All About Anemia Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Anemia is a condition that develops when your bloodenough red blood cells. It is also caused by their loss
lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells areor destruction. Several factors can cause anemia:
the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red· Too little iron, vitamin B12 or folate. A shortage of
blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then yourfolate can cause megaloblastic anemia, where red
body isn't getting enough iron. Symptoms of anemiablood cells are large and pale (see Fact Sheet 121)
-- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting· Damage to bone marrow or kidneys
enough oxygen.· Blood loss from internal bleeding or a woman's
Blood is actually a liquid made up of several differentmenstrual cycle
cell types. One of the most important and mostIron deficiency anemia (IDA)
numerous cell types is the red blood cell. The purposeIDA is the most common type of anemia. IDA
of the red blood cell is to deliver oxygen to the body.happens when you don't have enough iron in your
Anemia describes the condition in which the numberbody. You need iron to make hemoglobin. People with
of red blood cells in your blood is low. For this reason,this type of anemia are sometimes said to have
doctors sometimes describe someone with anemia as“iron-poor blood” or “tired blood.”
having a low blood count. A person who has anemiaVitamin deficiency anemia (or megaloblastic anemia)
is called anemic.Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate are the most
Anemia Symptoms:common causes of this type of anemia.Vitamin B12
Because a low red blood cell count decreases oxygenanemia is the result of an impaired ability of the
delivery to every tissue in the body, anemia causesdigestive tract to absorb the B12 that is a normal
many signs and symptoms. It makes almost anypart of the diet. B12 is essential for the production of
other underlying medical condition worse. Forred blood cells, as well as the maintenance of the
example, if you have an underlying heart problem andnervous system, and is found in food of animal origin
become anemic, you are more likely to havesuch as meat, fish and dairy products.
problems associated with your heart disease thanTreatments:
you would have if you were not anemic.Blood transfusion used to be the only treatment for
Here are the following symptoms of Anemia:severe anemia. However, transfusions can cause
· Easy fatigue and loss of energy.infection and suppress the immune system. They
· Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly withappear to cause faster progression of HIV disease
exercise.and to increase the risk of death for HIV patients.
· Shortness of breath and headache, particularlyFortification with ascorbic acid, which increases
with exercise.bioavailability in both presence and absence of
· Difficulty concentrating.inhibiting substances, but which is subject to
Causes of Anemia:deterioration from moisture or heat.
Anemia can be caused by the body not making