Anemia is a condition where your blood has a lower than normal of red blood cells or red blood cells do not contain enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a red, iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. Hemoglobin in the red blood cells transports oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. Our body cells use this oxygen to fuel the combustion (burning) of sugar and fat which is source of energy to our body. During this process carbon dioxide is created as a waste product. The red blood cells then transport the carbon dioxide back to the lungs. We exchange this carbon dioxide for fresh oxygen by breathing. Anemia occurs when the red blood cells do not carry enough oxygen to the tissues of the body.
Causes for anemia
There are few underlying causes for anemia, such as blood loss, impaired red blood cell production and in some cases, red blood cells are destroyed at an accelerated rate. Blood loss is the most common factor for anemia especially in patients with iron deficiency anemia or during heavy menstrual periods or even due to severe internal bleeding. Lack of red cell production might be inherited or acquired. Some babies are born without the capability to produce enough red blood cells such as those with aplastic anemia. Dietary habit that lacks of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid might affect our body ability to produce enough red blood cells. In some inherited red blood cell disorder disease such as thalassemias, hemolytic anemia and sickle cell anemia will cause major destruction of red blood cells. Normal red blood cells have life expectancy of 4 months, but defects in red blood cell in these diseases will cause red blood cells dies faster.
The most common symptom of this disease is fatigue (feeling tired or weak). If you have this disease, it may seem hard to find the energy to do normal activities.
Other signs and symptoms of anemia include:
* Shortness of breath
* Dizziness
* Headache
* Coldness in the hands and feet
* Pale skin
* Chest pain
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.
Types of anemia
# Aplastic anemia
# Blood loss anemia
# Cooley’s anemia
# Diamond-Blackfan anemia
# Fanconi anemia
# Folate- or folic acid-deficiency anemia
# Hemolytic anemia
# Iron-deficiency anemia
# Pernicious anemia
# Sickle cell anemia
# Thalassemias