Anemia Symptoms

May 09, 2023, 16:45 IST

If you are looking for anaemia symptoms, you have come to the right place!

Anemia symptoms will be covered in this article. Anemia occurs when there aren't enough solid red blood cells to carry oxygen to your body's organs. As a result, feeling cold and showing signs of fatigue or weakness are frequent. Anemia comes in various forms, but iron-deficiency anemia is the most prevalent.

The types, causes, symptoms, and therapies for anemia will all be covered in this article.

Introduction

Anemia is a disorder that occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells to oxygenate the tissues of the body adequately. You may feel weak and worn out if you are anaemic or have low haemoglobin levels. Anaemia can have many different forms, each with a unique aetiology.

What is Anemia?

The most common blood-related condition, anemia, also known as anemia, is caused primarily by abnormally low levels of red blood cells. Anaemia is mostly brought on by a lack of iron. The most common nutritional causes of anemia include deficiencies in iron, folate, and vitamins A and B12, but iron deficiency is also a significant factor. Hemoglobinopathies and viral diseases like malaria, TB, HIV, and parasite infections can also cause anemia.

Types of Anemia

Three types of anemia can be seen when blood is studied under a microscope, including

Normocytic Anemia

• The patient, as the term suggests, has enough haemoglobin and red blood cells of a typical size.
• However, rather than changes in RBC, the issue is a decline in erythrocyte count.
• This is frequently brought on by blood loss from accidents, menstruation, etc.
• It can also be brought on by an erythropoietin deficit, in which the bone marrow produces fewer red blood cells.

Megaloblastic Anemia

• The red blood cells of this type are giant.
• This happens as the cells are released into circulation before fully developing.
• They develop in the bone marrow with inadequate cell division, which causes them to be larger than usual.
• They may or may not have enough haemoglobin.

Microcytic Anemia

• The RBC cells of this type are smaller than those of others.
• Haemoglobin levels being insufficient is the leading cause of this.
• The haemoglobin fraction inside red blood cells determines the blood's ability to carry oxygen (RBCs).
• Therefore, if we have anemia, we feel weak and unmotivated.
• These RBCs are created by the red bone marrow of the body's significant bones.
• They live for 120 days on average. They deteriorate in the liver and spleen owing to wear and strain from circulation and become brittle.
• The new ones replace dead RBCs.
• Because the cells produced in the bone marrow are much larger than typical RBCs, vitamins like folic acid and vitamin B12 aid in their development into RBCs.

Symptoms of Anemia

Anemia symptoms might be so subtle that you may not even recognise them. When your blood cell count begins to fall, symptoms frequently appear. Depending on the cause of the anaemia, the following symptoms may exist:

• Having a fainting or dizzy feeling, or feeling lightheaded.
• Unusual or rapid heartbeat
• Headache
• Pain in your bones, chest, belly, and joints are also common.
• Issues with growth in kids and teenagers
• Breathing difficulties with pale or yellow skin
• Cold fingers and toes
• Weakness or fatigue

Causes of Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia happens when your body doesn't have enough iron to create haemoglobin. Red blood cells contain haemoglobin, which gives blood its red colour and allows them to transport oxygenated blood throughout the body.

Causes of iron-deficient anemia include:

• Blood loss - Red blood cells in plasma contain iron. Thus, iron is lost along with blood. Due to the blood loss during heavy menstruation in women, iron deficiency anemia is a possibility.
• Diet deficient in iron - Your diet regularly provides your body with iron. If patients consume insufficient amounts of iron, the body may eventually become iron deficient.
• Lack of iron absorption - In your small intestine, iron from food enters your bloodstream. An intestinal condition like celiac disease, which limits the intestine's ability to absorb nutrients from digested food, can cause iron deficiency anaemia.

