Anemia and its Causes
Anemia is a common blood disorder. Anemia is a deficiency of red blood cells (RBCs) and/or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin—an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood—carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical spectra, to mention a few. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Iron deficiency anemia is most common in women who have heavy menstrual periods. Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to a form of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia. Risk factors include heavy periods, pregnancy, older age, and diseases that cause anemia. In the United States, 2-10% of people have anemia. Other countries have even higher rates of anemia. Women are twice as likely to have anemia than men. Girls going through puberty also have a particularly high risk for iron deficiency anemia because of the onset of menstruation; the monthly blood loss increases the amount of iron they need to consume in their diets.
Anemia happens in both young people and in old people, but older people are more likely to have other medical problems associated with anemia. Macrocytic anemia can be further divided into “megaloblastic anemia” or “non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia”. People with more severe anemia often report dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion. Very severe anemia prompts the body to compensate by increasing cardiac output, leading to palpitations and sweatiness, and to heart failure. Coffee, tea, egg yolks, milk, fiber and soy protein block iron absorption. Vitamin deficiency anemias fall into a group of anemias called megaloblastic anemias, in which the bone marrow produces large, abnormal red blood cells. Some people are unable to absorb vitamin B-12 for a variety of reasons and develop vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia. Anemia diminishes the capability of individuals who are affected to perform physical activities. Blood loss can also cause anemia - whether it’s because of excessive bleeding due to injury, surgery, or a problem with the blood’s clotting ability.
Anemia sometimes results from heavy menstrual periods in teen girls and women. Anemia affects 20% of all females of childbearing age in the United States. Because of the subtlety of the symptoms, women are often unaware that they have this disorder, as they attribute the symptoms to the stresses of their daily lives. Possible problems for the fetus include increased risk of growth retardation, prematurity, intrauterine death, rupture of the amnion and infection. High levels of hemoglobin and RBCs help fetal blood carry enough oxygen to developing babies in the relatively oxygen-poor environment in utero. Sickle cell anemia. This inherited and sometimes serious anemia, which affects mainly people of African and Arabic descent. Sickle-shaped red blood cells can also block blood flow through small blood vessels in the body, producing other, often painful, symptoms. Certain foods have been found to interfere with iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract.
Anemia Treatment Tips
1.Iron deficiency anemia is treated with iron supplements, which you may need to take for several months or longer.
2.Folic acid deficiency anemia is treated with folic acid supplements.
3. Treatment for Aplastic anemia. may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells.
4.. Treatment of these various diseases can range from simple medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow transplantation.
5.Avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by eating a healthy, varied diet that includes foods rich in iron, folate and vitamin B-12.
6.Foods containing vitamin C, such as citrus fruits, help increase iron absorption
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