"Welcome to the Anemic Symptoms online information center! We have everything you need to start a healthier and free from anemia life. Discover the signs and symptoms of anemia to diagnose yourself or loved ones, types of anemia, effective treatments available today, recommendations and tips are just some of the helpful things you'll find here."
Anemic Symptoms
Pale looking, hair loss, easily gets tired. These are just a few of the many anemic symptoms possible there is.
Having anemia may not be a comfortable topic to discuss of, but knowing the occurrence and anemic symptoms that could occur may somehow help one find the best and effective treatment there is.
What is Anemia?
Anemia is a medical condition where the blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells are the main transporters of oxygen to the body organs.
If the red blood cells do not have sufficient hemoglobin, or oxygen in the blood, the body does not get sufficient oxygen as well. This medical condition affects more than 40 million people worldwide. Mostly, women and people who have chronic diseases are more at risk in suffering from anemic symptoms.
There are various forms of anemia and some of them are hereditary, placing infants at risk to be affected from the time of birth. Women during their childbearing years are more prone to a form of anemia, known as iron-deficiency anemia.
Elderly are at great risk of anemia as well for they have poor diet and certain medical conditions are unavoidable. All forms of anemia vary differently in their causes and treatments. There are some forms of anemia that may present lifelong health problems.
What Causes Anemia
Anemic symptoms come in various forms. One main anemic symptom is fatigue. This is because the organs are not obtaining the needed factors to properly function. At present, there are more than 400 types of anemia and are divided into three groups.
The divisions are based on the causes of anemic symptoms, which are blood loss, decreased or faulty red blood cell production and destruction of red blood cells.
Anemia That Caused by Blood Loss
When bleeding happens, red blood cells are being lost and this can happen gradually for a lengthy period of time. This commonly goes undetected. Chronic bleeding happens due to certain factors.
Examples are gastrointestinal conditions, such as inflammation of the stomach, gastric ulcer, cancer and hemorrhoids.
Menstruation, especially excessive menstrual bleeding, and childbirth, to cite multiple pregnancies are also factors. Use of NSAIDS, o nonsteoridal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin can cause chronic bleeding as well.
Anemia That Caused by Decreased Red Blood Cell Production
The body has the tendency to produce red blood cells that are fewer than normal and may not function properly as expected, to which both can cause anemia. Decreased or faulty red blood cells may be caused by abnormal red blood cells or insufficiency of vitamins and minerals needed for red blood cells to function properly.
One known form of anemia caused by these conditions is Sickle Cell Anemia. It is an inherited disorder where the red blood cells turn to be crescent-shaped in a form of a sickle due to genetic defect. The red blood cells break down rapidly such that oxygen does not get to be benefited by the body organs and eventually resulting to anemia.
Anemia That Caused by Destruction of Red Blood Cells
Red blood cells can be fragile and may not carry the daily stress brought by the circulatory bloodflow. There are cases that red blood cells may rupture before it can be considered as mature. Example of a form of anemia that is caused by the destruction of red blood cells is hemolytic anemia.
Hemolytic anemia can be hereditary and can develop from birth. Some known causes of hemolytic anemia include inherited anemia, infections, certain foods and drugs, toxins from liver or kidney diseases, tumors, severe burns, vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, chemical exposure, and clotting disorders.
Anemic Symptoms
To further understand anemia, it is more beneficial to know and be aware of the possible anemic symptoms that can be manifested by an individual.
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*Image provided by Wikipedia.
Some people who have anemia present no symptoms or physical manifestations, especially during the early stages. Most of the symptoms occur during the late stage. People with anemia commonly feel tired, gets to feel fatigue easily and they appear pale. Other anemic symptoms are palpitations or the feeling of heartbeat racing and shortness of breathing.
General sense of not feeling well, hair loss and worsening of heart problem or heart conditions are additional anemic symptoms that may occur during the worse stage of anemia.
However, the body has the capability to adjust having low levels of oxygen and the affected person may not feel different until the case of anemia becomes severe.
This usually happens to cases of chronic anemia, which has existed for long. If the anemia accrues rapidly, known as acute anemia, the affected individual experiences significant symptoms quickly.
How are Anemic Symptoms Known and Diagnosed?
Generally, anemia can go undetected but it can be confirmed through a blood test known as Complete Blood Count, or CBC. This is a common routine blood test in the hospital and serves as a screening test.
A CBC is a diagnostic test that counts and examines the different cell type in the body. CBC test begins with the analysis being performed by a doctor or laboratory technician using microcope to view the prepared glass sample in the microscope.
However, with the technology rising today, CBC can be performed automated by a machine. CBC test is composed of the following criteria:
- Red blood cell (RBC) count
- Hematocrit
- Hemoglobin
- White blood cell (WBC) count
- Differential blood count
- Platelet count
The RBC count, hematocrit and hemoglobin are the criteria relevant in the diagnosis of anemia.
Anemic symptoms may come in different and significant ways depending on the form of anemia incurred by the person affected. When anemic symptoms are present, it is best not to disregard it and seek for proper medical treatment for better prognosis.
