When your blood doesn’t make enough of the healthy red blood cells it needs, chances are you have anemia.
When the body does not receive enough blood that is rich in oxygen, it develops anemia. Weakness and weariness are symptoms of oxygen deprivation.
Some of the symptoms may include difficulty breathing, lightheadedness, dizziness, headaches, and an irregular heartbeat.
A standard blood test can detect anemia by revealing abnormally low hemoglobin or hematocrit percentage.
The red blood cell’s major protein is called hemoglobin. It helps carry oxygen around the body and gets rid of waste products.
To put it another way, if you have anemia, your hemoglobin levels will be low. If it drops too low, your organs and tissues might not get enough oxygen.
Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, but assistance from many other organs is necessary.
The soft, spongy bone marrow at the middle of each bone is where every single blood cell in the body is created.
The average lifespan of a healthy red blood cell is 90–120 days. The body’s organs then get rid of the old blood cells.
Kidney-produced erythropoietin (EPO) stimulates the bone marrow to increase the body’s supply of red blood cells.
Some forms of anemia are hereditary and can be found in babies. Anemia is more common in women because of their increased susceptibility to blood loss during menstruation and pregnancy.
An increased risk of anemia is associated with aging because it correlates with an increased risk of renal disease and other chronic medical conditions.
There are many different kinds of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia, hemolytic anemia, Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia, sickle cell anemia, and many others.
Everyone, at any moment, is at risk for developing mild anemia, but thankfully it is a condition that is easily treated.
It can happen suddenly or gradually, depending on factors like nutrition, medicine, and health status.
Furthermore, anemia can be chronic, meaning that it persists for a long time and may never completely disappear.
Certain forms of anemia tend to run in families. One of the most frequent forms of anemia is iron deficiency anemia.
In pregnancy, for example, mild anemia is usually not a cause for concern. Some forms of anemia, however, may be a symptom of something more serious. Sometimes anemia might be a warning sign of something more serious, like internal bleeding, inflammation, kidney illness, cancer, or an autoimmune disorder.
Your doctor will make a diagnosis of anemia after reviewing your symptoms, medical history, and the results of any relevant tests.
The kind and degree of anemia dictate the treatment options available for it.
Red blood cell production stimulants, vitamins, and iron supplements may be necessary for some types of mild to moderate anemia.
To avoid future anemia, your doctor may suggest making certain changes to your diet.
