Anemia

Anemia is a disorder of the blood. It is the result of very low levels of red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin. Their main job is to carry oxygen from the ...

condition

Definition

Anemia is a disorder of the blood. It is the result of very low levels of red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin. Their main job is to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. When RBC and hemoglobin levels are low the body does not get the right amount of oxygen. This causes fatigue, pale skin, irregular heartbeat, and other symptoms of anemia.

There are several specific types of anemia, including:

Anemia of chronic disease —chronic diseases can slow the production of RBCs
Aplastic anemia —bone marrow is not able to produce enough RBCs
Iron-deficiency anemia —iron is a building block of hemoglobin
Macrocytic B12 deficient anemia and pernicious anemia —B12 is a building block of RBCs
Sickle cell anemia —RBC's have an abnormal shape that causes destruction of RBC's and low levels of hemoglobin

Red Blood Cells

Causes

The main causes of anemia are:

Blood loss, such as that caused by:
- Heavy menstrual periods
- Bleeding in the digestive tract
- Bleeding in the urinary tract
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Cancer
Abnormally low RBC production, due to:
- Kidney disease
- Cancer
- Infection
- Medication
- Radiation
- Pregnancy
- Lead intoxication
Abnormally high RBC destruction, caused by inherited disorders such as:
- Sickle cell anemia
- Thalassemia —difficulty in manufacturing hemoglobin
- Enzyme deficiencies

Risk

The following factors may increase your risk of anemia:

Women of childbearing age
Pregnancy
Older adults with other medical condition
Infants younger than two years
Poor diet low in iron, vitamins, and minerals
Blood loss (eg, due to surgery or injury)
Chronic or serious illness
Chronic infections
Family history of inherited anemia (eg, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia)

Symptoms

Symptoms of anemia may include:

Tiredness
Lethargy
Feeling faint
Paleness
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Headache
Coldness in the hands and feet
Pale skin
Chest pain
Rapid or irregular heartbeat

diagnosis

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Other tests may include:

Complete Blood Count (CBC)—a test that measures levels of hemoglobin and RBCs
Other blood tests
Blood smear
Stool sample
Bone marrow aspiration or biopsy

treatment

Treatment

Talk with your doctor about the best plan for you. Options include:

Your doctor may suggest changes to your diet. The diet may include foods rich in iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12, and folate. Vitamins or iron supplements may be added.

To help treat your anemia or your symptoms your doctor may prescribe:

Antibiotics
Hormone treatment
Epoetin
Medications that act on the immune system
Chelation therapy (for lead poisoning)

A blood transfusion delivers blood cells from healthy donor blood.

This procedure places healthy bone marrow or stem cell in the body. The goal is for the new tissue to produce healthy blood cells. This procedure carries risk. It is only done in severe cases of anemia.

Critical bleeding may be treated with surgery. In cases of very high RBC destruction, your spleen may need to be surgically removed.

prevention

Prevention

Most inherited forms of anemia cannot be prevented. But the following steps may be taken to prevent certain types of anemia:

Eat a diet rich in iron and vitamins
Take iron or vitamin supplements, as recommended by your doctor
Treat underlying causes of anemia
Report signs and symptoms, especially chronic fatigue, to your doctor

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