Anemia starts when your blood releases fewer healthy red blood cells than normal. As a result, your body does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Without sufficient oxygen, you may feel exhausted or weak. You may also have shortness of breath, dizziness, migraines, or an irregular heartbeat. According to the CDC, about 3 million people in the United States have anemia.
Types of Anemia
Anemia is classified into several types, including hemolytic anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, aplastic anemia, and iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent form.
Anyone can be susceptible to mild anemia. It is a common and manageable condition. Causes include dietary habits, medications, or another underlying medical condition. Anemia may start suddenly or progress gradually. It can also be chronic, persisting for a long time and sometimes never completely going away. In certain cases, anemia can be hereditary.
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Causes and Risk Factors of Anemia
- Anemia is more common in some individuals, such as pregnant women and females going through menstruation.
- People who take particular drugs or treatments that lead to the incidence of hemolytic anemia, such as cephalosporins, dapsone, levodopa, levofloxacin, methyldopa, or nitrofurantoin, as well as those who are not getting sufficient iron or certain vitamins, are also at greater risk.
- More serious conditions, such as stomach bleeding, kidney disease, cancer, autoimmune diseases, or inflammation from an infection, might also be an underlying cause of anemia.
- Age: The possibility of developing anemia increases with age.
Symptoms of Anemia
You may not have any symptoms if your anemia is mild. According to the root cause of your anemia, symptoms can develop gradually or suddenly. The following general symptoms are linked to various forms of anemia:
- Pallor-shaped face
- General weakness.
- Lethargy
- Cold skin
- Inability to breathe
- A headache or migraine
- Feeling dizzy and fainting
- The development of jaundice, or skin yellowing
- Bleeding
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What about “Pregnancy-induced anemia’’
During pregnancy, anemia is prevalent, especially iron-deficiency anemia. During this period, your body manufactures more blood to help the developmental process of your fetus. You will be advised to take vitamins to get the extra iron and nutrients you need. If you don’t get enough of these nutrients while pregnant, you may seem weaker or more tired.
Pregnancy-induced anemia can be prevented and treated. But untreated or severe forms of anemia might lead to the following complications:
- Pre-term labour
- Increased blood loss during delivery
- Low birth weight
- Incidence of anemia and delay in the development of the newborn
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Diagnosis of Anemia
A) Blood Testing
-Red blood cell (RBCs) levels that are higher or lower than usual could suggest anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
-Hemoglobin levels (Hgb) that are either higher or lower than normal could indicate anemia. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein found in red blood cells that distributes oxygen.
-Hematocrit (HCT) values that are below normal may indicate anemia. Hematocrit is an index of how much volume red blood cells occupy in your blood.
-MCV levels that are higher or lower than normal could point to anemia. MCV measures the average size of your red blood cells.
B) Bone Marrow Testing
Bone marrow tests examine whether your bone marrow is functioning properly and producing normal levels of blood cells. Aspiration and biopsy are two distinct kinds of bone marrow testing that are often carried out simultaneously.
Aspiration is usually accomplished first. During the process, a small amount of bone marrow fluid is taken out using a needle. In a biopsy, a larger needle is used to collect a small amount of bone marrow tissue.
Aspiration is usually accomplished first. During the process, a small amount of bone marrow fluid is taken out using a needle. In a biopsy, a larger needle is used to collect a small amount of bone marrow tissue.
Biopsy and aspiration procedures can help identify the causes of low or high blood cell counts. Before conducting these tests, notify your doctor of the medications that you are currently using, any allergies to medications, and whether you are pregnant.
C) Other Diagnostic Test
- A colonoscopy examines your colon for bleeding or additional problems, such as malignancies. Your doctor might also check your stool for blood.
- Endoscopy detects bleeding in the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine. This involves inserting a tube containing a tiny camera through your mouth and down to your stomach and upper small intestine.
- Genetic testing aims to identify mutations in the genes that control how your body produces red blood cells.
- Urine tests assess whether your kidneys are functioning effectively.
How to Cure Anemia?
A) Drug Therapy
Your doctor might suggest medications to help your bone marrow generate a sufficient amount of red blood cells. If your anemia is caused by an autoimmune disorder, you might need immunosuppressive medications.
B) Dietary Supplements
For some types of mild to moderate anemia, your doctor can prescribe vitamins such as:
- Iron supplements might increase the levels of iron in the blood. This could help treat iron deficiency anemia. Iron supplements are generally not prescribed to those who do not have iron deficiency anemia because excessive iron could negatively impact your organs.
- Vitamin B12 tablets or injections can help cure vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.
C) Blood Transfusions
A blood transfusion is a common, safe medical procedure in which normally functioning blood is delivered to the patient through an intravenous (IV) line inserted into one of the blood arteries. Blood transfusions replace the blood that is lost during surgery or injury, or they replenish blood if the body fails to produce it effectively.
Blood transfusions are generally safe because donated blood is carefully inspected and preserved. However, there is a possible likelihood that the body will react adversely to the donor blood. This includes:
- Fever
- Heart or pulmonary problems.
- Alloimmunization is when the body’s natural immune system attacks donor blood cells.
- Rare but severe reactions that occur after receiving white blood cells attack the body’s healthy tissues.
D) Surgery
May be required to stop internal bleeding.
E) Healthy Dietary Habits
Healthy eating habits have become essential for everyone. It is important to eat healthy to ensure that your diet comprises iron-rich foods as well as vitamin B12.
If you are concerned about obtaining enough vitamins and minerals from your food, contact your doctor about taking multivitamins.
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References:
- Turner, J., Parsi, M., & Badireddy, M. (2023). Anemia. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
- Cappellini, M. D., & Motta, I. (2015). Anemia in Clinical Practice-Definition and Classification: Does Hemoglobin Change with Aging? Seminars in hematology, 52(4), 261–269. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.seminhematol.2015.07.006
