Doctor busts common myths
Published on: July 17, 2026, 11 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
Actor Yogita Bihani recently revealed that she has thalassemia minor, prompting experts to explain that the inherited blood disorder is usually harmless and does not require treatment. According to Dr Kunal Goyal, chief of hematology, BMT and cellular therapy at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, people with thalassemia minor often have mild anemia or smaller-than-normal red blood cells, with few or no symptoms, and should avoid taking iron supplements unless iron deficiency is confirmed. While the condition does not progress to thalassemia major or shorten life expectancy, its biggest implication is for family planning—if both partners are carriers, each pregnancy carries a 25% risk of the child being born with thalassemia major, making carrier screening and genetic counseling before marriage or pregnancy essential. Awareness, routine health check-ups, and informed reproductive decisions are key to preventing severe thalassemia in future generations.
