Anemia is a condition that appears due to a lack of healthy RBCs to carry adequate amounts of oxygen to the body’s tissues. Anemic means you have low hemoglobin which can make you feel weak and tired. There is no definitive cure for anemia but certain treatments can help in managing the symptoms and RBC level. RBCs are disc-shaped blood cells that carry oxygen to various organs and tissues of the body. Every body part requires a sufficient supply of oxygen to function properly. Some common symptoms of anemia are fatigue, shortness of breath, etc. These symptoms appear due to low oxygen delivery to the vital organs and tissues. RBCs contain an iron-rich protein known as hemoglobin that binds to oxygen in the lungs. With the help of hemoglobin, RBCs carry and deliver oxygen to the body.
Anemia condition is measured depending on the hemoglobin level in the blood. Women are prone to develop anemia. There are various types and causes of anemia. Some anemia types are easily treated whereas some types may cause serious health issues.
What are the causes of Anemia?
RBCs are produced in the bone marrow and have a lifespan of 100-120 days. On average, the bone marrow produces about 2 million RBCs each second, and approximately the same amount of RBCs are removed in the circulation process. About 1 percent of RBCs are removed from circulation and replaced each day. Any type of process or condition that has a negative effect on balancing the cycle can cause anemia.
Factors that reduce RBC production
Anemia occurs when RBC production is lower than the normal rate and more RBCs are leaving the body. Factors that reduce RBC production are divided into two main categories:
- Acquired
- Inherited
Acquired factors that decreased red blood cell production:
- Poor dietary intake of nutrients that are crucial for RBC production like iron, vitamin B12, etc
- Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
- Kidney disease
- Types of cancer like lymphoma, leukemia, etc
- Hypothyroidism
- Infections like tuberculosis and HIV
- Aplastic anemia
- IBD like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease
- Certain medications or treatments like radiation therapy or chemotherapy
- Exposure to toxins like lead
Genetic conditions that can decrease RBC production:
- Shwachman-Diamond syndrome
- Fanconi anemia
- Dyskeratosis congenita
- Diamond-Blackfan anemia
- Amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia
Factors that increase RBC loss or destruction
A person can get anemia when the rate of RBC loss is faster than production. Certain factors can increase the destruction of RBC that can be inherited or acquired.
Acquired factors that increase RBC destruction:
- Surgery
- Injuries or accidents
- Childbirth
- Endometriosis
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Heavy nosebleeds
- Gastrointestinal lesions
- Frequent blood donation
Inherited factors that increase RBC destruction:
- Sickle cell disease
- Thalassemia
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Pyruvate kinase deficiency
- Hereditary elliptocytosis
Common risk factors for Anemia
- Having menstrual periods
- Pregnancy
- Taking poor diet
- Age (over the age of 65)
- Certain chronic diseases like cancer, liver disease, kidney disease, etc.
- A certain gastrointestinal disorder like Celiac disease
- Genes
- Certain medications or treatments like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, etc.
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Alcohol abuse
Common symptoms of anemia
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Cold hands and feet
- Chest pain
- Fainting
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Pale skin and gums
- Fainting
- Irregular heartbeat
Some uncommon symptoms of anemia are:
- Brittle nails
- Cracks on the sides of your mouth
- Heart murmur
- Inflammation on the tongue
- Trouble concentrating
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Jaundice
- Trouble concentrating
- Unusual craving
If you are facing these symptoms (especially chest pain) then you should visit a doctor.
Types of Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia
This is the most common type of anemia that appears when the person is not getting enough iron. Certain factors can reduce the iron level in your blood such as:
- Blood loss
- Health issues that make iron absorption difficult like IBD
- Having a diet with poor iron content
Usually, people with mild to moderate iron deficiency do not show any anemic symptoms. Some symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Vitamin-deficiency anemia
This type of anemia occurs when the person has a lower than normal folate level. Some common symptoms of vitamin-deficiency anemia are color changes in skin, hair, or nails. Some people also get symptoms like soreness in the mouth.
Hemolytic anemia
In this type of anemia, RBCs start destroying at a faster rate than the body can replace them. Some common causes of hemolytic anemia are autoimmune activity, inherited conditions, side effects of certain medications, physical damage of RBCs, infections like malaria, exposure to toxins, etc.
Aplastic anemia
This condition appears when the bone marrow can’t produce enough RBCs. This occurs when the stem cells in the bone marrow get damaged and produce fewer red blood cells. Aplastic anemia mainly occurs due to autoimmune activity when the immune system starts attacking stem cells in the bone marrow. Some other potential causes include medications and exposure to toxins.
Treatment options for Anemia
If a person has aplastic anemia then he may need medication or blood transfusions. If the condition is severe then he needs a bone marrow transplant. For hemolytic anemia, doctors usually prescribe medications that can hold back the immune system from killing the RBCs.
You can also adopt dynamic medications for anemia. Homeopathic treatment Pennsylvania can help in maintaining the RBC level in your blood. These medicines can also treat the underlying causes. Homeopathic medications for anemia are safe and you can easily take them for a long time.
If a person gets anemia due to blood then he needs surgery to fix the bleeding. For iron-deficiency anemia, you have to change your diet. Add food items that contain good iron. You can also take iron supplements.
For sickle cell anemia treatment, your doctor will prescribe certain medications to manage the symptoms. Some common medications are painkillers, intermittent antibiotics, and folic acid supplements. Your doctor may suggest oxygen therapy. Hydroxyurea is often prescribed to decrease sickle cell pain crises.
Voxelator is a type of medicine that helps in keeping red blood cells in shape. If a person has vitamin B12 or folate deficiency then your doctor will prescribe simple supplements. Thalassemia condition doesn’t require any treatment but if the condition is severe then the person may need blood transfusions.