What is anemia?
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Anemia is the condition of having a lower-than-normal red blood cell count or not enough hemoglobin. Anemia is extremely common and affects nearly 25% of the world’s population. It is considered relatively harmless but can be a serious condition with dire implications.
Those who have anemia do not receive enough oxygen-rich blood. Anemia is common and may occur at any age and among any ethnic group. Although men and women can have anemia, women of childbearing age are at increased risk.
A major symptom of anemia is extreme fatigue and weakness. Other symptoms include:
- feeling tired;
- difficulty sleeping;
- chest pain;
- shortness of breath;
- rapid or irregular heartbeat;
- cold hands or feet;
- headache;
- dizziness or fainting;
- unintended movement in lower legs (restless leg syndrome); and
- paleness, jaundice, dry skin or easily bruised skin.
Long-term anemia may damage the brain, heart, lungs and other body organs. Severe anemia may lead to death.
Although some types of anemia may be severe and life-threatening if untreated, many types are mild, short term and easily treated. Many types cannot be prevented. However, iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias can be prevented with a healthy diet that includes a variety of vitamins and minerals, including iron, folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C. Treatment varies depending upon the cause and severity of the condition.Various types of anemia exist that are caused by specific traits, including aplastic anemia, blood loss anemia, Cooley’s anemia (also called thalassemia major), iron deficiency anemia and sickle cell anemia.
Causes of anemia
There are three main causes of anemia. Blood loss is the most common, specifically iron deficiency anemia. Blood loss may occur with heavy menstrual periods, pregnancy, bleeding in the digestive or urinary tract, regular use of some pain relievers (especially aspirin), surgery, trauma or cancer.
The second main cause is the lack of red blood cell production. Decreased red blood cell production may either be an inherited or acquired condition. Diet, hormones, chronic diseases or pregnancy are conditions and factors that prevent a person’s body from creating enough red blood cells.
Acquired and inherited conditions and factors may lead to high rates of blood cell destruction are a third main cause of anemia. This may occur when someone has an enlarged or diseased spleen, which is the body organ that removes worn out red blood cells. When a spleen is diseased or enlarged, more blood cells than needed may be removed. Examples of inherited conditions that destroy too many red blood cells in the body are sickle cell anemia and a lack of certain enzymes.
Risk factors
Risk factors for anemia include low iron, vitamin or mineral diet; loss of blood after surgery or an injury; long-term illness (cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart failure and thyroid disease); long-term infection; or a family history of sickle cell anemia or thalassemia. People 65 years of age or older are also at an increased risk.
Additional information can be found by searching the following websites:
my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3929-anemia
www.hematology.org/education/patients/anemia
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534803/
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557522/
www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/anemia