia.\u00A0www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Accessed on 9 March 2016.&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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