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$Title{Anemia}
A Medical Times Patient Education Chart
(C) Romaine Pierson Publishers, Inc.
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Anemia
Common Signs and Symptoms of Anemia
Feeling tired and "run-down" may be the only signs of anemia, although
some people may become pale and short of breath. In more serious cases,
anemia may also cause headaches, ringing of the ears, dizziness, drowsiness,
and irritability.
What Causes Anemia?
Anemia is the shortage of red blood cells or of hemoglobin, the part of
the blood that gives those cells their color and carries oxygen to other
cells. There are three major causes:
- Blood Does Not Form Properly. The most common reason for this and the
most common cause of anemia is an insufficient amount of iron. Iron
deficiency anemia could be caused by not eating enough iron-rich foods or by
the body's failure to absorb and use iron correctly. Other diet-related
causes of anemia include deficiencies in vitamins B12 and C. Other reasons
the blood may not form properly are disorders of the bone marrow, where red
blood cells are made, and of the kidneys, which produce the hormone that
stimulates formation of red blood cells.
- Blood Loss. A shortage of red blood cells can occur as a result of
long-term, but steady (chronic) bleeding from ulcers or hemorrhoids, or from
short-term, but heavy (acute) bleeding from serious injury.
- Blood Cell Destruction. Certain conditions cause red blood cells to be
destroyed faster than they can be replaced. The spleen normally disposes of
worn-out blood cells, but when it is damaged and enlarged, it may remove these
cells too soon. Disorders of the immune system, infections, and weakness of
the cell's outer layer or membrane, can also cause premature blood cell
destruction. Two inherited types of anemia give rise to abnormal hemoglobin
and fragile red blood cells. Persons with Cooley's anemia, also known as
thalassemia major, cannot manufacture enough hemoglobin, and the red blood
cells are almost empty. The disease is most common among people of
Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, or Asian descent. In sickle cell anemia, the
hemoglobin, once it releases its oxygen, tends to clump together and causes
the red blood cells to take on a sickle or crescent shape. These cells can
cause pain as they try to squeeze through small blood vessels. In the U.S.,
sickle cell anemia occurs most commonly, but not exclusively, among blacks.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If anemia is suspected, your doctor will run one or more series of blood
tests to measure the volume of red blood cells and hemoglobin and to check for
changes specific for different types of anemia. Your doctor will also try to
determine the source of possible internal bleeding or rule it out as a cause.
Iron deficiency anemia can be cured by eating iron-rich foods, such as
beef, liver, chicken, spinach, eggs, cheese, and milk. Iron supplements
should only be taken under a doctor's guidance, since excess iron can harm
the heart and liver. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 may be corrected by eating
more meats, peas, and beans. Citrus fruits are especially high in vitamin C.
Many of the foods that can correct dietary deficiencies are high in fat and
cholesterol, so check with your doctor before altering your diet, and choose
wisely.
Both Cooley's anemia and sickle cell anemia are incurable, but treatable.
Patients with Cooley's anemia receive regular blood transfusions and a drug to
remove the excess iron that remains behind as the transfused cells are broken
down over their natural lifespans. Treatment for sickle cell anemia primarily
involves pain killers, with blood transfusions reserved for more serious
cases. Younger children are likely to develop infections that could be
life-threatening and so receive preventive doses of penicillin. Current
research promises to find ways of treating the red blood cells directly.