Anaemia: Don’t Neglect It

Anaemia is a state in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin in them is below normal. When you’re anaemic, your body produces too few healthy red blood cells, loses too many of them or destroys them faster than they can be replaced. As a result, your blood is low on red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues - leaving you fatigued.

If you have anaemia, people may say you have tired blood. That’s because anaemia - a condition in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues - can make you feel tired. Many types of anaemia exist, each with its own cause. Anaemia can be caused by an iron or vitamin deficiency, blood loss, a chronic illness, or a genetic or acquired defect or disease. It may also be a side effect of a medication. Anaemia can be temporary or chronic. It can range from mild to severe. Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of the condition. Although anaemia is common, it sometimes can be a complex problem to diagnose and treat because of its many causes. If you suspect you may have anaemia, it’s important to pursue a diagnosis and treatment. Anaemia can signal certain illnesses. Left untreated, it can lead to complications, such as a heart rhythm irregularity. Treatments for anaemia range from taking vitamin and iron supplements to undergoing serious medical procedures.

The main symptom of most anaemia’s is fatigue. Other signs and symptoms of anaemia in general include: weakness, pale skin, including decreased pinkness of the lips, gums, lining of the eyelids, nail beds and palms, rapid heartbeat with mild exertion, shortness of breath with mild exertion, chest pain, dizziness, light-headedness, irritability (in children with anaemia ), numbness or coldness in hands and feet. Initially, anaemia can be so mild as to go unnoticed. But signs and symptoms increase as the condition progresses. If you experience unexplained fatigue or other signs and symptoms suggestive of anaemia, see your doctor for an evaluation.

Anaemia is a state in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin in them is below normal. When you’re anaemic, your body produces too few healthy red blood cells, loses too many of them or destroys them faster than they can be replaced. As a result, your blood is low on red blood cells to carry oxygen to your tissues - leaving you fatigued.

Anyone - young or old - whose diet is consistently low in iron and vitamins is at risk of suffering from anaemia. Your body needs iron and vitamins to produce sufficient numbers of red blood cells. Having an intestinal disorder that affects the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine - puts you at risk of anaemia . Surgical removal of or surgery to the parts of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed can lead to nutrient deficiencies and anaemia.

In general, women are at greater risk of iron deficiency anaemia than men. That’s because women lose blood - and with it, iron - each month during menstruation. Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anaemia occurs in virtually all-pregnant women because their iron stores have to serve the increased blood volume of the mother as well as be a source of haemoglobin for the growing foetus. If you have cancer, kidney or liver failure, or another chronic condition, you may be at risk of anaemia of chronic disease. These conditions can lead to a shortage of red blood cells. Slow, chronic blood loss from an ulcer or another source within the body can deplete your body’s store of iron, leading to iron deficiency anaemia. Certain infections, blood diseases and autoimmune disorders, exposure to toxic chemicals and the use of some medications can affect red blood cell production and lead to an anaemia. If your family has a history of an inherited anaemia, you also may be at increased risk of the condition. With treatment, many anaemia s can be eliminated. Iron deficiency anaemia should go away once the iron stores are restored and any source of internal bleeding is stopped. Vitamin deficiency anaemia s often can be successfully treated with supplements.

Many types of anaemia s can’t be prevented. However, you can help avoid iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin deficiency anaemia by eating a healthy, varied diet that includes foods rich in iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12. Foods rich in iron include clams, oysters, meat - red and white - beans and peas, iron-fortified cereals, whole-grain breads and pastas, dark green, leafy vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and seeds. Folic acid is found in fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products, fortified breakfast cereals and beans. Vitamin B-12 is plentiful in meat and dairy products. Eating plenty of iron-containing foods is particularly important for people who have high iron requirements, such as children - iron is needed during growth spurts - and pregnant and menstruating women. Adequate iron intake is also crucial for infants, strict vegetarians and people following weight-reduction diets.

Doctors may prescribe iron supplements or multivitamins containing iron for people with high iron requirements. But iron supplements are appropriate only when you need more iron than a balanced diet can provide. If you’re feeling fatigued for unexplained reasons, especially if you’re at risk of anaemia, you may want to see your doctor. Some anaemia’s, such as iron deficiency anaemia, are common. But don’t assume that if you’re tired, you must be anaemic. Fatigue has many causes beyond anaemia. Overloading your body with iron also can be serious.

Some people learn that their haemoglobin is low, which indicates anaemia, when they go to donate blood. Low haemoglobin 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. If you’re told that you can’t donate blood because of low haemoglobin, ask your doctor whether you should be concerned.

If you have a family history of an inherited anaemia, such as sickle cell anaemia, talk to your doctor and possibly a genetic counsellor about your risk and what risks you may pass onto your children.

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