How To Prevent Anemia

By Author: Gayathri Medesun
Total Articles: 4762
Comment this article

Anemia is a decrease in normal number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood.
Blood is comprised of two parts: a liquid part called the plasma a cellular part.

The cellular part contains several different cell types. One of the most important and most numerous cell types is the red blood cell. The other cell types are the white blood cells and platelets. Only red blood cells are discussed in this article. The purpose of the red blood cell is to deliver oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
Many types of anemia can be mild, short term, and easily treated. Some types can even be prevented with a healthy diets some can be treated with dietary supplements.

Certain types of anemia may be severe, long lasting, and life threatening if not diagnosed and treated.
TYPES OF ANEMIA - THEIR CAUSE:
1.Iron deficiency anemia:
Lack of iron leads to decreased amounts hemoglobin; low levels of hemoglobin in turn leads to decreased production of normal RBCs
cause: Blood loss; diet low in iron; poor absorption of iron
2. Pernicious ...
... and Vit.B deficiency anemia:
Lack of B vitamins does not allow RBCs to grow and then divide leading to decreased production of normal RBCs
Cause: Lack of intrinsic factor; diet low in B vitamins; decreased absorption of B vitamins
3. Aplastic anemia:
Decreased production of all types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow of which RBCs are one type
Cause: Cancer therapy, exposure to toxins, autoimmune disorders, viral infections
4. Hemolytic anemia:
RBCs survive less than the normal 120 days in the circulation this leads to overall decreased numbers of RBCs
Cause: Inherited causes include sickle cell and thalassemia; other causes include transfusion reaction, autoimmune disease, certain drugs
5. Anemia of Chronic diseases:
Various conditions over the long term can cause decreased production of RBCs
Causes: Kidney disease, diabetes, tuberculosis or HIV

SIGNS - SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of anemia may include the following:
• Fatigue
• weakness
• shortness of breath
• lightheadedness
• Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
• palpitations (feeling of the heart racing or beating irregularly)
• Pica
• looking pale
Symptoms of severe anemia may include:
• chest pain, angina, or heart attack
• dizziness
• cardiac enlargement
• tachycardia
• behavioral disturbances
• fainting or passing out
• intermittent claudication
Signs that indicate anemia :
• Change in stool color, including black and tarry stools (sticky and foul smelling), maroon-colored, or visibly bloody stools if the anemia is due to blood loss through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Kylonychia(spoon shaped nails: iron deficiency)
• rapid heart rate
• low blood pressure
• rapid breathing
• pale or cold skin
• yellow skin called jaundice if anemia is due to red blood cell breakdown
• heart murmur
• leg ulcers ( in sickle cell anemia)
• enlargement of the spleen with certain causes of anemia
Less common symptoms
• swelling of the legs or arms,
• chronic heartburn,
• vague bruises,
• vomiting,
• increased sweating, and
• blood in stool.

DIAGNOSIS:
Lab tests for anemia may include the following:
• Complete blood count: Determines the severity and type of anemia (microcytic anemia or small sized red blood cells, normocytic anemia or normal sized red blood cells, or macrocytic anemia or large sized red blood cells) and is typically the first test ordered.
• Stool hemoglobin test: Tests for blood in stool which may detect bleeding from the stomach or the intestines.
• Peripheral blood smear: Determines the size, shape, number, and colour as well as evaluate other cells in the blood.
Iron level: Determine whether anemia may be related to iron deficiency or not. This test is usually accompanied by other tests that measure the body's iron storage, such as transferrin level and ferritin level.
• Transferrin level: Evaluates a protein that carries iron around the body.
• Ferritin: Evaluates at the total iron available in the body.
• Folate: Needed to produce red blood cells, which is low in people with poor eating habits.
• Vitamin B12: Needed to produce red blood cells low in people with poor eating habits or in pernicious anemia.
• Bilirubin: Useful to determine if the red blood cells are being destroyed within the body which may be a sign of hemolytic anemia.
• Lead level: Lead toxicity used to be one of the more common causes of anemia in children.
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis: Sometimes used when a person has a family history of anemia; this test provides information on sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
• Reticulocyte count: A measure of new red blood cells produced by the bone marrow
• Liver function tests: A common test to determine how the liver is working, which may give a clue to other underlying diseases causing anemia.
• Bone marrow biopsy: Evaluates production of red blood cells and may be done when a bone marrow problem is suspected.
About Author:
Dr Gayathri is faculty for the medical coding training