Cause Of Anemia, Symptoms, Treatment & Tips
What is anemia and what may be the cause?
Anemia is a medical condition characterized by decreased levels of RBCs in the blood. This results in reduced oxygen delivery to organs throughout the body. There are a variety of types of anemia the most common types are: anemia caused by blood loss, anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production, and anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells.
Causes for anemia due to blood loss may be underlying conditions that lead to bleeding, such as:
- gastrointestinal conditions, like haemorrhoids, cancer, or gastritis.
- NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as aspirin and Ibuprofen, which could lead to gastritis and ulcers.
- and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Anemia due to decreased or Faulty red blood cell (RBC) production may be caused by:
- Iron deficiency caused by, an Iron lacking diet, digestive conditions such as Crohn’s disease, or Pregnancy.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency, essential for the production of RBCs.
- Aplastic anemia – is a condition where the bone marrow isn’t producing enough new RBCs, mostly accompanied by underlining conditions such as autoimmune disease.
Anemia caused by the destruction of RBCs:
- RBCs usually have a lifespan of 120 days before they get destroyed. Some autoimmune disease my mistake RBCs as foreign substances and attack them.
Symptoms and Treatment options
They are as many symptoms as they are types and causes for Anemia. The symptoms can vary depending on the cause of anemia, making it difficult to list them in a way that every individual, but here are some more common symptoms:
- Fatigue, light headedness, dizziness.
- Fast or unusual heartbeat.
- headaches.
- shortness of breath.
- pain, including in your bones, chest, belly and joints.
It’s important to note that these are some of the symptoms that may occur duo to anemia but these symptoms don’t necessarily mean that it’s anemia. Non the less you should see a professional when you have these symptoms.
There are many treatment options for anemia all focusing on increasing the number of RBCs. The treatment is depended on the cause or underlining condition some include:
- Iron-deficiency anemia: Iron supplements and dietary changes can help, and a doctor will identify and address the cause of any excessive bleeding if present.
- Vitamin deficiency anemia: Treatments can include dietary supplements and vitamin B12 injections.
- Anemia due to chronic disease: The doctor will focus on managing the underlying condition.
- Aplastic anemia: Treatment for aplastic anemia involves blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants.
Tips
There are some ways to prevent the most common type of anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia. Here are some tips from the nhs.uk.
Eat and drink more:
- dark-green leafy vegetables like watercress and curly kale
- cereals and bread with extra iron in them (fortified)
- meat
- dried fruit like apricots, prunes and raisins
- pulses (beans, peas and lentils)
Eat and drink less:
- tea
- coffee
- milk and dairy
- foods with high levels of phytic acid, such as wholegrain cereals, which can stop your body absorbing iron from other foods and pills
Large amounts of these foods and drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron.
Conclusion
All in all, anemia is a very treatable illnesses, mostly linked to underlining condition. It’s hard to pin down the exact cause without consulting a Professional as they are many different types of anemia and symptoms that may be unnoticeable at first and may get worse over time. The most common type of anemia is duo to Ion deficiency, which most of the time can be treated with supplements or a change in your diet.
We tried our best to make this post as compact as possible but as you may have realized it’s a big topic, so if you’re interested in knowing more about the variety of symptoms, causes and Types of anemia, here are some sides that could be helpful. But as always do see a professional to be absolutely certain.
Do you have any experience with anemia or anyone you know?
What was the cause and how was it tried?
We’d like to hear about what you have to say about this topic, maybe your experience can help someone else.
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