|
|
What is Anemia? |
| | | | |
Symptoms
People with anemia usually feel fatigue – this is because they have an insufficient amount of healthy red blood cells that are needed for carrying oxygen to the organs and tissues. Anemia may be a temporary or prolonged condition, with varying severities. The initial presence of anemia can be so slight that the patient barely notices the symptoms, but these increase as the affliction develops, as evidenced by worsening headaches, feebleness, numb and clammy extremities, a pale complexion, a rapid or an intermittent heartbeat, labored breathing, chest pains, or dizziness. Some patients also develop cognitive problems due to anemia.
Causes
The blood is basically made out of plasma wherein three types of blood cells float (white, red, and platelets). The red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein called hemoglobin, a substance which enables them to distribute oxygen from the lungs and into various parts of the body. Anemia occurs when there aren’t enough red blood cells in the bloodstream to perform this function, or the hemoglobin content of those which exist falls below normal levels. Anemic patients either bear insufficient healthy blood cells, or break them down much quicker than they are replenished. There are many types of anemia, and their causes are varied as well, from mineral and vitamin deficiencies, to chronic diseases such as cancer and arthritis, heredity, and bone marrow conditions which interfere with the production of any or all three types of blood cells.
Diagnosis
Anemia is diagnosed in accordance with a detailed medical history, and following a physical examination which includes blood tests, a complete blood count (CBC) in particular. A CBC test determines the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells within a patient’s blood stream. A sample of blood or bone marrow may also be scrutinized under a microscope to identify the size, form, and color of individual blood cells. This procedure can lead to a diagnosis in itself, since patients with a certain type of anemia have red blood cells which exhibit specific traits; for instance, an iron-deficiency anemic has smaller and paler cells, and a vitamin-deficiency anemic has fewer and larger cells. If the patient is confirmed with anemia, the physician may also call for further tests to identify the cause.
Treatment Info
The treatment for anemia will depend on the underlying cause. If it is the result of a nutrient deficiency, oral or intravenous supplementation of iron or vitamins is prescribed. There is no particular cure for anemia which is a secondary effect of chronic diseases though, and the treatment should be primarily focused on the underlying condition (like cancer); but if symptoms get too severe, bone marrow transplantation, blood transfusion, or a synthesized injection of the kidney hormone erythropoietin may be necessary. Cases which are caused by bone marrow disease may be treated with basic drugs, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. For patients with an incurable form of anemia (sickle cell), the symptoms may at least be managed with painkillers, oxygen administration, or the employment of ingested or intravenous fluids. Antibiotics, folic acid supplementation, and even cancer medications like hydroxyurea are commonly used for treating this form of anemia in adults.
| | | |
| |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
