what is anemia

Anemia is a condition where the number of red blood cells (RBCs) is reduced, or there is a decrease in blood hemoglobin levels. In anemia, oxygen transport throughout the body is compromised, and the anemia is underoxygenated. Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by a complete blood cell count, in which various types of cells in the blood are counted and checked.

What are Red Blood Cells?

Red blood cells are small disc-shaped cells, which is the most common type of cells in the blood. Everyone has millions of cells in their blood. A number of red blood cells do in order to determine whether the low number of red blood cells (anemia) or high (polycythemia). The number and size of blood cells, and microscopic examination of the forms specified in blood counts. The results of this test is useful in the diagnosis of anemia, and type of anemia.

What is Hemoglobin?

Hemoglobin is the protein that gives red blood cells their color. Hemoglobin is the key chemical compound that combines with oxygen from the lungs, and transport from the lungs to tissues in the body. Oxygen is necessary for cells to produce energy. Blood also carries carbon dioxide, a waste product of energy production process, back to the lungs, from where it is exhaled.

What are Symptoms of Anemia?

Symptoms of anemia include: tiredness, headache, pallor, palpitations, poor concentration, shortness of breath, digestive dysfunction, weakness and lack of strength.

What Causes Anemia?

There are a number of causes of anemia, the main one is food, or through blood loss. Other causes of anemia include: deficiency of folate, vitamin B12, such as pernicious anemia, certain bone marrow diseases; rupture of red blood cells caused by antibodies attached to their surface, as in hemolytic anemia.

Diet Causes of Anemia

The main causes of iron deficiency anemia is iron deficiency in the diet. Vegetarians should make sure they have adequate sources of iron in their diets, such as removing meat from the diet is to eliminate the source of natural iron. Adults, infants and children can all suffer from iron deficiency anemia due to iron deficiency.

Blood Loss

Another common cause of iron deficiency in adults is chronic blood loss. Women more likely than men to suffer from anemia because of blood loss through menstruation every month. Blood loss can also be caused by a small number of recurrent bleeding, such as, for example, colon cancer. Anemia can also be caused by gastrointestinal bleeding caused by medications, including common drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. Acute blood loss from internal bleeding, for example, ulcers, or from external bleeding, anemia can result in very fast.

Medical Treatment of Anemia

Treatment of anemia depends on the cause. Iron supplements can be administered in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. Vitamin B12 injections are administered in the treatment of pernicious anemia. Blood transfusions may be needed in severe cases of anemia.

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