Anemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
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Anemia is a blood disorder that is created when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body is not getting enough iron.
Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by a complete blood cell (CBC) count. It is the common blood disorder. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs. It is found in the person when the number of red blood cells in your blood is low. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe anemia as having a low blood count
Symptoms of anemia:
- feeling of restless fastly and loss of energy.
- fatigue — occur because organs aren’t getting enough oxygen
- Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
- Shortness of breath and headache in exercise also
- Difficulty in concentrating on something
Types & causes of Anemia
1) Macrocytic anemia:Macrocytic anemia can be further divided into “megaloblastic anemia” or “non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia”. The cause of megaloblastic anemia is primarily a failure of DNA synthesis with preserved RNA synthesis, which result in restricted cell division of the progenitor cells.
2)Microcytic anemia: Microcytic anemia caused due to hemoglobin synthesis failure or insufficiency .Iron deficiency anemia is the common type of anemia so it has many causes. RBCs often appear hypochromic (paler than usual) and microcytic (smaller than usual) when viewed with a microscope
3)Normocytic anemia :Normocytic anaemia causes when the overall Hb levels are decreased, but the red blood cell size (MCV) remains normal. Causes include:
- Accurate blood loss
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Bone marrow failure Aplastic anemia
4)Heinz body anemia: Heinz bodies are an abnormality that forms on the cells in this condition. This form of anemia may be brought on by taking certain medications; it is also triggered in cats by eating onions or acetaminophen (Tylenol). It can be triggered in dogs by ingesting onions or zinc and in horses by ingesting dry Red Maple leaves.
5) Dimorphic anemia : When two causes of anemia act simultaneously, e.g., macrocytic hypochromic due to hookworminfestation leading to deficiency of both iron and vitamin B12or folic acid or following a blood transfusion more than one abnormality of red cell indices may be seen Hemolytic anemia
There are more than 400 types of anemia found in the medical science, which are divided into 3 groups:
- Anemia caused by blood loss
- Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
- Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells
Treatments of Anemia
To over come the problem of anemia,
1)A proper diet including green vegetables is must
2)Consult with doctor or physician to diagnose the type of anemia and treatment options
3)Take proper nourishments, vitamins and nutritional supplements – Iron, B12 or folic acid
4)infections treatment , inflammations or malignancies
5)Blood transfusions provides red blood cell transfusions for bleeding and/or severe chronic anemias can save the life of a person.
6)Red cell transfusions are the old mainstay, which offers the quickest relief for anemias provided proper consultation should be taken as several risks are associated with transfusion.
A successful treatment of anemia is to identify and treating the above cause: blood loss, a nutritional deficiency, cancer, bone marrow infiltration, chronic illness, inflammation, or decreased response to erythropoietin. Laboratory test results and a physical examination, a physician can determine the cause of you.
Watch the video related
an educational health video to explain my sickness. enjoy! for more info about anemia and other fun diseases go to www.kidshealth.org or www.emedicine.com THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS RATED AND RESPONDED! i really appreciate hearing from all of you, and hope that this video will make others aware of the symptoms of anemia sooner than i did. if you do think you could be anemic, dont hesitate and dont self-diagnose. go see your doctor asap! that way, you can get treatment and start to …
Help answer the question
How serious is anemia for the pregnant woman and the child?
We just got back the 26-week blood-work for my wife and they said she has a mild case of anemia, and told her to start taking an over-the-counter drug 2 times a day.
How serious is this? What are the possible consequences of having anemia?
Also, what can we do, besides taking the medicine, to further prevent this?
Thanks.
anemia
18 Comments
September 26th, 2009 at 11:31 am
Yes, I'm anemic secondary to another medical condition that causes it. I've been prescribed iron pills to take daily and I take in more iron in my diet. I've noticed that I'm not nearly as tired as I was without treating it.
September 26th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
Below is the information I found from webmd.com regarding the symptoms of anemia. I am familiar with many of them from being anemic myself. There are various treatments for anemia. For me, I get period Iron Infusions and at one time, took an injection called Procrit. For others, they may just need to increase foods in their diet that are rich in iron.
I hope the information below is of help to you!! Good luck to you!
Symptoms common to many types of anemia are:
Easy fatigue and loss of energy.
Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise.
Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise.
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Pale skin
Leg cramps
Insomnia
These are symptoms of specific forms of anemia:
Anemia caused by iron deficiency:
Hunger for strange substances such as paper, ice, or dirt (a condition called pica).
Upward curvature of the nails referred to as koilonychias.
Soreness of the mouth with cracks at the corners.
Anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency:
A tingling, "pins and needles" sensation in the hands or feet.
Loss of sense of touch.
A wobbly gait and difficulty walking.
Clumsiness and stiffness of the arms and legs.
Dementia
Hallucinations, paranoia and schizophrenia.
Anemia caused by chronic lead poisoning:
A blue-black line on the gums referred to as a lead line.
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Vomiting
Anemia caused by chronic red blood cell destruction:
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Brown or red urine
Leg ulcers
Failure to thrive in infancy
Symptoms of gallstones
Sickle cell anemia:
Fatigue
Susceptibility to infection
Delayed growth and development in children
Episodes of severe pain, especially in the joints, abdomen and limbs.
Anemia caused by sudden red blood cell destruction:
Abdominal pain
Brown or red urine
Jaundice (yellow skin)
Small bruises under the skin.
Seizures
Symptoms of kidney failure.
Call Your Doctor If:
You or your child experience persistent fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, pale skin or any other symptoms of anemia.
You or your child have a poor diet or you have concerns about inadequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals.
You experience very heavy menstrual periods or symptoms of an ulcer, gastritis, hemorrhoids or colorectal cancer.
