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Disease Topics:Anemia

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Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of redblood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia -- like fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting what they need to function properly.

Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S. It affects about 3.5 million Americans. Women, young children, and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia. Important factors to remember are:

Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth.
Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy.
Older adults also may have a greater risk of developing anemia because of poor diet and other medical conditions.

There are many types of anemia. All are very different in their causes and treatments. Iron-deficiency anemia, the most common type, is very treatable with diet changes and iron supplements. Some forms of anemia -- like the anemia that develops during pregnancy -- are even considered normal. However, some types of anemia may present lifelong health problems.

What Causes Anemia?

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groups:

Anemia caused by blood loss
Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Anemia Caused by Blood Loss

Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which often can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following:

Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis(inflammation of the stomach), and cancer
Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such asaspirinor ibuprofen, which can cause ulcers and gastritis
Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies
What Causes Anemia?

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groups:
- Anemia caused by blood loss
- Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
- Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells
Anemia Caused by Blood Loss

Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which often can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following:
- Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis(inflammation of the stomach), and cancer
- Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such asaspirinor ibuprofen, which can cause ulcers and gastritis
- Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies
  What Causes Anemia?
  
  There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into three groups:
  
  Anemia caused by blood loss
  
  Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
  
  Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells
  
  Anemia Caused by Blood Loss
  
  Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which often can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from the following:
  
  Gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis(inflammation of the stomach), and cancer
  
  Use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such asaspirinor ibuprofen, which can cause ulcers and gastritis
  
  Menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnanciesAnemia Caused by Decreased or Faulty Red Blood Cell Production
  With this type of anemia, the body may produce too few blood cells or the blood cells may not function correctly. In either case, anemia can result. Red blood cells may be faulty or decreased due to abnormal red blood cells or a lack of minerals andvitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly. Conditions associated with these causes of anemia include the following:
  
  Sickle cell anemia
  
  Iron-deficiency anemia
  
  Vitamin deficiency
  
  Bone marrow and stem cell problems
  
  Other health conditions
  
  Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disorder that, in the U.S. affects mainly African-Americans and Hispanic Americans. Red blood cells become crescent-shaped because of a genetic defect. They break down rapidly, so oxygen does not get to the body's organs, causing anemia. The crescent-shaped red blood cells can also get stuck in tiny blood vessels, causing pain.
  
  Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:
  
  An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
  
  The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
  
  Menstruation
  
  Frequent blood donation
  
  Endurance training
  
  Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
  
  Certain drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks
  
  Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:
  
  Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 or folate or both are deficient
  
  Pernicious anemia: Poor vitamin B12 absorption caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease, an intestinal parasite infection, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestine, or infection with HIV
  
  Dietary deficiency: Eating little or no meat may cause a lack of vitamin B12, while overcooking or eating too few vegetables may cause a folate deficiency.
  
  Other causes of vitamin deficiency: pregnancy, certain medications,alcohol abuse, intestinal diseases such as tropical sprue and celiac disease

Iron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:

An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
Menstruation
Frequent blood donation
Endurance training
Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
Certain drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks

Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:

Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 or folate or both are deficient
Pernicious anemia: Poor vitamin B12 absorption caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease, an intestinal parasite infection, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestine, or infection with HIV
Dietary deficiency: Eating little or no meat may cause a lack of vitamin B12, while overcooking or eating too few vegetables may cause a folate deficiency.
Other causes of vitamin deficiency: pregnancy, certain medications,alcohol abuse, intestinal diseases such as tropical sprue and celiac diseaseIron-deficiency anemia occurs because of a lack of the mineral iron in the body. Bone marrow in the center of the bone needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that transports oxygen to the body's organs. Without adequate iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. The result is iron-deficiency anemia. This type of anemia can be caused by:
- An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
- The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
- Menstruation
- Frequent blood donation
- Endurance training
- Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
- Certain drugs, foods, and caffeinated drinks
Vitamin-deficiency anemia may occur when vitamin B12 and folate are deficient. These two vitamins are needed to make red blood cells. Conditions leading to anemia caused by vitamin deficiency include:
- Megaloblastic anemia: Vitamin B12 or folate or both are deficient
- Pernicious anemia: Poor vitamin B12 absorption caused by conditions such as Crohn's disease, an intestinal parasite infection, surgical removal of part of the stomach or intestine, or infection with HIV
- Dietary deficiency: Eating little or no meat may cause a lack of vitamin B12, while overcooking or eating too few vegetables may cause a folate deficiency.
- Other causes of vitamin deficiency: pregnancy, certain medications,alcohol abuse, intestinal diseases such as tropical sprue and celiac diseaseDiet is the only way to control and manage the anemia; here are the main points of thediet for anemia
  Food Items permitted for a patient of Anemia:
  - Bread or chapattis of wheat, rice, maize, jowar, bajra ro ragi.
  - Breakfast cereals of wheat, rice, oatmeal or maize.
  - Rice, cooked
  - Pulses, (dal) or beans
  - Vegetable salad
  - Vegetables, cooked
  - Potato, sweet Potato, or yam
  - Meat, fish, chicken; especially liver, kidney and bone marrow.
  - Soup, especially liver soup
  - Eggs
  - Milk and milk produces
  - Fat for cooking, and butter
  - Sugar, jiggery or honey
  - Jam or murabba
  - Pastries
  - Desserts
  - Sweets or sweetmeats
  - Fruits, fresh
  - Fruits, dried, especially raisins, currants, dried figs and prunes
  - Nuts
  - Condiments and spices in moderation
  - Papad, chutney or pickles in moderation
  - Bevarages
  - Fluids liberal
  - Anemia Treatment for Inherited Diseases
    
    Parents with certain genes can pass on anemia diseases to their children. Manyhereditary anemia types exist, but generally they fall into two categories:
    
    Hemolytic anemia. This is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed too quickly. Sickle cell disease and thalassemia fall into this group. Treatment is personalized to each patient with their specific anemia, symptoms, and severity in mind. During treatment, doctors monitor blood counts and growth (in children) and watch for the development of gallstones. Treatments include steroids and blood transfusions, as needed.
    
    Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). These are rare disorders in which the marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells, including red cells. Specific conditions include aplastic anemia and Fanconi anemia. Some patients with IBMFS may eventually develop leukemia or another cancer.
    
    Each type of hereditary anemia condition is managed differently, but in all cases, your doctor will monitor blood counts and watch for problems with regular bone marrow and chromosome tests. Treatments include steroids, hormones, and drugs to stimulate blood cell production, or blood transfusions. Antibiotics to prevent or treat infections are used when necessary.
    
    Some patients with hereditary anemia receive bone or stem cell transplants, which can provide a cure, but also carry risks.
  - Anemia Treatment for
    
    Parents with certain genes can pass on anemia diseases to their children. Manyhereditary anemia types exist, but generally they fall into two categories:
    
    Hemolytic anemia. This is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed too quickly. Sickle cell disease and thalassemia fall into this group. Treatment is personalized to each patient with their specific anemia, symptoms, and severity in mind. During treatment, doctors monitor blood counts and growth (in children) and watch for the development of gallstones. Treatments include steroids and blood transfusions, as needed.
    
    Inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS). These are rare disorders in which the marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells, including red cells. Specific conditions include aplastic anemia and Fanconi anemia. Some patients with IBMFS may eventually develop leukemia or another cancer.
    
    Each type of hereditary anemia condition is managed differently, but in all cases, your doctor will monitor blood counts and watch for problems with regular bone marrow and chromosome tests. Treatments include steroids, hormones, and drugs to stimulate blood cell production, or blood transfusions. Antibiotics to prevent or treat infections are used when necessary.
    
    Some patients with hereditary anemia receive bone or stem cell transplants, which can provide a cure, but also carry risk

Disease Topics:Anemia

What Causes Anemia?

What Causes Anemia?

What Causes Anemia?

Anemia Treatment for Inherited Diseases

Anemia Treatment for

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