Symptoms of anemia

Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which the patient’s body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to the tissues of the body. Anemia is defined as a fall in one or more of the red blood cell measurements:

Concentration of hemoglobin : Is the primary carrier of oxygen gas in the blood.
Hematocrit or blood stack : Is the blood deposition or the percentage of red blood cell size of the total blood volume.
Red blood cell count : Is the number of red blood cells present in a certain pre-defined volume of total blood volume.

Definition of anemia by sex

The definition of anemia by sex is as follows:

Male : Anemia is defined in males with values less than 13.5 g / dL for hemoglobin concentration, and values less than 41% for hematocrit.
Females : Female anemia is known to have values less than 12 g / dL for hemoglobin concentration, and values less than 36% for hematocrit.

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin Red blood cells can transfer oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, transferring carbon dioxide from the body back to the lungs, so that it can be ejected from the body in the exhalation process.

Most blood cells, including red blood cells, are produced continuously in the bone marrow, a red spongy substance found within the large bone cavities of the body. In order to produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, the body needs iron and other minerals. When a person suffers from anemia, his body does not produce enough red blood cells, but many of them are lost or destroyed faster than he can produce new blood cells.

Multiple anemia symptoms because hypoxia affects all body cells, and these symptoms vary according to the severity of poverty, the most important of these symptoms are:

Feeling weak, tired or tired.
Difficulty concentrating and feeling dizzy.
Insomnia.
Leg cramps.
The patient suffers from shortness of breath and headache, especially during exercise or exertion.
Drought and hardening nails.
Cold weather, due to lack of iron stock.
Feeling high in body temperature, and being unable to tolerate the warm atmosphere.
The patient feels a general numbness in his body, especially in his hands, or his sense of acupuncture in his body.
The desire to eat things other than food, such as: dust, wax, grass, paper, ice, etc. These symptoms occur when anemia is caused by the need for iron, called qata, or lust for the oddity.
Which is associated with restless leg syndrome, is more common in people with anemia due to lack of iron intake.
Behavioral disorders in children and low school performance in school-age children.
The patient suffers from neurological symptoms, the most important of which is numbness throughout the body, in cases of anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency.
Loss of memory, but this presentation is not always, but is a little appearance.
Depression, hallucinations, change in personality.
Difficult to consider, but in rare cases.

Symptoms of severe anemia

Rapid heart palpitations.
Heart failure, because it tries to compensate for the lack of blood required to carry oxygen; where the beating beats, thus increasing the possibility of heart failure.
Difficulty breathing, increase breathing frequency.
When performing a clinical examination it is noticed that the patient is suffering from pallor, and this is known by looking at the conjunctiva of the eye, and the lines in the soles of the palm.
Inflammation in the mouth especially the tongue area.
When the nails are examined, there are abnormalities, especially in the case of iron deficiency in the blood, and are very fragile.
The patient suffers from yellowing of the skin in case the cause of anemia is broken blood.
There are some abnormalities in the bones, and this is in the case of thalassemia.

Diagnosis of anemia

In general, doctors require a complete blood test in primary blood tests if anemia is diagnosed. The laboratory results give the number of red blood cells, the concentration of hemoglobin, the automatic counters, and also measure the size of red blood cells, by measuring flow cytometry, which is important in distinguishing the causes of anemia. There are four criteria to be measured when testing anemia:

Number of red blood cells.
Concentration of hemoglobin.
Medium ball size.
Average diameter of red blood cells.
If the diagnosis is not obtained, bone marrow screening allows direct examination of red cells.

Risk factors for anemia

Factors that increase the risk of anemia include:

Diet low in iron, vitamins, and minerals.
Blood loss from surgery.
Chronic or serious diseases, such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, HIV / AIDS, inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease), liver disease, heart failure, thyroid disease.
A family history of genetic anemia, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.

Common anemia

These are the most common types of anemia:

Iron deficiency anemia Iron deficiency anemia: The reason for this is iron deficiency in the body. Bone marrow requires iron to produce hemoglobin. If iron is insufficient, the body can not produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells.
Anemia caused by vitamin deficiency (Vitamin Deficiency Anemia): The body needs folic acid and vitamin B12 to produce enough red blood cells. A diet lacking a vital nutrient can reduce the production of red blood cells. In addition, some people do not have the ability to absorb vitamin B-12 effectively.
Anemia as a symptom of chronic disease: Many chronic diseases, such as cancer, AIDS, gout and other chronic inflammatory diseases, can affect the production of red blood cells, causing chronic anemia. Kidney failure can also lead to anemia.
Anemia caused by a disease in the bone marrow : Many diseases, such as leukemia or leukemia, can lead to anemia, and affect the bone marrow.
Anemia caused by hemolysis Hemolysis: This group of anemia develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow to produce new blood cells.

Complications of anemia

Anemia has several complications, and varies by cause. In general, these are the most important complications to be observed:

Hyperactivity. In severe anemia, the patient may feel so tired that he can not perform his daily duties very easily. He is very tired and difficult to play or work.
Damage to the nerves, where vitamin B 12 is necessary and vital, not only for the production of healthy red blood cells, but also for the functioning of the nervous system properly.
Changes in cognitive status, where deficiencies in vitamin B 12 affect the work of the natural brain.
Death Certain types of hereditary anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, may cause severe medical complications, which pose a life-threatening condition. The loss of large amounts of blood during a short period of time generally leads to anemia, which may be fatal in this case.

Treatment of anemia

Each type of anemia has its own therapeutic method as follows:

Treatment of anemia caused by iron deficiency : Anemia of this type is treated in most cases by taking supplements (iron).
Treatment of anemia caused by anemia vitamins : A severe type of anemia, treated by injections containing vitamin B 12, and may continue in some cases for life.
Treatment of anemia associated with chronic diseases : There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia.
Treatment of anemia caused by a disease in the bone marrow : Treatment of anemia caused by these multiple diseases ranges from taking drugs to chemotherapy, and even bone marrow transplantation.
Treatment of anemia caused by hemolysis : Treatment of hemolytic anemia includes refraining from taking certain medications, treating associated infections, and taking immunosuppressive drugs that attack red blood cells.
Treatment of sickle cell anemia : The treatment of anemia of this type monitor and monitor the levels of oxygen in the body, and take painkillers, and the intake of fluids, drinking or through infusion, pain relief, and to prevent the emergence of complications.

Prevention of anemia

Most anemia is non-preventable, but iron-deficiency anemia, or anemia caused by vitamin A deficiency, can be prevented by balanced and varied nutrition, containing:

As well as iron-rich foods, especially for people with very large amounts of iron, such as children who consume iron in large quantities during growth, pregnant women and women of fertile age. It is very important to provide them with sufficient amounts of iron especially for children, vegetarians, and those who run long distances. In addition to all this to conduct public blood tests once in several years, as recommended by the doctor to check, and to avoid anemia.

Facts about anemia

Here are some key points to remember about anemia:

Globally, anemia affects an estimated 1.62 billion people, accounting for 24.8% of the world’s population.
Pre-school children are highly susceptible to anemia, with an estimated 47% of children suffering from the disease.
There are currently more than 400 types of anemia identified.
Iron deficiency is the most common type of circulatory disease around the world.
Foods rich in iron to combat anemia include meat, fish, mussels and oysters.
Anemia is not limited to humans and can affect cats and dogs.
Individuals with mild form of anemia can remain symptom free.