Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the people don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues. Having anemia may make feel tired and weak.
There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can range from mild to severe and can be long term or temporary. To prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.
Causes:
· If body doesn't make enough red blood cells
· Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced
· If body destroys red blood cells
Symptoms:
· Irregular heartbeats
· Fatigue
· Weakness
· Pale or yellowish skin
· Shortness of breath
· Dizziness or lightheadedness
· Chest pain
· Cold hands and feet
· Headache
Types of anemia:
- Iron deficiency anemia: This is the most common type of anemia worldwide. It is caused due to the shortage of iron in body. Bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin. Without adequate iron, body can't produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells.
- Vitamin deficiency anemia: In addition to iron, body needs foliate and vitamin B-12 to produce enough healthy red blood cells. A diet lacking in these and other key nutrients can cause decreased red blood cell production.
- Anemia of chronic disease: Certain diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease, kidney disease, and other chronic inflammatory diseases can interfere with the production of red blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia: This is rare, life-threatening anemia occurs when body doesn't produce enough red blood cells. Causes of aplastic anemia include certain medicines, infections, exposure to toxic chemicals and autoimmune diseases.
- Anemias associated with bone marrow disease: Leukemia and myelofibrosis can cause this type of anemia by affecting blood production in bone marrow. The effects of these types of cancer and cancer-like disorders vary from mild to life-threatening.
- Hemolytic anemias: This group of anemias develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than bone marrow can replace them. Certain blood diseases increase red blood cell destruction.
- Sickle cell anemia: This is an inherited hemolytic anemia. It is caused by a defective form of hemoglobin that forces red blood cells to assume an abnormal crescent (sickle) shape. These irregular blood cells die prematurely, resulting in a chronic shortage of red blood cells.
- Other anemias: There are several other forms of anemia, such as malarial anemia and thalassemia.
Risk factors:
- Age
- A diet lacking in certain vitamins
- Intestinal disorders
- Menstruation
- Pregnancy
- Chronic conditions
- Family history
- Other factors
Complications: Severe fatigue, Heart problems, Death.
Diagnosis:
- Complete blood count (CBC): A CBC is used to count the number of blood cells in a sample of blood.
- Sample of bone marrow to diagnose anemia.
- A test to determine the size and shape of red blood cells.
Treatment:
- Vitamin deficiency anemia: Treatment for B-12 and folic acid deficiency involves dietary supplements and increasing these nutrients in diet.
- Iron deficiency anemia: Treatment for this form of anemia usually involves making changes to diet and taking iron supplements.
- Anemia of chronic disease: There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of synthetic erythropoietin.
- Aplastic anemia: Treatment for this anemia may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells.
- Anemia associated with bone marrow disease: Treatment of these various diseases can include chemotherapy or medication, bone marrow transplantation.
· Hemolytic anemia: Managing hemolytic anemia’s includes treating related infections, avoiding suspect medications, and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which may be attacking your red blood cells.
· Sickle cell anemia: Treatment for this anemia includes the administration of oxygen, oral and intravenous fluids and pain-relieving drugs, to reduce pain and prevent complications. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea is used to treat sickle cell anemia.
· Thalassemia: This anemia may be treated with folic acid supplements, blood transfusions, medication, splenectomy (removal of the spleen), or a blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant.
