Anemia
Alternative Names:
Iron poor blood
Definition:
Anemia is a lack of sufficient red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen and nutrients to the body’s tissues. The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia – a lack of iron in the red blood cells to produce hemoglobin, a necessary protein used to carry oxygen. Patients with iron deficiency anemia often feel tired, weak, and pale.
Symptoms:
Depending on the cause of your anemia, you may experience the following range of symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Irritability
- Weakness
- Problems thinking
- Cold extremities
- Headache
Anemia may not initially cause any symptoms. However, the longer your condition goes untreated, the more severe your anemia symptoms will become.
Exams/Testing:
If you or your doctor suspect anemia, you will most likely have a physical exam, medical history, and blood drawn for testing. A complete blood count (CBC) will indicate your hemocrit and hemoglobin levels. Additionally, your doctor may examine the size, shape, and color or your red blood cells under a microscope to narrow down an anemia diagnosis.
Outlook/Prognosis:
The treatment for anemia is dependent upon the type of diagnosis. Iron deficient anemia can be caused by several conditions such as heavy periods, pregnancy, ulcers, poor nutrition, colon polyps or cancer. This anemia can usually be treated with iron supplements or vitamins.
Other anemias may be attributed to your genetics or to blood and bone cancers. Additional anemias, like aplastic or sickle cell anemias, may require blood transfusions, pain relieving medications, bone marrow transplants, vitamin supplements, immunosuppressants, steroids, or hormone injections depending on the severity and cause of their condition.
Causes:
Anemia is caused by a lack of healthy red blood cell production, the loss of red blood cells, or the destruction of red blood cells without proper replacement. The type of anemia present depends on the reason for your red blood cell reduction. The following conditions can be associated with certain types of anemia and their associated causes:
- Iron deficiency – Iron poor blood
- Vitamin deficiency – a lack of folate or vitamin B-12
- Chronic disease – HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, chronic inflammatory disease, kidney failure
- Bone marrow disease – Aplastic anemia, leukemia, myelodysplasia, lymphoma
- Autoimmune disorders – Hemolytic anemia, antibiotics used to treat infection
- Hereditary – Sickle cell anemia
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