Anemia happen when there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the entire body’s organs. As a result, it’s common to feel cold and symptoms of weakness and tiredness. There are many different types of anemia, but the most common kind is iron-deficiency anemia. You can start to ease symptoms of this type of anemia by adding iron to your diet.
There are various forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term and can range from mild to severe. In most cases, anemia has more than 1 cause. See your specialist if you suspect that you have anemia. It can be a warning sign of serious illness.
Treatments for anemia, which depend on the cause, range from taking drugs, supplements to having medical procedures. You might be able to prevent some kinds of anemia by eating a healthy meals, varied diet.
Anemia is the most frequent blood condition in the U.S. It affects almost 6% of the population. Female, young children, and people with long-term diseases are more likely to have anemia. Important things to remember are:
- Certain kinds of anemia are passed down through your genes, and infants may have it from birth.
- Female are at risk of iron-deficiency anemia because of blood loss from their periods and higher blood supply demands during pregnancy.
- Older adults have more big risk of anemia because they are more likely to have kidney disease or other chronic medical conditions.
Although many parts of the body assist make red blood cells, most of the work is done in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of bones that helps form all blood cells.
Healthy red blood cells last between 90 and 120 days. Parts of your body then remove old blood cells. A hormone called erythropoietin (epo) made in the kidneys, signals your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.
Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells. It provide red blood cells their color. People with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin.
The body needs certain minerals, vitamins, and nutrients to make enough red blood cells. Iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 are three of the most important ones. The body may not have enough of these nutrients due to:
- Changes in the lining of the stomach or intestines that affect how well nutrients are absorbed (for example, celiac disease)
- Surgery that removes part of the stomach or intestines
- Poor diet
Possible causes of anemia include:
- Iron deficiency
- Folate deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Long-term (chronic) diseases such as chronic kidney disease, cancer, ulcerative colitis, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Certain medicines
- Destruction of red blood cells earlier than normal (which may be caused by immune system problems)