Complications of Anemia

Usually, mild iron deficiency anemia doesn't have consequences. Iron deficiency anemia, however, can worsen if left untreated and result in several health issues, such as the following:

• Heart issues - A rapid or erratic heartbeat could be a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. When you're anemic, your blood doesn't carry as much oxygen, so your heart must pump more blood to compensate for it.This could lead to cardiac failure or an enlarged heart.
• Complications during pregnancy - Premature births and low birth weight babies have been linked to severe iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women. However, pregnant women who receive iron supplements as part of their prenatal care can avoid the disease.
• Growth issues - A severe iron shortage in children and newborns can result in anemia and slowed growth and development. An increased risk of developing infections is also associated with anaemia brought on by iron deficiency.

Risk Factors

The risk of iron deficiency anemia may be higher in the following types of people:

• Women - Women are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia because of blood loss during menstruation.
• Children and babies - Infants who do not get enough iron from breast milk or formula, mainly those born prematurely or with low birth weight, are at risk of iron deficiency. During growth spurts, kids require more iron. If a kid doesn't eat a balanced diet, they may be at risk for anaemia.
• Vegetarians - People who do not consume meat may be at a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia if they do not consume other iron-rich meals.
• Regular blood donors - Regular donors may be more at risk for iron deficiency anaemia since the process of providing blood might deplete iron stores.

Prevention and Treatment of Anemia

Prevention

You can avoid iron deficiency anaemia by choosing healthy foods for yourself and your family. It is advisable to consume the recommended daily amount of iron from food as opposed to iron supplements, which can occasionally cause constipation and digestive discomfort. Here are some strategies to guarantee your family gets enough iron from food.

• Give your infant as much breast milk as you can.
• Use a formula with added iron.
• Limit cow's milk consumption for toddlers; delay it for newborns.
• Make prudent food combinations.
• Try drinking prune juice regularly.
• Use iron pans for cooking.
• Use iron-rich grains for baking.

Treatment

Anemia is treated differently depending on the disease's type, origin and severity. The following are possible forms of treatment:

• Variations in diet
• Dietary supplements
• Medications
• Surgical procedures
• Surgical procedure for blood loss

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, is a set of dietary guidelines for vital elements, including vitamins and minerals, designed to satisfy the nutritional needs of healthy people. It was initially published in 1943, during World War II, and is judged by the Food and Nutrition Board. The goal of the RDA is to offer benchmarks for a healthy diet. Varying age groups have different RDAs for nutrients. Regular revisions have been made to the original publication.

Purpose of Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

• To obtain and plan food supplies for various population groups
• Several organisations employ it to provide healthier dishes and meals.
• It assists in identifying and satisfying the nutritional demands of various demographic groups by being utilised to evaluate the food intake information of specific individuals.
• It helps create programmes for nutrition education.
• Manufacturers use RDA to create new food products for the market. It is also used to define standards for food nutrition labelling.
• RDA is a helpful resource for meal planning and preventing nutritional deficits.

When to See a Doctor

Consult your doctor if you or your child exhibits any symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Self-diagnosis or self-treatment of iron deficient anaemia are not advised. Consult a doctor for a diagnosis rather than using iron supplements as self-medication. Having too much iron in your system can be harmful since it can harm your liver and result in other problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the initial sign of Anemia?

Ans. Weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, an accelerated heartbeat, chest pain, headache, lightheadedness, or vertigo.

Q2. What is Anemia's final stage?

Ans. Anemia due to iron deficiency is the final stage. Low haemoglobin levels and hypochromic RBCs are its defining features.

Q3. Is it possible to treat anemia?

Ans. If you have been told you have acute or chronic Anemia, you should know it is treatable.

Q4. How does Anemia make you feel?

Ans. Due to the low count of RBCs in the body to deliver oxygen to the organs of the body, anemia develops. As a result, feeling cold and showings signs of fatigue or weakness are frequent.

Q5. Is Anemia a serious condition?

Ans. Severe lack of iron: Your chance of developing heart or lung problems, such as tachycardia, a rapid heartbeat, or heart failure, in which your heart cannot pump blood throughout your body at the necessary pressure adequately, may increase if you have Anemia.