Anemia is a medical condition characterized by not having enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to tissues.
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| Anemia |
There are several types of anemia, each with its own cause, and it may be a temporary or an ongoing medical condition, depending on the severity of the condition.
Important information about anemia
Anemia is defined as a decrease in one or more of the measures related to red blood cells, which includes the following:
Hemoglobin concentration : It is defined as the amount of basic oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood.
Hematocrit : The hematocrit or the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume.
Red blood cell count : It is the number of red blood cells present in a given volume of blood.
Types of blood cells
There are three different types of blood cells, and they include the following:
Leucocytes: These cells help protect the body from infection.
Thrombocytes: These cells help blood to clot after bleeding.
Red blood cells (Erythrocytes): carry these cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the vital organs in the body and other tissues.
Important information about hemoglobin
Important information about hemoglobin in the blood is as follows:
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that is red in color.
Hemoglobin helps carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and carbon dioxide from the body to the lungs, so that it can be exhaled from the body.
Most blood cells, including red blood cells, are continually produced in the bone marrow, a red, spongy substance found within the body's large bone cavities.
In order to produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, the body needs iron and other minerals, vitamins and proteins that are available in the food that a person eats, in addition to some hormones, the most important of which is erythropoietin (EPO), which the kidneys secrete in order to produce red blood cells.
It should be noted that the average lifespan of a red blood cell ranges from 110 to 120 days.
When a person suffers from anemia, his body does not produce enough red blood cells, but many of them are lost or destroyed faster than they are able to produce new blood cells.
Differences in anemia test values between males and females
Anemia is defined by the values of blood tests, which differ between males and females as follows:
Males : <13.5 g/dL hemoglobin concentration, <41% hematocrit.
Females : hemoglobin concentration values less than 12 g/dL, and hematocrit values less than 36%.
different hemoglobin values
There are some special groups whose normal hemoglobin values differ from the rest of humans for genetic or hereditary reasons or for reasons related to their lifestyle. Among these categories are the following:
smokers
It is known that the smokers hematocrit values higher than non - smokers, what makes detection of anemia of difficult things; Because it does not appear during laboratory tests.
Highlanders
People who live at a high altitude have higher hemoglobin values than those who live near sea level.
African Americans
People of African descent have hemoglobin values between 0.5 and 1.0 g/dL below internationally recognized values.
athletes
Athletic people have normal hemoglobin values that are different from the generally accepted values.
Symptoms of anemia
The appearance of symptoms of anemia depends on the severity of the patient's condition, the extent of the disease's progression, and the patient's need for oxygen.
Symptoms of anemia usually appear if the disease progression is very rapid, but if its progression is slow, it is possible that no symptoms appear; Because the body has become accustomed to the new position.
anemia
Symptoms of anemia vary depending on the cause, and may include the following:
Tired.
pallor of the skin;
Rapid and irregular heartbeat .
shortness of breath.
chest pain;
dizziness ;
Changes in the cognitive state.
Cold hands and feet.
headache;
Myocardial infarction.
Causes and risk factors of anemia
blood cells
The causes of anemia and risk factors can be explained by the following:
1. Causes of anemia
The types of anemia can be divided according to their causes as follows:
Iron deficiency anemia
The blood - induced anemia in iron deficiency (Iron deficiency anemia) one of the most common types of anemia, it affects approximately 2% - 3% of the population of the United States adult.
The reason for this type of anemia is that the bone marrow needs iron in order to produce hemoglobin, and in the absence of good amounts of it, this may cause a decrease in the production of red blood cells.
Vitamin Deficiency Anemia
The body needs many vitamins, such as folic acid (Folic acid), and vitamin B 12 (Vitamin B12) to produce a sufficient amount of red blood cells.
An incomplete diet may reduce red blood cell production, and there are some people who suffer from the inability of their body to absorb vitamin B12 effectively.
Having a chronic disease
Anemia is caused by many chronic diseases, such as: cancer , acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), gout , Crohn's disease, some chronic inflammatory diseases, and kidney failure .
Aplastic anemia
The aplastic anemia A rare types of anemia, but it is a danger to life, usually as a result of reduced bone marrow 's ability occurs to produce all types of blood cells.
