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 cells measurements:
Hemoglobin concentration: It is the main carrier of oxygen gas in the blood.
Hematocrit or blood mass: is the blood loss or the percentage of red blood cell size of the total blood volume.
Red blood cell count: is the number of red blood cells in a certain predefined volume of total blood volume.
The definition of anemia by sex is as follows
Males: Anemia is defined in males with values less than 13.5 g / dL for hemoglobin concentration, and values less than 41% for hematocrit.
Female: 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 exhale 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.
Symptoms of anemia Multiple symptoms of anemia 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 the hands, or sensation of acupuncture in the body. The desire to eat things other than food, such as: dust, wax, grass, paper, ice, etc. These symptoms occur when anemia is due to 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 iron deficiency.
. Behavioral disorders in children and low school performance in school-age children. The patient suffers from neurological symptoms, most notably the numbness in different parts of the body, in cases of anemia due to lack of vitamin B (12). 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 palpitations in the heart. 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 if 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 comprehensive 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 made, bone marrow screening allows direct examination of red cells.
Risk factors Anemia factors that raise the risk of anemia include
Diet low in iron, vitamins, and minerals. Blood loss of 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 Types These are the most common types of anemia
Iron deficiency anemia: The cause of iron deficiency 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.
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 Production of red blood cells. In addition, some people do not have the ability to absorb vitamin B-12 effectively.
Anemia is 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.
Hemolysis Anemia: This group of anemia develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can produce new blood cells.
Complications Anemia for anemia has several complications, and varies by cause. In general, these are the most important complications to be observed
Over fatigue, in cases of severe anemia, the patient may feel tired, to prevent him from doing his daily duties very simple, being 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 vitamin B 12 deficiency can affect normal brain function.
Death Certain types of hereditary anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, can cause severe medical complications, which pose a life-threatening condition. The loss of large amounts of blood over 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 is treated in most cases by taking iron supplements.
Treatment of anemia Anemia is a severe type of anemia, which is treated with injections containing vitamin B12, and may persist in some cases for life.
Treatment of anemia associated with chronic diseases: There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia.
Treatment of hemolytic anemia: Treatment of hemolytic anemia involves refraining from taking certain medications, treating associated infections, and taking immunosuppressive drugs that attack red blood cells.
Treatment of sickle cell anemia: Anemia treatment of this type includes monitoring and monitoring the levels of oxygen in the body, taking painkillers, taking fluids, drinking or by infusion, to relieve pain, and to prevent the emergence of complications.
Prevention of anemia Most cases of anemia are non-preventable, but iron-deficiency anemia, or anemia caused by vitamin deficiencies, can be prevented by balanced and varied nutrition,
Iron. Folic acid. Vitamin B 12. Vitamin C
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, according to the recommendations of 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, it can affect cats and dogs. Individuals with mild form of anemia can remain symptom free. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of anemia, regardless of its type.
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