Anemia is the most common blood disorder, affecting 3.5 million Americans today. Often the symptoms of anemia go unnoticed, but chronic anemia can be detrimental to the human body, and some of the more severe types of anemia can lead to serious problems, even death.
The term anemia originated in ancient Greek, meaning "without blood". It is a disorder in which there is inadequate hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing molecule that transports oxygen from the lungs to all other tissues of the body. It then releases the oxygen for cell use. About 35% of the make-up of blood is hemoglobin.
There are three versions of anemia; blood hemorrhaging, or chronic or sudden blood loss, red blood cell destruction, known as hemolysis, and decreased or faulty red blood cell production, known as ineffective hematopoiesis.
Symptoms of hemorrhaging depend on if it is a case of chronic or sudden blood loss, sudden blood loss being the most obvious form of anemia, but also the most potentially life-threatening. When the body loses a significant amount of blood, the only treatment is a blood transfusion. Chronic blood loss on the other hand is more difficult to detect. Possible causes are stomach ulcers, hemorrhoids, and cancer, as well as from the use of aspirin or motrin. This form of anemia can also be caused by the natural loss of blood through menstruation and childbirth. SIgns include fatigue, rapid heart beat, shortness of breath when exercising, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, pallor, leg cramps and insomnia. In these cases, doctor's will treat the underlying ailment if possible. With an iron-deficiency from menstruation, supplements are recommended, usually iron along with vitamin C, which assists the body with absorption.
Hemolytic anemias can either be acquired or inherited. If acquired, they can be caused by infections, certain drugs, or toxins from advanced kidney disease. Anemia develops in this case when the breakdown of red blood cells exceeds the production. The spleen is the main organ that removes old or damaged red blood cells, while the bone marrow is where new cells are produced. Normally, red blood cells survive for up to 120 days, leaving around 1% to break down each day. In an anemic person this balance is thrown off, usually because the red blood cells rupture prematurely. Specific symptoms of hemolytic anemia are fatigue, jaundice, and possible heart failure. Treatment with hemolytic anemia includes, avoiding and medication that could have caused the disorder in the first place, treating any suspect infections, or even taking drugs that will suppress the immune system itself, as it could be attacking red blood cells. Also, in more severe cases, the spleen is removed.
Anemia caused by faulty hemoglobin production comes in many forms. The most common form is a iron and/or folic acid deficiency caused by a poor diet. Symptoms are similar to the other forms of anemia, including fatigue, pallor and dizziness, as well as a tingling in the hands and feet, clumsiness and dementia. There are also a few very pronounced signs; pica is a desire for substances that aren't food, such as dirt, wax, paper, or grass, cheilosis, which is a lesion on the corner of the mouth, and koilonychia - a nail disease where the nails become flat or concave. Treatment for vitamin deficiency is simple; taking iron and folic acid supplements.
Aplastic anemia occurs when there is a reduction of the number of stem cells. Stem cells in the bone marrow normally develop into red blood cells. Treatment for this is much more intense. Sometimes a blood transfusion is necessary to boost the red blood cell count, or a bone marrow transplant if the bone marrow is diseased.
Sickle cell anemia also falls into the faulty production category. It is always inherited, and is unfortunately incurable, although it is treatable. Symptoms of sickle cell anemia are fatigue, increased susceptibility to infection, delayed growth in children and episodes of horrible pain in the joints and stomach. Doctor's treat sickle cell with folic acid supplements, pain-relieving medication and antibiotics, but also sometimes blood transfusions or even a bone marrow transplant.
Without an adequate supply of oxygen, the body's organ's can't function correctly. If you believe that you may be anemic, visit your doctor to find out. It may be that all you need is a vitamin supplement to put you back on track.