Anemia: causes, symptoms and treatment (2023)

overview

What is anemia?

Anemia occurs when you don't have enoughRed blood cellsor your red blood cells aren't working the way they should. Your red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. Oxygen fuels your cells and gives you energy. Without healthy red blood cells doing their job, your body doesn't get the energy it needs to function. While some types of anemia are short-term and mild, others can last a lifetime. Left untreated, anemia can be life-threatening.

How does anemia affect my body?

When someone develops anemia, they are said to be anemic, meaning they have symptoms of anemia such as being very tired or feeling cold all the time. Anemia affects different people in different ways:

• newborn: Some infants are born with a low red blood cell count. Most newborns do not require medical treatment for anemia, but some with severe anemia may need blood transfusions.
• toddlers: Infants may be getting less iron than they need when they start eating solid foods. That's because the iron in solid foods isn't as easily absorbed as iron in breast milk or formula. Infants with anemia may appear lethargic.
• Kinder: Children grow a lot between birth and 2 years of age. Children with growth spurts need more iron. Children with anemia may develop related problems, such as delayed motor skill development and problems with learning.
• women who are pregnant: Pregnant women can develop iron deficiency anemia, which can increase the risk of complications such as preterm birth or having babies with low birth weight.
• Women and Persons Designated as Female at Birth (DFAB): Women and people with DFAB who have heavy periods (menstrual bleeding) or similar conditionsUterus myomecan lose blood and develop anemia.
• Persons aged 65 and over: People over 65 are more likely to have a low-iron diet and certain chronic diseases that increase their risk of developing anemia. If they develop anemia, they may have itheart conditionsor weakness that makes it difficult for them to get around. You may have confusion orDepression.
• people with chronic diseases: Some chronic diseases such asautoimmune diseasesorKrebscan increase the risk of anemia. That isAnemia in chronic diseases.

How common is this condition?

Anemia is very common, affecting an estimated one-third of the world's population and an estimated 3 million people in the United States.

What types of anemia are there?

There are many types of anemia, all of which lead to a drop in red blood cell counts.

nutritional anemias

• Pernicious anemia: Pernicious anemia, one of the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency, is an autoimmune disease that prevents your body from absorbing vitamin B12.
• iron deficiency anemia: As the name suggests, iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to manufacture ithemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the substance in your red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen throughout your body.
• Megaloblastenanämie: Megaloblastic anemia is a form of vitamin deficiency anemia that occurs when you don't get enough vitamin B12 and/or vitamin B9 (folate).

Inherited anemias

• Sickle cell anemia: Sickle cell anemia changes the shape of your red blood cells, turning round flexible discs into stiff and sticky sickle cells that block blood flow.
• Fanconi anemia: Fanconi anemia is a rare blood disorder. Anemia is a sign of Fanconi anemia.
• Diamond Blackfan Anemia: This inherited condition prevents your bone marrow from making enough red blood cells.

Anemias caused by abnormal red blood cells

• Hemolytic anemia: With this anemia, your red blood cells break down or die faster than usual.
• aplastic anemia: This anemia occurs when stem cells in your bone marrow don't make enough red blood cells.
• Autoimmune hemolytic anemia: In autoimmune hemolytic anemia, your immune system attacks your red blood cells.
• Sideroblastic anemia: With sideroblastic anemia, you don't have enough red blood cells and too much iron in your system.
• Macrocytic Anemia:This anemia occurs when your bone marrow makes abnormally large red blood cells.
• Microcytic anemia: This anemia occurs when your red blood cells don't have enough hemoglobin, causing them to be smaller than usual.
• Normocytic anemia: With this type of anemia, you have fewer red blood cells than usual, and those red blood cells don't have the normal amount of hemoglobin.

symptoms and causes

What are the symptoms of anemia?

Fatigue — feeling too tired to do your activities — is the most prominent symptom of anemia. Other symptoms can include:

• shortness of breath (dyspnea): This is the feeling that you cannot catch your breath or take a deep breath.
• dizziness: This is a feeling of lightheadedness or unsteadiness on your feet.
• Fast or irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia): This is when your heart feels like it's racing or skipping beats.
• Throbbing or "whooshing" noise in your ear (pulsating ringing):This is a noise in one of your ears that can come and go.
• Headache: Iron deficiency anemia and anemias caused by low hemoglobin can cause headaches.
• Pale or yellow skin: Your skin color may be paler than usual.
• chest pain: This may feel like something is pinching or pressing on your chest.

