Anemia

 

Definition

Anemia is a common medical condition in which there is an inadequate amount of  red blood cells that carry the oxygen to body tissues. On most of the cases, people with anemia easily tired because of inadequate supply of oxygen present in their body. The normal red blood cells count on an adult ranges from 4.2-5.0 million red blood cells per microliter of blood for women and 4.6-6.0 million for men. For children, the normal red blood cell count is typically between 3.8 and 5.5 million per volume.

Anemia has many forms and each has it's own cause. Other common forms of anemia include vitamin B12 anemia and folic acid deficiency.

Vitamin B12 anemia is a condition wherein the digestive tract is unable to absorb a sufficient amount of vitamin B12 to be used for the production of red blood cells. Folic acid deficiency is simply the inadequate amount of folic acid present in our body due to insufficient intake of folic acid from the foods we eat.

If you think you have anemia, you may consider the following symptoms of this common medical condition.

Symptoms

Depending on the types and severity of anemia, signs and symptoms are different.  

Dizziness

Fatigue

Pallor skin 

A fast or irregular heartbeat

Cold, clammy skin (hands and feet) 

Dyspnea (shortness of breath)

Chest pain 

Headache 

Cognitive problems

Diagnostic Tests

Complete Blood Count (CBC)  - This is the most common diagnostic test for patient suspected for anemia. A blood is being withdrawn and sends to laboratory to check the levels of red blood cells contained in the blood (also known as hematocrit) and blood hemoglobin.

As mentioned the above normal ranges of red blood cells and hemoglobin, any person who has below normal of those blood components is considered anemic.

To determine the type of anemia you have, medical technologists will also check and examine the size, shape and color of your red blood cells. With the type of anemia you have, the doctor will recommend some medical treatments for you to take to management anemia.

Treatments and Management

Diet 

Usually, iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia affecting on most of those who have low level of red blood cells. There are also other types of anemia that affects people, but are on rare cases. 

An individual with inadequate amount of iron must increase the iron intake that comes from food or supplement prescribed by the physician. The following foods  are recommended to consume because of its high iron content.

• liver (most important)
• seafood
• dried fruits
• lima beans
• whole grains
• green leafy vegetables 

Nutirional Supplements

Folic Acid - Food sources includes meat, liver, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fruits, green leafy vegetables and legumes. 

Vitamin B12 - Food sources include meat, fish and dairy products.

Blood transfusion 

This treatment is only applied for those patients who are suffering great blood loss during operation or with severe anemia. The patient may received fresh frozen plasma, platelets, and medications to raise the blood pressure.

Another treatments also include administration of oxygen and  fluids (intravenous fluids). 


Prevention of Anemia

To prevent anemia, you must eat foods that are rich in iron, vitamin B complex, folic acid. The food sources are listed above for your reference. A regular check-up with the doctor and undergo some blood tests are also imporant to determine the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin in your blood for monitoring.