What is Anaemia? Anaemia-Causes,Symptoms and Prevention

It is highly unlikely for me to be ill with anemia. It looks quite an ordinary disorder. I can surely deal with it. This is the extent to which people overlook the life-threatening components of anemia. But what if I say, celebrities like Selena Gomez and Venus Williams found it extremely difficult to come out of anemia? I think you will raise your eyebrows a bit. It is not that anemia is highly prevalent in the western world. Indians are highly anaemic as well. Blame it to poverty, caste factors and poor sanitation or frequent occurrences of malaria and other worm infestations with especially women being highly exposed to it.

As per a recent study 59 percent of the women are found to be anaemic in the country with women in the eastern region of India highly prevalent at 72 percent. Anemia is a condition in which there is a drop in the level of red blood cells or hemoglobin either due to bleeding or destruction of the cells.

 

Who suffers from anemia?

Referring to a real life case, in 2007, tennis star Venus Williams exhausted after a tennis match and was hospitalized immediately. However it was later discovered that she had iron deficiency. This condition caused her to have fatigue, joint pain, dry eyes and lack of saliva and it was so severe that made her skip the 2011 US open.

Anemia is rampant among both men and women irrespective of their age, race and ethnic group.

New born babies are constantly at a risk of iron deficiency especially the premature babies.

Women during pregnancy and women of childbearing age are at higher risk because of blood loss from menstruation.

 

Symptoms

Hemoglobin of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml is abnormal in men and less than 12.0 gram/100 ml is abnormal in women. At first, anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as symptoms worsen, anemia worsens. The following are a few symptoms which patients go through:-

1. Fatigue

2. Weakness

3. Pale or yellowish skin

4. Irregular heartbeats

5. Shortness of breath

6. Dizziness or lightheadedness

7. Chest pain

8. Cold hands and feet

9. Headache

Causes

Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and it binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells or if your hemoglobin is abnormal or too low, then the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. In simple words, anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough red blood cells. This can happen if:

1. Your body doesn't make enough red blood cells,

2. Bleeding results in losing red blood cells more quickly

3. Your body destroys red blood cells

 

But why red blood cells are so important?

Your body makes three types of blood cells —

White blood cells - to fight infection,

Platelets - to help your blood clot and

Red blood cells – carry oxygen throughout your body.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body and to carry carbon dioxide from other parts of your body to your lungs so that it can be exhaled. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells you need to consume food rich in iron, vitamin and other nutrients.

 

Some common types of Anemia

1. Iron deficiency anemia

2. Vitamin deficiency anemia

3. Anemia of chronic disease

4. Aplastic anemia

5. Hemolytic anemia

6. Sickle cell anemia

 

What will place you at the risk of Anemia?

1. Age: - People above the age of 60 are at higher risk of blood loss.

2. Family History: - If your family has a history of an inherited anemia you may be at increased risk of the condition.

3. A diet lacking in certain vitamins: - Having a diet that is consistently low in iron, vitamin B-12 and folate, a form of vitamin B, increases the risk of anemia.

4. Intestinal disorders: - Having an intestinal disorder affects the absorption of nutrients in your small intestine. This puts you at risk of anemia.

5. Menstruation: - Menstruation causes the loss of red blood cells. Women who haven't experienced menopause have a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than postmenopausal women.

6. Pregnancy: - Pregnant women are at a higher risk of anemia if they aren't taking a multivitamin with folic acid.

7. Chronic conditions: - Patients suffering from cancer, kidney failure of any other chronic condition are at a higher risk of anemia due to shortage of red blood cells.

 

Prevention

Few types of anemia can be prevented and you can follow the following ways to prevent it:-

1. Iron: - Iron-rich foods include meat, beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables and dried fruit.

2. Folate: - Folate and its synthetic form folic acid, is found in fruits and fruit juices, green leafy vegetables, green peas, peanuts, cereal and  rice.

3. Vitamin B-12: - Meat, dairy products and soy products.

4. Vitamin C.  Peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, melons and strawberries contain vitamin C and increase iron absorption.

 

Beware of Anemia, don’t overlook it, it is a serious disorder.

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