Although blood disorders aren't regularly discussed as a serious health risk, millions of Americans deal with them. One of the most common blood disorders in the world is anemia. Anemia is a blood-related condition that occurs when an individual's red blood cells have trouble transporting oxygen to various organs. People who naturally have fewer red blood cells are also more likely to have anemia. Red blood cells contain iron and hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that contains oxygen, so red blood cells that lack functioning hemoglobin or lacking these hemoglobin proteins lead to a number of symptoms, including: pale skin, weakness, fatigue, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, lightheadedness and cold feeling. In some cases, anemia symptoms start off mild, which can make it hard to connect them with having it. As time progresses, the symptoms grow stronger. If any of these symptoms persist, it's best to seek medical attention immediately.
Common Causes of Anemia
Many people are unaware that there are multiple forms of anemia, which means there are multiple causes of this blood disorder. For example, there's iron deficiency anemia. This form occurs when a person can't produce enough red blood cells. This blood condition also occurs in people who lose a large amount of blood within a short time period.
Then there’s sickle cell anemia, which is an inherited blood disorder. Infants born with sickle cell anemia have crescent (sickle) shaped red blood cells, which makes it difficult for them to receive adequate amounts of oxygen. Individuals with a history of sickle cell anemia should be tested. Expectant parents should also get tested for sickle cell trait
Some people have vitamin deficiency anemia. This form of anemia is the byproduct of a lack of nutrients through dieting. The common vitamin deficiencies that cause this type of anemia are a lack of vitamin C, vitamin B-12, and folate. Pregnant women who don't increase their vitamin and iron intake are more likely to receive a positive anemia diagnosis.
Chemotherapy, exposure to harmful toxins, as well as autoimmune disorders can lead to aplastic anemia. Although this is a rare form of anemia, severe cases can be fatal. Aplastic anemia happens when the human body halts the production of new red blood cells. Failure to produce these cells subsequently leads to uncontrolled bleeding and a raised chance of developing infections.
In some cases, a chronic disease can be the underlying cause of anemia. This can be dangerous because the disease will mask the anemia symptoms, so sufferers don't think to get an official diagnosis. Some people won't have any symptoms at all.
Anemia Treatment Options
After a positive anemia diagnosis, there are a myriad of treatment options. Keep in mind, the treatment option depends on the initial cause of the anemia. For example, iron deficiency anemia can be solved with a larger iron intake and supplements if necessary. If iron deficiency anemia is caused by a large blood loss other than menstruation or childbirth, surgery may be one of the ways to find and remedy the bleeding source.
If vitamin deficiency anemia is the culprit, incorporating the missing nutrients is an easy fix. However, some people have an inability to digest foods containing vitamin B-12. If that’s the case, vitamin B-12 shots may be the answer. These can be daily or monthly shots, depending on the severity of the anemia symptoms.
Anemia caused by another chronic disease can be remedied by focusing on treating the chronic illness. If the symptoms worsen, blood transfusions can increase red blood cell production and cure the anemia.
Some sickle cell anemia patients receive oxygen therapy and cancer medications in order to treat symptoms. Blood transfusions, painkillers, and intravenous fluids also help with sickle cell symptoms.
Unfortunately, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The best thing to do is work with a physician to find the best individual solution. Anemia symptoms can make life difficult. However, the right treatment options and an early diagnosis can greatly improve an anemia sufferer’s quality of life. Depending on the type and severity, minor changes like diet and lifestyle changes are enough to beat anemia. In any case, always reach out to a professional healthcare provider for advice.