What is Anaemia?
Anaemia is a health condition where a person has a deficit of healthy red blood cells in the body to carry enough oxygen to the tissues. Anaemia is often referred to as low haemoglobin, which can make a person feel weak and tired.
Anaemia can be temporary or chronic, making a person exhibit symptoms ranging from mild to severe.
Typically, Anaemia has more than one cause.
Types of Anaemia
There are several types of Anaemia like:
- Aplastic Anaemia
- Iron deficiency Anaemia
- Sickle cell Anaemia,
- Thalassaemia Anaemia
- Vitamin deficiency Anaemia
What are the signs and symptoms of Anaemia?
The signs and symptoms of Anaemia can vary depending on the cause.
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Dizziness and
- Cold hands are some of the symptoms of Anaemia.
During the initial stages of the health condition, Anaemia can be mild, and people may not notice the symptoms.
Infections causing Anaemia
More than 400 types of Anaemia are divided into various categories like
- Anaemia caused by blood loss
- Anaemia caused by poor red blood cells production and
- Anaemia caused by the destruction of blood cells.
Some of the infections that cause Anaemia are
Bone marrow diseases
A bone marrow or stem cell problem can prevent the body from producing adequate red blood cells. Some stem cells present in bone marrow, in the centre of the bone. will develop into red blood cells.
There are not enough red blood cells, and they don't work correctly, or if they are replaced by other cancerous cells, a person can get Anaemia.
Leukaemia
Even though Anaemia and leukaemia are very different health conditions, they share a similar core that affects the blood. Leukaemia is a cancer that involves uncontrolled cell growth, and Anaemia consists of a lack of red blood cells. This is a threat for a person that can cause Anemia.
Myelofibrosis
Myelofibrosis is a rare type of bone marrow cancer that can disturb the body's production of blood cells. This health condition can cause extensive scaring in the bone marrow leading to severe Anaemia that can make a person weak and tired. It is also a cause of low blood count, poor blood clotting and poor platelet count, thus increasing the risk of bleeding.
Myelofibrosis is considered chronic leukaemia that can affect the blood-forming tissues in the body leading to a group of diseases called myeloproliferative disorders.
Some of the other common causes of Anaemia include
Iron deficiency
This is the most common type of Anaemia that is caused when there is a shortage of iron in the body. The body requires the help of iron to make Haemoglobin. Without enough iron, the body cannot produce enough Haemoglobin or red blood cells.
Vitamin deficiency Anaemia
The body is in need of various vitamins and minerals to function smoothly and avoid chronic health conditions. The body needs vitamin B-12 to produce enough red blood cells. When the diet lacks the essential nutrients it can lead to a decrease in the production of red blood cells in the body, causing Anaemia.
Sickle cell Anaemia
Sickle-cell Anaemia can be a severe health condition caused by defective haemoglobin cells in the body that form an abnormal crescent shape resembling a sickle. Irregular blood cells can be premature, resulting in a chronic shortage of red blood cells in the body.
What are the risk factors for Anaemia?
Some of the factors can increase the chance of developing Anaemia.
Diet lacks a few vitamins or minerals.
A healthy diet is essential for overall health. A diet with low iron, vitamin B12, folate or copper can increase the chances of a person developing Anaemia.
Disorders
Having intestinal disorders that can affect the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine leads to poor health and developing conditions like Crohn's disease or celiac disease, which can put a person at risk of Anaemia.
Menstruation
Typically, women who haven't had menopause pose a greater risk of iron deficiency Anaemia.
Pregnancy
If a woman is pregnant and the diet does not contain enough multivitamins, it can increase the chances of developing Anemia.
Chronic health conditions
If a person has cancer, kidney failure, or other chronic health conditions, they can be at risk of Anaemia, which can result in a shortage of red blood cells in the body.
Family history
If the family has a history of inherited Anaemia like sickle-cell Anaemia, there is a high chance that another person in the family can develop the health condition.
Age
Usually, doctors believe that people over age 65 are prone to the risk of Anaemia.
Treatment of Anaemia infection
Treatment for Anaemia depends on the cause. The remedy provided by a doctor will rely on the type of Anaemia the patient has.
If a person has aplastic Anaemia, then they may require medication or blood transfusions from a donor.
If Anemia is caused by blood loss, a doctor prescribes surgery to find the cause and fix the bleeding.
If Anaemia is caused due to lack of iron in the body, then a doctor can prescribe iron supplements or change the diet.
Treatment of Sickle cell Anaemia includes painkillers, folic acid supplements and oxygen therapy.
Prevention of Anaemia
Several types of Anaemia cannot be prevented, but some Anaemia is caused due to iron deficiency or vitamin deficiency can be prevented by eating a diet that includes all the essential vitamins and nutrients like
Iron, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folate.
Other healthy lifestyle practices include:
- Consuming enough water to stay hydrated regularly.
- Washing their hands regularly to prevent infection.
- Avoiding exposure to chemicals that can set off Anaemia in the body.
Is a doctor consultation necessary?
Doctor consultation is mandatory if a person has prolonged fatigue or other symptoms that can disturb their daily life. A doctor will perform a physical examination to know the health condition of a person.
Conclusion
Anaemia is defined as lack of enough red blood cells in the body that carries oxygen to the cells.
If a person has Anaemia, the haemoglobin level in the body will be low, and the organs will not get adequate oxygen to exhibit symptoms like tiredness and breathlessness.
Seeking medical attention and adopting healthy lifestyle practices can help people manage their health conditions and symptoms.
