Definition

have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. Having anemia may make you feel exhausted. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Loss of blood is the most common cause of anemia. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe. ee your doctor if you suspect you have anemia because anemia can be a sign of serious illnesses. Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing medical procedures. !ou may be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.

Symptoms
Anemia symptoms vary depending on the cause of your anemia but may include"

#atigue $ale skin A fast or irregular heartbeat hortness of breath %hest pain &i''iness %ognitive problems %old hands and feet Headache

(nitially, anemia can be so mild it goes unnoticed. )ut symptoms increase as anemia worsens.

When to see a doctor

*ake an appointment with your doctor if you+re feeling fatigued for unexplained reasons. ome anemias, such as iron deficiency anemia, are common. #atigue has many causes besides anemia, so don+t assume that if you+re tired you must be anemic. ome people learn that their hemoglobin is low, which indicates anemia, when they go to donate blood. Low hemoglobin may be a temporary problem remedied by eating more iron,rich foods or taking a multivitamin containing iron. However, it may also be a warning sign of blood loss in

your body that may be causing you to be deficient in iron. (f you+re told that you can+t donate blood because of low hemoglobin, make an appointment with your doctor.

Causes
Anemia occurs when your blood doesn+t have enough red blood cells. This can happen if"

!our body doesn+t make enough red blood cells )leeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced !our body destroys red blood cells

What red blood cells do

!our body makes three types of blood cells - white blood cells to fight infection, platelets to help your blood clot and red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. .ed blood cells contain hemoglobin - a red, iron,rich protein that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body and to carry carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to your lungs so that it can be exhaled. *ost blood cells, including red blood cells, are produced regularly in your bone marrow - a red, spongy material found within the cavities of many of your large bones. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, your body needs iron, vitamin ),/0, folate and other nutrients from the foods you eat.

Causes of common types of anemia

%ommon types of anemia and their causes include"

Iron deficiency anemia. (ron deficiency anemia is caused by a shortage of the element iron in your body. !our bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin. 1ithout adequate iron, your body can+t produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. This type of anemia is often caused by blood loss, such as from heavy menstrual bleeding, an ulcer, cancer, a polyp somewhere in your digestive system, and prolonged use of aspirin or drugs known as nonsteroidal anti,inflammatory drugs 23 A(&s4. Vitamin deficiency anemias. (n addition to iron, your body needs folate and vitamin ), /0 to produce sufficient numbers of healthy red blood cells. A diet lacking in these and other key nutrients can cause decreased red blood cell production. Additionally, some people may eat enough ),/0, but their bodies aren+t able to process the vitamin. This can lead to vitamin deficiency anemia. Anemia of chronic disease. %ertain chronic diseases - such as cancer, H(56A(& , rheumatoid arthritis, %rohn+s disease and other chronic inflammatory diseases - can interfere with the production of red blood cells, resulting in chronic anemia. 7idney failure also can cause anemia.

Aplastic anemia. This very rare life,threatening anemia is caused by a decrease in the bone marrow+s ability to produce red blood cells. %auses of aplastic anemia include infections, drugs and autoimmune diseases. Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. A variety of diseases, such as leukemia and myelodysplasia, can cause anemia by affecting blood production in your bone marrow. The effects of these types of cancer and cancer,like disorders vary from a mild alteration in blood production to a complete life,threatening shutdown of the blood, making process. 8ther cancers of the blood or bone marrow - such as multiple myeloma, myeloproliferative disorders and lymphoma - also can cause anemia. Hemolytic anemias. This group of anemias develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than bone marrow can replace them. %ertain blood diseases can cause increased red blood cell destruction. Hemolytic anemias can be inherited, or you can develop them later in life. Sickle cell anemia. This inherited and sometimes serious anemia is caused by a defective form of hemoglobin that forces red blood cells to assume an abnormal crescent 2sickle4 shape. These irregular,shaped red blood cells die prematurely, resulting in a chronic shortage of red blood cells. Other anemias. There are several other rarer forms of anemia, such as thalassemia and anemias caused by defective hemoglobin. anemia because your iron stores have to serve your increased blood volume as well as be a source of hemoglobin for your growing fetus. Chronic conditions. #or example, if you have cancer, kidney or liver failure or another chronic condition, you may be at risk for what+s called anemia of chronic disease. These conditions can lead to a shortage of red blood cells. low, chronic blood loss from an ulcer or other source within your body can deplete your body+s store of iron, leading to iron deficiency anemia. amily history. (f your family has a history of an inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia, you also may be at increased risk for the condition. Other factors. A history of certain infections, blood diseases and autoimmune disorders, alcoholism, exposure to toxic chemicals, and the use of some medications can affect red blood cell production and lead to anemia.

Complications
Left untreated, anemia can cause numerous complications, such as"

Se!ere fati"ue. 1hen anemia is severe enough, you may be so tired that you can+t complete everyday tasks. !ou may be too exhausted to work or play.

Heart problems. Anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat , an arrhythmia. !our heart must pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood when you+re anemic. This can even lead to congestive heart failure. Death. ome inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, can be serious and lead to life,threatening complications. Losing a lot of blood quickly results in acute, severe anemia and can be fatal.

#eferences
/. Anemia. 3ational Heart, Lung, and )lood (nstitute. http"66www.nhlbi.nih.gov6health6dci6&iseases6anemia6anemia9all.html. Accessed #eb. :, 0;/<. 0. *c$hee =, et al. %urrent *edical &iagnosis > Treatment 0;/0. ?/st ed. 3ew !ork, 3.!." The *c@raw,Hill %ompaniesA 0;/0. http"66www.accessmedicine.com6resourceT8%.aspxBresource(&C/. Accessed #eb. :, 0;/<. <. )ryan L=, et al. 1hy is my patient anemicB Hematology and 8ncology %linics of 3orth America. 0;/0A0D"0;?. E. Laboratory reference values. Hematology group. .ochester, *inn." *ayo #oundation for *edical Fducation and .esearchA Aug. 0;//. ?. 8verview of hemolytic anemia. The *erck *anuals" The *erck *anual for Healthcare $rofessionals. http"66www.merckmanuals.com6professional6hematology9and9oncology6anemias9caused 9by9hemolysis6overview9of9hemolytic9anemia.htmlGvHDHD</. Accessed #eb. :, 0;/<.