Health and Fitness

Anemia is a decrease in normal red blood cells (RBC) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood.

Blood is made up of two parts: the liquid part called plasma cell.

The cellular portion contains several different cell types. One type of cells the most important and most numerous are the red blood cells. Other types of cells are white blood cells and platelets. Only red blood cells is described in this article. The purpose of red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.

Many of anemia may be mild, transient and easily treated. Some may even prevent a healthy diet, some can be treated with nutritional supplements.

Certain types of anemia can be severe, lasting and life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated.

Anemia - Causes:

1.iron deficiency anemia:

Iron deficiency leads to decreased amounts of hemoglobin, low hemoglobin, which in turn leads to decreased production of normal red blood cells

Cause: blood loss, a diet low in iron, poor absorption of iron

2. Vit.B and fatal deficiency anemia:

The lack of B vitamins do not increase red blood cells divide, resulting in decreased production of normal red blood cells

Cause: lack of intrinsic factor, vitamin B deficient diet, decreased absorption of vitamin B

3. Aplastic anemia:

Reduced production of all types of blood cells by the bone marrow, which lowered a type

Cause: cancer therapy, exposure to toxins, autoimmune diseases, viral infections

4. Hemolytic Anemia:

Red blood cells survive less than the normal 120 days to move this leads to a general decline in the number of red blood cells

Cause: the hereditary causes include sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, other causes are blood transfusion reaction, autoimmune diseases, certain medications

5. Anemia of chronic disease:

Different conditions in the long term can lead to decreased production of red blood cells

renal failure, diabetes, tuberculosis and HIV: Causes

Signs - Symptoms:

The symptoms of anemia may include the following:

â € ¢ Fatigue

â € ¢ weakness

â € ¢ short of breath

â € ¢ darkness

â € ¢ The numbness and tingling in hands and feet

â € ¢ palpitations (sensation of rapid heart rate or irregular heartbeat)

â € ¢ Pica

â € ¢ pallor

The symptoms of severe anemia may include:

â € ¢ chest pain, angina or myocardial

â € ¢ Dizziness

â € ¢ cardiac hypertrophy

â € ¢ tachycardia

â € ¢ behavioral disorders

â € ¢ fainting or passing through

â € ¢ intermittent claudication

Signs that indicate anemia:

â € ¢ A change in stool color, as black and tarry stools (sticky and smelly), I Brown, visibly bloody or if the anemia is due to loss of blood through the gastrointestinal tract.

â € ¢ Kylonychia (spoon-shaped nails, iron deficiency)

â € ¢ rapid heartbeat

â € ¢ low blood pressure

â € ¢ rapid breathing

â € ¢ skin pale and cold

â € ¢ Yellow skin called jaundice in cases of anemia due to a breakdown of red blood cells

â € ¢ heart murmur

â € ¢ ulcers in the legs (SCD)

â € ¢ enlargement of the spleen with some causes of anemia

Less common symptoms

â € ¢ swollen legs or arms

â € ¢ chronic heartburn,

â € ¢ bruises vague

â € ¢ vomiting,

â € ¢ increased sweating, and

â € ¢ blood in the stool.

DIAGNOSIS:

Laboratory tests for anemia may include:

â € ¢ Complete blood count: Specifies the severity, and anemia (microcytic anemia or small sized red blood cells are normocytic anemia, or normal-sized red blood cells, or macrocytic anemia, and large red blood cells) and usually the first ordered test.

â € ¢ Stool Hemoglobin Test: tests of blood in the stool that can detect both the stomach or intestines.

â € ¢ peripheral blood smears: Determines the size, shape, number and color as well as evaluation of other cells in the blood.

The iron content: Whether anemia can be related to iron deficiency or not. This test is usually accompanied by other tests to measure body iron storage, such as levels of transferrin and ferritin.

â € ¢ Transferrin level: To evaluate the protein that carries iron around the body.

â € ¢ Ferritin: assessment of available iron in the body.

â € ¢ folate required to produce red blood cells, which is low in people with poor eating habits.

â € ¢ vitamin B12: Required to produce red blood cells low in people with bad eating habits or pernicious anemia.

â € ¢ Bilirubin: useful to determine if red blood cells are destroyed in the body that may be a sign of hemolytic anemia.

â € ¢ The concentration of lead: Lead toxicity using a common cause of anemia in children.

â € ¢ hemoglobin electrophoresis: Sometimes when someone has a family history of anemia, this test provides information on sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.

â € ¢ reticulocytes: A measure of new red blood cells by bone marrowâ € ¢ liver function tests: a common test to determine how the liver functions, which may give a hint of other diseases that cause anemia.

â € ¢ bone marrow biopsy: Evaluate the production of red blood cells that can be done in case of bone marrow problem is suspected.