Emily Malcolm, PhD,  —

Living with a rare disease like cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be challenging and stressful. It may feel as if control of your life has been taken away. In addition to the symptoms of CAD, stress can affect your health, causing headaches, insomnia, anxiety, muscle cramps, and…

People with cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can feel a loss of control over their lives after being diagnosed with this chronic disease that targets the immune system. Dealing with new physical challenges brought about by chronic pain, and fatigue can make it hard for patients to stay motivated.

Learning that you have a rare disorder like cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be frightening. Among the first questions many people have is: How will my lifespan be affected? Unfortunately, the answer often isn’t clear-cut. What is life expectancy? Life expectancy is an estimate of how long people…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells at cold temperatures, causing them to aggregate. Most patients with CAD learn to avoid cold foods or beverages long before they receive a diagnosis, as it can be painful to…

Living with a rare disorder like cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be challenging. It can be hard to find information about the disease, or doctors who specialize in treating it. It is, therefore, common for people with CAD to feel isolated. Some may find it difficult to talk to…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells under cold conditions, causing them to burst. Patients may require regular electrocardiograms because CAD can cause heart problems. What is an electrocardiogram? An electrocardiogram (ECG) records the electrical signals…

Being diagnosed with a chronic disease such as cold agglutinin disease (CAD) can be stressful, and stress can contribute to anxiety and depression, among other issues. Patients and their families and caregivers can practice some forms of self-care to reduce their stress. The following are a…

Cold agglutinin disease is a rare acquired autoimmune disorder in which exposure to cold temperatures (between 32 to 50 F) causes autoantibodies to attack and destroy the patient’s own red blood cells, resulting in anemia. As a result, patients may experience chronic pain. The following are…

Fatigue is a common symptom of cold agglutinin disease (CAD), an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the red blood cells at cold temperatures, causing anemia. Patients with CAD may, therefore, have fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues, which can cause…

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks red blood cells, causing them to clump together and burst in cold temperatures. A number of treatments exist for CAD, but many of them work by suppressing the immune system, which can…