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Fitango EducationHealth Topics

Anemia

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Overview

Blood is made up of many parts, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets (PLATE-lets), and plasma (the fluid portion of blood).

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Overview

Red blood cells are disc-shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the center. They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body. These cells are made in the bone marrow—a sponge-like tissue inside the bones.

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Overview

White blood cells and platelets (PLATE-lets) also are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets stick together to seal small cuts or breaks on the blood vessel walls and stop bleeding. With some types of anemia, you may have low numbers of all three types of blood cells.

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Symptoms

The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue (feeling tired or weak). If you have anemia, you may find it hard to find the energy to do normal activities.

Other signs and symptoms of anemia include:

-- Shortness of breath

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Symptoms

-- Dizziness

-- Headache

-- Coldness in the hands and feet

-- Pale skin

-- Chest pain

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Symptoms

These signs and symptoms can occur because your heart has to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood through your body.

Mild to moderate anemia may cause very mild symptoms or none at all.

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Symptoms**Complications of Anemia**

Some people who have anemia may have arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). Arrhythmias are problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Over time, arrhythmias can damage your heart and possibly lead to heart failure.

Anemia also can damage other organs in your body because your blood can't get enough oxygen to them.

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Symptoms**Complications of Anemia**

Anemia can weaken people who have cancer or HIV/AIDS. This can make their treatments not work as well.

Anemia also can cause many other health problems. People who have kidney disease and anemia are more likely to have heart problems. With some types of anemia, too little fluid intake or too much loss of fluid in the blood and body can occur. Severe loss of fluid can be life threatening.

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Diagnosis

Your doctor will diagnose anemia based on your medical and family histories, a physical exam, and results from tests and procedures.

Because anemia doesn't always cause symptoms, your doctor may find out you have it while checking for another condition.

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Treatment

Treatment for anemia depends on the type, cause, and severity of the condition. Treatments may include dietary changes or supplements, medicines, procedures, or surgery to treat blood loss.

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Causes

The three main causes of anemia are:

-- Blood loss

-- Lack of red blood cell production

-- High rates of red blood cell destruction

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Causes

-- For some people, the condition is caused by more than one of these factors.

**Blood Loss**

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Risks

Anemia is a common condition. It occurs in all age, racial, and ethnic groups. Both men and women can have anemia. However, women of childbearing age are at higher risk for the condition because of blood loss from menstruation.

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Risks

Anemia can develop during pregnancy due to low levels of iron and folic acid (folate) and changes in the blood. During the first 6 months of pregnancy, the fluid portion of a woman's blood (the plasma) increases faster than the number of red blood cells. This dilutes the blood and can lead to anemia.

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Risks

During the first year of life, some babies are at risk for anemia because of iron deficiency. At-risk infants include those who are born too early and infants who are fed breast milk only or formula that isn't fortified with iron. These infants can develop iron deficiency by 6 months of age.

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Prevention

You might be able to prevent repeat episodes of some types of anemia, especially those caused by lack of iron or vitamins. Dietary changes or supplements can prevent these types of anemia from occurring again.

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Prevention

Treating anemia's underlying cause may prevent the condition (or prevent repeat episodes). For example, if medicine is causing your anemia, your doctor may prescribe another type of medicine.

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Prevention

To prevent anemia from getting worse, tell your doctor about all of your signs and symptoms. Talk with your doctor about the tests you may need and follow your treatment plan.You can't prevent some types of inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia. If you have an inherited anemia, talk with your doctor about treatment and ongoing care.

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Living and Coping

Often, you can treat and control anemia. If

you have signs or symptoms of anemia, seek prompt diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment may increase your energy and activity levels, improve your quality of

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Living and Coping

life, and help you live longer.

With proper treatment, many types of anemia

are mild and short term. However, anemia can be severe, long lasting, or even

fatal when it's caused by an inherited or chronic disease or trauma.

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Living and Coping**Anemia

and Children/Teens**

Infants and young children have a greater

need for iron because of their rapid growth. Not enough iron can lead to

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Living and Coping**Anemia

anemia. Premature and low-birth-weight babies often are watched closely for

anemia.

Talk with your child's doctor if you're

feeding your infant breast milk only or formula that isn't fortified with iron,

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Living and Coping**Anemia

especially after the child is 6 months old. Your child's doctor may recommend

iron supplements.

Children who drink a lot of cow's milk also

are at risk for anemia. Cow's milk is low in the iron needed for growth.

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Living and Coping**Anemia

Most of the iron your child needs comes

from food. Talk with your child's doctor about a healthy diet and good sources

of iron, vitamins B12 and C, and folic acid (folate). Only give your child iron

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Living and Coping**Anemia

supplements if the doctor prescribes them. You should carefully follow instructions

on how to give your child these supplements.

If your child has anemia, his or her doctor

may ask whether the child has been exposed to lead. Lead poisoning in children

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Living and Coping**Anemia

has been linked to iron-deficiency anemia.

Teenagers also are at risk for anemia,

especially iron-deficiency anemia, because of their growth spurts. Routine

screenings for anemia often are started in the teen years.

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Living and Coping**Anemia

Older children and teens who have certain

types of severe anemia might be at higher risk for injuries or infections. Talk

with your child's doctor about whether your child needs to avoid high-risk

activities, such as contact sports.

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Living and Coping**Anemia

Girls begin to menstruate and lose iron

with each monthly period. Some girls and women are at higher risk for anemia

due to excessive blood loss from menstruation or other causes, low iron intake,

or a history of anemia. These girls and women may need regular screenings and

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Living and Coping**Anemia

followup for anemia.

**Anemia and Pregnant/Postchildbirth Women**

Anemia can occur during pregnancy due to a

lack of iron and folic acid and changes in the blood. During the first 6 months

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Living and Coping**Anemia

of pregnancy, the fluid portion of a woman's blood (the plasma) increases

faster than the number of red blood cells. This dilutes the blood and can lead

to anemia.

Severe anemia raises the risk of having a

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Living and Coping**Anemia

premature or low-birth-weight baby. Thus, pregnant women should be screened for

anemia during their first prenatal visits. They also need routine followup as

part of prenatal care.

-- Women often are tested for anemia after

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Living and Coping**Anemia

delivery (postpartum), especially if they had:

-- Anemia that continued during the last 3

months (third trimester) of pregnancy

-- A lot of blood loss during pregnancy,

childbirth, or after childbirth

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Living and Coping**Anemia

-- Multiple births

-- Anemia and Older Adults

Chronic diseases, lack of iron, and/or

generally poor nutrition often cause anemia in older adults. Also, in older

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Living and Coping**Anemia

adults, anemia often occurs with other medical problems. Thus, the signs and

symptoms of anemia might not be as clear or they might be overlooked.

Contact your doctor if you have any signs

or symptoms of anemia. If you're diagnosed with anemia, your doctor may:

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Living and Coping**Anemia

-- Ask about your diet to find out whether

you're getting enough vitamins. He or she may recommend vitamins or iron or

folic acid supplements.

-- Prescribe a man-made version of

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Living and Coping**Anemia

erythropoietin if your anemia is the result of cancer, kidney disease, or

treatments for these diseases. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the

bone marrow to make red blood cells.

-- Recommend a blood transfusion if your

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Living and Coping**Anemia

anemia is severe.

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Additional Resources

Medline Plus

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute