Anemia is a common medical condition that has affected 1.62 billion people worldwide. In this condition, the count of red blood cells or hemoglobin is below the normal. Hemoglobin is useful for binding oxygen and is the key component of red blood cells. When your blood lacks healthy red blood cells, it will limit the oxygen to your cells. This can cause many other problems like your organs will not function properly.
In women, anemia is defined as the hemoglobin less than 12 gram/100 ml. On the other hand, in men, it can be defined as the level below than 13.5 gram/100 ml. There are different types of anemia; the most common type of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia. This can be cured by bringing changes in your diet and with the help of iron supplements.
In this article, we have highlighted everything you need to know about blood condition.
Types of Anemia
There are over 400 types of anemia, some of the most common types include:
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Anemia of chronic disease
- Vitamin deficiency anemia
- Sickle cell anemia
- Malarial anemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Hemolytic anemia
- Anemias linked to bone marrow disease
Symptoms of Anemia
When someone is suffering from anemia, they might feel fatigued or might not have energy. However, there are other symptoms as well. Have a look!
- Shortness of breath
- A headache
- Pale skin
- Irregular heartbeat
- Light-headedness
- Chest pain
- Malaise
- Hair loss
Some of the anemia has these symptoms:
- Folic acid deficiency anemia: a smooth tongue diarrhea, and irritability.
- Sickle cell anemia: jaundice, swelling of hands and feet.
- Aplastic anemia: infections, fever, and skin rashes.
- Hemolytic anemia: dark colored urine, abdominal pains, jaundice, and fever.
In a rare case, there might be no or few symptoms.
Causes of Anemia
Since there are several types of anemia, the causes depend on its types. The major causes of anemia are as follow:
- Caused by destroying red blood cells
- The result of blood loss
- Because of reduced production of red blood cells or by producing faulty blood cells
Diagnosis
One of the best ways to diagnose anemia is through a complete blood count (CBC). In this test, the number of blood components is counted including hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. It can even measure the ratio of the level of red blood cells to the total level of blood. Moreover, this test is a great indicator of the overall health of the patient. It can help in informing about other conditions like kidney disease and leukemia.
Another way to determine whether you have anemia or not is by checking your blood iron level and serum ferritin level. You can even test the levels of Vitamin B12 and folate.
Treatments
The treatment of anemia varies, and it depends on the type of anemia. The first step is to figure out the cause of anemia. If you are suffering from iron deficiency anemia, then you will need iron supplements. In case anemia is caused by blood loss; for instance, a stomach ulcer, then medications to heal the ulcer must be given.
Therefore, if you feel anyone the above-mentioned symptoms, you should consult a physician.