Anemia Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Anemia
If you have anemia, people may say you have tired blood. That's because anemia — a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues — can make you feel tired.
There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.
There are two major approaches of classifying anemia's, the "kinetic" approach which involves evaluating production, destruction and loss, and the "morphologic" approach which groups anemia by red blood cell size.
Causes of Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a severe form of anemia found most commonly in people of African heritage, although it can affect those of Caucasian, Saudi Arabian, Indian, and Mediterranean descent. In this condition, the hemoglobin forms long rods when it gives up its oxygen, stretching red blood cells into abnormal sickle shapes. This leads to premature destruction of RBCs, chronically low levels of hemoglobin, and recurring episodes of pain, as well as problems that can affect virtually every other organ system in the body.
Anemia Symptoms
Pica. One odd symptom, (which in some cases is a cause of iron deficiency), is pica . This is the habit of eating unusual substances, such as ice (called pagophagia), clay, cardboard, foods that crunch, or raw starch. For example, in one study, half of people whose pica took the form of pagophagia (eating at least one tray of ice every day for 2 months) or eating foods that crunch (such as raw potatoes, carrots, or celery) were iron deficient.
Black and tarry stools (sticky and foul smelling)
Maroon, or visibly bloody stools
Rapid heart rate
Treatment of Anemia
The treatment of the anemia varies greatly. Firstly, the underlying cause of the anemia should be corrected. For example, anemia as a result of blood loss from a stomach ulcer should begin with medications to heal the ulcer. Likewise, surgery is often necessary to remove a colon cancer that is causing chronic blood loss and anemia. Sometimes iron supplements will also be needed to correct iron deficiency. Sometimes blood transfusions are necessary.
The appropriate treatment of anemia due to blood loss is correction of the underlying condition and oral administration of ferrous sulfate until the anemia is corrected and for several months afterward to ensure that body stores are replete with iron. Relatively few indications exist for the use of parenteral iron therapy, and blood transfusions should be reserved for the treatment of shock or hypoxia.
Nutritional therapy is used to treat deficiency of iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. Pyridoxine may be useful in the treatment of certain patients with sideroblastic anemia, even though this is not a deficiency disorder.
Corticosteroids are useful in the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Anemia, Anemia causes, Anemia Symptoms, Anemia treatment.
If you have anemia, people may say you have tired blood. That's because anemia — a condition in which there aren't enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues — can make you feel tired.
There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.
There are two major approaches of classifying anemia's, the "kinetic" approach which involves evaluating production, destruction and loss, and the "morphologic" approach which groups anemia by red blood cell size.
Causes of Anemia
Sickle cell anemia is a severe form of anemia found most commonly in people of African heritage, although it can affect those of Caucasian, Saudi Arabian, Indian, and Mediterranean descent. In this condition, the hemoglobin forms long rods when it gives up its oxygen, stretching red blood cells into abnormal sickle shapes. This leads to premature destruction of RBCs, chronically low levels of hemoglobin, and recurring episodes of pain, as well as problems that can affect virtually every other organ system in the body.
Anemia Symptoms
Pica. One odd symptom, (which in some cases is a cause of iron deficiency), is pica . This is the habit of eating unusual substances, such as ice (called pagophagia), clay, cardboard, foods that crunch, or raw starch. For example, in one study, half of people whose pica took the form of pagophagia (eating at least one tray of ice every day for 2 months) or eating foods that crunch (such as raw potatoes, carrots, or celery) were iron deficient.
Black and tarry stools (sticky and foul smelling)
Maroon, or visibly bloody stools
Rapid heart rate
Treatment of Anemia
The treatment of the anemia varies greatly. Firstly, the underlying cause of the anemia should be corrected. For example, anemia as a result of blood loss from a stomach ulcer should begin with medications to heal the ulcer. Likewise, surgery is often necessary to remove a colon cancer that is causing chronic blood loss and anemia. Sometimes iron supplements will also be needed to correct iron deficiency. Sometimes blood transfusions are necessary.
The appropriate treatment of anemia due to blood loss is correction of the underlying condition and oral administration of ferrous sulfate until the anemia is corrected and for several months afterward to ensure that body stores are replete with iron. Relatively few indications exist for the use of parenteral iron therapy, and blood transfusions should be reserved for the treatment of shock or hypoxia.
Nutritional therapy is used to treat deficiency of iron, vitamin B-12, and folic acid. Pyridoxine may be useful in the treatment of certain patients with sideroblastic anemia, even though this is not a deficiency disorder.
Corticosteroids are useful in the treatment of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Anemia, Anemia causes, Anemia Symptoms, Anemia treatment.
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