What is the main cause of anemia?

People can be born with certain types of anemia or develop anemia because they have certain chronic diseases. But poor diet causes iron deficiency anemia, which is the most common form of anemia.

diagnosis and testing

How do healthcare providers diagnose anemia?

Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms. Because anemia occurs when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells, they will do blood tests to check your red blood cells:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC): Healthcare providers use this test to check all of your blood cells, with a focus on your red blood cells. They count your red blood cells and assess the size and shape of your red blood cells. Healthcare providers can use this test to check your vitamin B12 or B9 levels.
• Peripheral blood smear: Healthcare providers examine your red blood cells under a microscope.

management and treatment

How do healthcare providers treat anemia?

First, your doctor will determine if you have anemia caused by a poor diet or a more serious health problem. They can refer you to ahaematologist, a healthcare provider specializing in blood disorders. Here are some examples of common anemia treatments:

• Health care providers may recommend that you change your diet or take supplements if you have iron deficiency anemia or pernicious anemia.
• If you have anemia from a chronic illness, your provider will treat the underlying condition. They can prescribe medication to boost red blood cell production.

Providers may use drugs like immunosuppressants or treatments like blood transfusions to treat anemias that occur when you have abnormal red blood cells, such as aplastic anemia or hemolytic anemia.

prevention

Can I prevent anemia from developing?

You cannot prevent some types of anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, hemolytic anemia, or aplastic anemia. People with chronic illnesses who can develop anemia should watch out for anemia symptoms. And you can prevent nutritional anemia by eating a healthy diet.

Outlook / Forecast

What can I expect if I have this condition?

Your prognosis or expected outcome depends on why you have anemia, what type of anemia you have, and whether you have a severe form of it. In most cases, healthcare providers can treat anemia by helping you manage your diet or with medications. But there are times when you might live with anemia for the rest of your life.

What happens if anemia is not treated?

People with undiagnosed or untreated anemia can have life-threatening organ failure. Developmental delays may occur in children with severe anemia. People in their 80s can develop heart conditions, including angina, arrhythmias, and myocardial infarction.

to live with

How do I take care of myself?

While some types of anemia are short-term and mild, others can last a lifetime. There are several ways to treat anemia, including:

• After a healthy diet: Poor diet is the main reason people develop anemia. Ask your doctor about iron-rich foods and other foods to eat.
• Drink enough water to stay hydrated.
• Exercise regularly: Check with your doctor about ways to exercise safely.
• Avoid contact with certain chemicals: Exposure to certain metals can cause hemolytic anemia.
• Wash your hands frequently to avoid infection: You may also want to ask your doctor about vaccines that protect against common infections.
• Take good care of your teeth and visit the dentist regularly: Iron deficiency anemia can cause dental problems.
• Track your symptoms and let your doctor know of any changes.

When should I see my doctor?

If you have anemia, you should check with your doctor if your symptoms are getting worse despite treatment, or if you notice any changes in your body that could be new symptoms of anemia.

When should I go to the emergency room?

Anemia can increase your risk of a heart attack. Call 911 if you have the following symptoms:

• difficulty breathing.
• nausea.
• Sweat.
• chest pain

What questions should I ask my doctor?

Anemia can affect your body in many ways. It can happen for many different reasons. If you're concerned about developing anemia or have anemia, here are some questions to ask your doctor:

• What type of anemia do I have?
• What did it trigger?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• When will I feel better?
• How long will I need treatment?
• Can you cure my anemia?

A note from the Cleveland Clinic

Anemia occurs when you don't have enough red blood cells or your red blood cells aren't working as well as they could. Some people are born with forms of anemia, but most people with anemia develop the condition over time. That is why it is important to keep an eye on the changes in your body. For example, we all have days when we feel exhausted. However, if you feel very tired for several days even though you have rested, you should consider talking to your doctor. Most often, anemia is a short-term problem that is easily managed by changing your diet or taking supplements. Left untreated, anemia can cause serious medical problems.