You are concerned about environmental exposure to lead.
A hereditary anemia runs in your family and you would like genetic counseling before having a child.
You are a woman considering pregnancy. Your doctor will likely recommend that you begin taking supplements, especially folate, even before conception. These supplements benefit both mother and baby.
September 26th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
im only thirteen and i have it idk why i started to cry when they told me i have anemia it was this summer when i got it it still scares me
HANG ON WE CAN GET STRONGER!
September 26th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
the worst thing about anemia is having it when your on your period cuz u lose even more blood makin you weaker i hate my pills they are small but hard to swallow sumtimes
September 27th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I'm surely no vet, but I've been in rescue for lots of years, and we see many kittens with chronic diarrhea. It seems their systems just get so inflamed and irritated from everything they have been through, and they need time to settle down. One thing that has worked with several kittens (when all other things have been ruled out) is a course of prednisone. The steroid reduces the inflammation in the intestinal tract, and allows it to heal. For diet, I've had a lot of luck feeding either Innova's EVO dry or California Natural dry. For some reason those are fairly well tolerated by cats with digestive issues. Try also some bene-bac, which can help to restore all the beneficial bacteria that belong in the digestive tract.
If you're getting no where, then perhaps a second opinion is in order. Sometimes the second set of eyes can see what the first cannot.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:18 am
I have iron-deficiency anemia. I have had it since I was a teenager and the symptoms include fatigue, weakness, paleness of the inner eyelids and hands. I also crave ice, salt, and have even craved paint when it got really bad. I am supposed to take precription iron however the side effects are horrible. the iron is very harsh on my stomach so I control mine through diet and rest. When it is not enough I use the iron reluctantly. Hope this was enough information.
September 27th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
it sounds like she has sinus problems the medication she would take would be painkillers for sinus [anadin neurofen ibroufen etc] or you can get tablets speciEly for sinus ask your pharmacist. now really she needs to see a doctor due to the breatHing problems so i think you should ask for medical advice from a nurse on NHS
September 27th, 2009 at 11:39 am
i might have anemia wen i was in church today i almost passed out now i have a headache and am dizzy so i am waiting for test results and i love ur video its funny and u have so much fun making it im sure i will subscribe to and i hope u get better
September 28th, 2009 at 12:37 am
I found these errors:Look at the words or sentences in parenthesis.In this sentence I find that>form of Anemia is plastic anemia, in which causes an infection with (parovius,)<is not a word. This sentence needs correcting >Treatment for Dyslexia is very small (but many helpful then most other diseases.) There should be a comma here Africans ,Mediterraneans.
September 28th, 2009 at 4:07 am
The main symptom of most types of anemia is fatigue. Other anemia symptoms include:
* Weakness
* Pale skin
* A fast or irregular heartbeat
* Shortness of breath
* Chest pain
* Dizziness
* Cognitive problems
* Numbness or coldness in your extremities
* Headache
Sound like you?? Well, there are several diffrent types of anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia, Vitamin deficiency anemias, Anemia of chronic disease, Aplastic anemia, Anemias associated with bone marrow disease, Hemolytic anemias, Sickle cell anemia, and other ones such as thalassemia and anemias caused by defective hemoglobin. You really need to see a doctor so you can deterine which one it is.
Also, if you are taking certain meds, they bay be partially to blame.
Try folic acid and vitamin B12 as well. And if you are taking a iron sup, try not to consume calcium while the vitamin is absorbing into your body. Calcium only makes it harder for iron to do so.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
ok, u guys are scaring me, i thought anemia went away?
i felt really bad off, but then i was better again…im scared, comfort me?
September 28th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Iron tablets are notorious for not being absorbed very well. I would advise eating foods that contain iron and in a combination that helps absorbtion. Bran cereal comes to mind. Very high in iron and with a glass of OJ, should absorb very well.
Has your doctor ordered a colonoscopy as a slow colon bleed will deplete you of iron and is not noticable enough to see in your poop so you would never notice it.
I too have had that problem but my issues was heavy periods. I get the palpitations too. I am not a big beef eater and hate spinach so bran cereal was my thing. I got so constipated from the iron tablets that I just gave up on them completely. I eat bran cereal every morning and also as a bedtime snack. Cream of Wheat, shredded wheat and raisin bran are also good iron sources. You need the OJ(vitamin C) to help with absorbtion. Good luck.
September 27th, 2009 at 10:37 pm
I have it too. Have been feeling weak, sick, fainting alot for about month finally found out i was anemic n they’ve gave me these horrible iron tablets (ferrous Fumarate) they have the worst side effects. Does anyone know if they ever start helping the anemia, cause i dont think its been working for me yet , please?
September 27th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
I have Diamond Blackfan Anemia. I think this is kinda cool. Educate The World!!!!
September 29th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
1. they inject the horse with the venom of the particular species of snake and the animal develops anti-venom. Then, the serum is administered to the human along with the anti-venom it contains.
2. Serum does not contain the clotting factors (ie fibrinogin) that plasma does. I would imagine that has something to do with it, although I am unsure. I dont' know about horse clotting factors, but maybe they are bad for humans?
3. Someone already answerd this question for you above
September 29th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
im a vegie n i has anemia ):
September 29th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Anemia can have many causes, yours happens to be iron deficiency based. Which happens with vegitarians if they aren’t eating enough leafy greens and spinach. Anemia also occurs in women menstruating. I have anemia from DBA-(google DBA Anemia). This is different because there is more than enough iron in my system and taking more would be dangerous (google iron chelation therapy). There are other anemias (google pernicious anemia) which the b-12 injections have helped. Maybe a misdiagnosis?
September 29th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
me 2