Hi Panos,
Your two beta globin genes are both thal, as expected, one being beta 0 which means it produces no beta globin at all, and the other is beta + which means it produces some beta globin which when combined with alpha globin, produces hemoglobin. However, not enough hemoglobin is produced to survive without transfusions. With one of the genes being beta 0 there is a higher chance of your thalassemia being more severe, and this is often the case with patients who carry a beta 0 gene. In your case, you also are an alpha thal carrier. One of your alpha genes is either deleted or defective so you produce a slightly lower than normal amount of alpha globin. As Sajid has suggested the lower amount of alpha globin does play a positive role as there is a closer balance of alpha and beta globin than there would be if you had 4 normal alpha genes. The alpha carrier state actually acts as a modifier of beta thalassemia and results in a somewhat less severe beta thal. So, by being an alpha thal carrier your thalassemia is slightly milder than it would be otherwise. Incidentally, studies have shown that alpha thal trait is carried by over 8% of the Greek population, so it is not uncommon in those of Greek ancestry even though beta thal is more prevalent.