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What You Need To Know About Anemia - Four Curious Facts Photo source
What is anemia?
When the number of red blood cells in blood is low, it is all about anemia.
Blood is divided into
two components: a liquid part – plasma, and cellular-containing several
different cell types. The most important and
the most numerous cells in human blood are red
blood cells.
The rest are platelets and white blood cells. The main task of
the red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the
body. The red blood cells are
produced in the bone marrow after a series of complex operations. Unlike most
cells in the body, they do not have a core.
4 curious facts about anemia……
1. To not suffer from anemia,
red blood cells should be in adequate number, and nutrients, bone marrow and
kidneys, should work in full harmony. If your kidneys, or bone marrow are not
functioning, or the body has a shortage of nutrients, the red blood cells will
not be in the right number and their function will be extremely difficult to be
maintained.
2. Anemia acts like a
safety valve (signal) for starting morbid process in the body. It is divided into
two types of acute and chronic.
Chronic
continues for a longer period. Its
symptoms occur more slowly and evolve gradually, until the acute starts abruptly and it is exhausting.
3. Red blood cells live
about 100 days, and the body repeatedly trying to replace them. In elderly
people, the production of red blood cells occurs in the bone marrow. Doctors should determine, whether the low
number of red blood cells is caused by loss of red blood cells, or their
production in the bone marrow is reduced. Knowing, whether the number of white
blood cells (or thrombocytes) have changed, helps to determine the cause of
anemia.
4. Young women are in
danger twice, because of menstrual bleeding.
Types of anemia
According to the size of
red blood cells, there are three basic types:
1.Macrocytic anemia
It occurs when red blood
cells are less, than normal. Among the main reasons are lack of iron (or low
iron) and thalassemia (hereditary diseases associated with hemoglobin). How to
lower hemoglobin – here.
2.Normocytic anemia
It occurs when red blood
cells are normal in size, but they are few in number. This type of anemia is associated
with kidney
disease.
3.Makrocytic anemia
It occurs when red blood
cells are larger than normal. The main reason for this type of anemia is pernicious
anemia and anemia associated with alcoholism.
14 Causes of anemia
Among the common causes
of anemia are:
1.active bleeding (anemia caused by it), usually in heavy menstrual
bleeding, gastrointestinal ulcers or cancer (colon cancer).
2.iron deficiency - the bone marrow needs iron to produce red blood
cells.
Iron plays a very large
role in the proper structuring of the hemoglobin molecule. If there is a
deficiency of iron, you are affected by microcytic anemia (see above). This
kind of anemia can occur if you have chronic bleeding, colon cancer, uterine
cancer, intestinal polyps, hemorrhoids etc.
3.chronic illness - any long-term chronic disease (such as chronic infection
or cancer) can provoke anemia.
5.pregnancy - the presence of water and more fluid during
pregnancy, dilutes blood, and it leads to a reduced concentration of red blood
cells.
6.poor diet - to produce red blood cells, the body needs vitamins
and minerals, and for the proper production of hemoglobin are required iron,
vitamin B 12 and folic acid.
Deficiency of any of these components can result
in anemia. Attention! Strict observance of a vegetarian diet can cause low
levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, which in turn leads to anemia.
7.problems in the stomach or intestine (pernicious anemia), which in turn leads to poor
absorption of vitamin B 12
8.abnormal hemoglobin molecules (sickle cell anemia). This affects the overall structure
of red blood cells and they may take the form of a semicircle. People,
suffering from this type of anemia can be diagnosed in childhood, depending on
the severity and symptoms of the disease.
9.talasemiya- it can be different, starting from mild to severe. The reasons are hereditary, associated with
abnormalities in hemoglobin (the correct amount of hemoglobin molecules is
insufficient).
10.alcoholism - poor nutrition and lack of vitamins and minerals,
are associated with alcoholism. Alcohol can be toxic to the bone marrow and to slow the production of red blood cells.
11.diseases associated with bone marrow - certain cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma may
change the production of red blood cells and to provoke anemia.
12.aplastic anemia - many viral infections can seriously affect the bone
marrow and to limit the production of all blood cells. Chemotherapy and some
cancer drugs can do the same.
13.hemolytic anemia - red blood cells become dysfunctional for various
reasons. Some of its forms can be inherited, as they constantly destroy
themselves and quickly reproduce new red blood cells.
14.anemia associated with drugs - they may cause it as a side effect (hemolysis, bone
marrow toxicity). Such drugs might be HIV AIDS medicines for malaria,
antifungals, antihistamines, certain antibiotics (see also why
antibiotics can increase Candida albicans).
Less common causes of anemia:
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What You Need To Know About Anemia - Four Curious Facts. 14 Less Common Causes.
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