Anemia is a condition where you lack adequate healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen throughout the body. The healthy red blood cells travel through the body with hemoglobin and iron. Hemoglobin is the protein that assists the cells in carrying oxygen throughout your bloodstream.
Anybody can develop anemia, but some groups have higher chances of getting it, including;
• Women
• People over 65 years
• Infants and children between the age of one and two
• People using blood thinners
Anemia could occur because of a congenital condition (present at birth) or acquired condition, which reduces the number of red blood cells. Some of the reasons that could reduce the number of red blood cells include;
• The body not making enough red blood cells
• The body destroys healthy red blood cells
• Excessive bleeding that causes loss of red blood cells
There are different types of anemia, and they all have different causes, including;
Iron-deficiency anemia
This is the most common type of anemia many people suffer from, and it happens as a result of low iron levels in the body. To make enough hemoglobin, bone marrow requires a lot of iron, and without it, there is not enough hemoglobin.
This type of anemia could occur in pregnant women if they don’t take iron supplements. Some of the main causes of this type of anemia include menstrual bleeding, ulcers in the small intestines or stomach, regular use of unprescribed pain medication, especially aspirin, and large intestine cancer.
You could also get this type of anemia because of eating food that does not have enough iron and often blood donation.
Aplastic anemia
This is one of the most life-threatening types of anemia, but a rare one. It occurs when the body cannot produce adequate red blood cells, mainly due to a bone marrow failure.
Some of the main causes include autoimmune diseases, medications, infections, cancer treatments, and exposure to excessive toxic chemicals.
Vitamin deficiency anemia
Apart from iron, the body needs vitamin B-12 and folate to produce adequate healthy red blood cells. It could happen because you don't consume enough of these vitamins or the inability of the body to absorb them.
Sickle cell anemia
This is another life-threatening type of anemia and is mostly inherited. Sickle cell anemia occurs due to defective hemoglobin that makes the red blood cells acquire an abnormal sickle or crescent shape.
Those cells die prematurely, and some cannot pass through the arteries, causing a shortage of healthy red blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia
This group of anemia occurs when healthy blood cells die faster than your bone marrow can make new ones. This can happen due to some autoimmune diseases. You can develop this type of anemia later in life or can inherit it from a relative.
Thalassemia
This type of anemia happens when there is a problem in the formation of hemoglobin, where all the four chains of formation are not properly formed. That could result in a small number of red blood cells or very small cells.
The anemic symptoms you exhibit could vary depending on the type of anemia you have, the severity, cause, and certain underlying health conditions like cancer, ulcers, hemorrhaging, or menstrual problems.
If you have mild anemia or your anemia has been present for a long time, you might not experience any symptoms. Also, at the early stages of anemia, you might not notice any symptoms. However, as the anemia progresses, the symptoms worsen.
Some of the symptoms that are general for many of the anemia types include;
• Lack of energy and easy fatigue
• Headache
• Shortness of breath even after doing slight activities
• Pale, easily bruised, dry, or yellowing skin
• Rapid and irregular heartbeats, particularly after little exercises
• Dizziness
• Insomnia
• Leg cramps
• Difficulty concentrating
• Chest pains
• Sore tongue
• Cold feet and hands
• Pain in your joints and bones
There are some other symptoms associated with the different types of anemia, including;
Iron-deficiency anemia
• Sores in the mouth and cracks on the corners
• Koilonychias, which is the upward curvature of your nails
• Pica, which is described as a craving for strange things like dirt, ice, or paper
Aplastic anemia
• Excessive bleeding
• Frequent and prolonged infections
• Skin rash
• Easy or unexplained bruising
• Frequent occurrences of bleeding gums and nosebleeds
Vitamin deficiency anemia
• No sense of touch
• A tingling sensation that feels like needles or pins in your feet and hands
• Dementia
• Difficulty in walking or becoming wobbly
• Stiffness or clumsiness of your legs and arms
Sickle cell anemia
• Becoming more vulnerable to infections
• Severe pain episodes, especially in your limbs, joints, and abdomen
Hemolytic anemia
• Red or brown urine
• Jaundice
• Gallstones symptoms
• Leg ulcers
• Bruises under your skin
Thalassemia
• Facial bone deformations
• Dark urine
• Abdominal swelling
• Slow growth
The doctor conducts a complete blood count test to determine if you have anemia, which shows the number of red blood cells you have, their shape, and size. They also conduct a blood test to determine if you have enough B-12 and folate.
If they determine that you have anemia, they need to identify what is causing it to determine the best treatment.
Iron deficiency anemia, for example, is treated by;
• Prescription iron supplements
• Red blood cells transfusion
• Feeding iron directly to your bloodstream using an IV infusion, mainly if you have CKD or chronic kidney disease
• Foods rich in iron, or those that will make it easier for the body to absorb iron
If you have anemia caused by a lack of vitamins, the doctor will prescribe supplements or foods rich in vitamins and foods that help the body absorb the vitamins more efficiently.
If the anemia has more severe causes, the doctor will use other treatment methods like surgeries or transfusions. Having a healthy keeps the anemia from resurfacing after you get treated.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.