The cause of aplastic anemia is still unknown in most cases, but it is believed that it is related to diseases that affect the functioning of the immune system.
Anemia caused by a disease in the bone marrow
There are many diseases, such as: leukemia , and myelodysplasia, which can lead to the emergence of anemia and affect the bone marrow, as it can cause a decrease or complete stop in the production of red blood cells.
Hemolysis anemia
This type of anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can produce new blood cells.
Having some diseases
There are some diseases that may cause significant damage to red blood cells, such as: immune system disorders that cause the production of antibodies (antibodies) to red blood cells and cause their premature destruction.
Sickle cell anemia
Transmitted sickle cell anemia hereditary and in most cases affects people of African descent, usually as a result of the defect occurs in the hemoglobin causes are red blood cells sickle, and thus these cells die prematurely.
2. Anemia risk factors
Risk factors for anemia include:
Malnutrition
Most of the time, the diet of many does not contain sufficient amounts of iron and other vitamins such as folic acid, which increases the risk of anemia.
Intestinal diseases and disorders
Some of intestinal disorders such as celiac disease Crohn 's disease (Celiac disease) on the absorption of food and vitamins that contain what may cause a lack of them , and therefore anemia may affect.
Menstrual cycle
Women in the fertile period are more likely to suffer from iron deficiency anemia compared to men, because women lose large amounts of blood during menstruation.
pregnancy
Pregnant women are highly susceptible to anemia caused by iron deficiency, and therefore need the embryo to the amounts of iron and hemoglobin for its growth and development.
DNA
Sometimes anemia is transmitted genetically, if a family member suffers from one of the types of anemia that is transmitted through heredity, such as sickle cell anemia.
Complications of anemia
Picture of a dizzy woman
If the anemia is not treated, this may lead to the emergence of many side complications, such as the following:
Excessive fatigue: where the patient feels tired to the extent that it prevents him from carrying out his simple daily duties, and it may be difficult for him to play or work.
Heart problems: Anemia may cause a rapid heartbeat to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood, and may sometimes cause heart failure.
Nerve damage: Vitamin B12 is essential for proper nerve function.
Changes in the cognitive state: a deficiency in vitamin B12 affects the functioning of the brain.
Death: Sickle cell anemia causes serious medical complications, and the loss of large amounts of blood over a short period of time leads to anemia that can be fatal.
Diagnosis of anemia
Anemia can be diagnosed by knowing the patient's medical history, performing a comprehensive physical examination, and blood tests including a complete blood count, where many observations must be taken into account, as follows:
Normal values of red blood cells in an adult range between 38.8% - 50% in males, and between 34.9% and 44.5% in females.
Normal hemoglobin values in an adult human range between 13.5-17.5 grams per deciliter in males, and 12-15.5 grams per deciliter in females.
Blood cells are checked for size, shape and color.
Performing these tests helps to reach an accurate diagnosis. In iron deficiency anemia, red blood cells are smaller and paler than usual, and in vitamin deficiency anemia, red blood cells are larger and fewer than usual.
Anemia treatment
The treatment of anemia depends on the cause, as it can be as follows:
Iron deficiency anemia treatment : In most cases, anemia of this type is treated with iron supplements.
Treatment of vitamin deficiency anemia: This type is treated with injections containing vitamin B12.
Treatment of anemia associated with chronic diseases: There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia.
Treatment of aplastic anemia: Anemia of this type is treated with intravenous administration of blood; To increase the amount of red blood cells in the body.
Treatment of anemia caused by a disease in the bone marrow: This type of anemia is treated with chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.
Treatment for hemolytic anemia: Treatment for this condition involves taking medications that suppress the immune system, which attacks red blood cells.
Treatment of sickle cell anemia: Treatment of anemia of this type includes monitoring and monitoring of oxygen levels in the body, and taking pain relievers .
Anemia prevention
Picture of foods rich in iron
Sometimes anemia can be prevented by the following:
Eat foods that contain the necessary vitamins, such as: iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin C.
Continuing to eat iron-rich foods, especially in certain groups, such as: children, pregnant women and vegetarians.
Performing general blood tests once within several years, according to the recommendations of the family doctor, to be reassured and to avoid anemia.