Although blood diseases are often not considered to be as debilitating as cardiovascular or mental disorders, they contribute to an unfortunately high death rate in the United States. According to statistics taken from the National Institute of Health, blood disorders are responsible for nearly 10,000 deaths per year, and that number is growing. From blood clots and high blood pressure to anemia and blood poisoning, blood disorders make up approximately 15% of disabled beneficiaries, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Unfortunately, this makes your risk of having a blood disorder much higher than you may have previously thought.
Learning common symptoms of serious blood disorders now could get you the help you need before it’s too late. Not only could you start treatment sooner, you could qualify for SSA benefits as a result of your symptoms.
Blood Disorder Signs: Do You Suffer From Them?
The SSA uses a guide known as the disability blue book to help establish eligibility for benefits. This book is basically a list of recognized injuries, disorders, and diseases that have been previously investigated and determined to be debilitating enough to qualify for disability. This list allows the SSA panel to categorize applicants based on their specific issue in order to more easily determine if benefits are needed. One of these ailment classifications centers around hematological (blood) disorders and how they can impact financial stability.
Although the SSA clearly considers specific types of blood disorders to be viable disability ailments, the severity of your symptoms is what determines your eligibility. Your symptoms must prove to be debilitating enough to make working difficult or even impossible to sustain a livable wage.
Symptoms that can show serious blood-related disorders that are recognized by the SSA, include:
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Excessive bruising
- Pain or numbness in joints and extremities
- Coldness in the hands and feet
- Paler than normal skin or mucous membranes
- Excessive bleeding or slow clotting or scabbing of wounds
- Thickening blood
- Recurrent fevers or infections
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Profoundly red complexion
- Increased craving for red meat
- Pica (and iron deficiency characterized by the consumption non-food items such as dirt, paper, or clay denotes an iron deficiency)
- Jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes)
If you experience any of these symptoms, make sure you seek medical attention as soon as possible. Many of these symptoms can be signs of other disorders as well, so make sure you seek a medical opinion and are properly diagnosed before filing. Although some disorders are incurable, proper treatment and care can help diminish symptoms and help you comfortably manage your disorder. Don’t risk your health—get diagnosed so you can get the help you need.
Sharing Guidance and Support
The abundance of serious medical conditions that have been receiving attention within the last few years (cancer, AIDS, Ebola, depression, etc.), has drastically pushed blood-disorder awareness into the shadows. Although it is nearly impossible for all disorders and diseases to receive the proper attention they all deserve, you can help bring blood-disorder awareness back into the light. Help your friends and family learn their risks as well as their potential for financial security by sharing this page on Facebook and Twitter.
You can also help others like you get the support, kindness, and information they need by sharing your experiences and words of wisdom in the comment section. Not only will you help us learn more about you and our clients’ hardships, but your experiences could also help readers get the extra knowledge, reassurance, and support they need after a difficult diagnosis.
Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Natick, MA?
If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.
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