Anemia: What You Need to Know About This Common Blood Disorder
Published: Nov 07, 2023
Anemia is a condition where your body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. This article breaks down the basics of anemia, its causes, and how it affects your body.
Contents
Understanding Anemia
Anemia is commonly defined by low levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit in the blood, which are part of a complete blood count (CBC). Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, while hematocrit measures the proportion of blood that consists of red blood cells. These levels can vary based on age, sex, altitude, smoking habits, and other factors. For example, the World Health Organization defines anemia as hemoglobin levels below 13 g/dL for men and below 12 g/dL for women.
Common Causes of Anemia
The causes of anemia can vary widely. It can result from chronic diseases such as kidney disease or inflammatory disorders, nutritional deficiencies like iron, vitamin B12, or folate, or inherited conditions like thalassemia. Lifestyle factors, such as a vegan diet lacking B12 or intense physical activity leading to dilutional anemia, can also contribute. Anemia can also be due to acute or chronic blood loss.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, and shortness of breath. Diagnosis often starts with a CBC to check hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Additional tests might include iron studies, vitamin levels, and a reticulocyte count to see how well your bone marrow is making red blood cells. A blood smear can reveal the shape and size of red blood cells, giving more clues to the cause of anemia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
Anemia is diagnosed with a complete blood count (CBC) that checks levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit.
Yes, a diet lacking in nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, or folate can cause anemia.
Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, and pale skin.
Key Takeaways
Anemia can have many causes and symptoms, so it's important to have regular checkups and maintain a balanced diet.
Next steps: Discuss any symptoms or concerns about anemia with Doctronic, your AI doctor.Related Articles
References
World Health Organization. (2024). Guideline on haemoglobin cutoffs to define anaemia. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088542
Beutler E, Waalen J. (2006). The definition of anemia: what is the lower limit of normal of the blood hemoglobin concentration? Blood, 107(5), 1747-1750.
Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.