VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Klaudia Kierzkowska, graduate of chemistry at the University of Warsaw

Anemia symptoms usually come on slowly and gradually. What is anemia? One of the blood diseases in which the level of hemoglobin is lowered. Regardless of its type, patients experience a feeling of weakness, drowsiness or pale skin. What causes anemia? What are the treatments for her?

Anemia, otherwise known as anemia,is one of the most common hematological diseases (blood diseases) that affects children, adults and the elderly. It develops as a result of an insufficient amount of red blood cells, i.e. erythrocytes, or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin contained in them. Abnormalities in the parameters of anemia can be distributed in different ways, such as when hemoglobin levels decline, which is not necessarily accompanied by a decline in red blood cells. The primary criterion is that the amount of total hemoglobin is reduced compared to accepted norms, which are dependent on gender and age.

Diagnostic criterion for anemia

Anemia occurs when the hemoglobin concentration is below:

  • 11 g / dl in children up to 6 years old,
  • 12 g / dl in children 6 to 14 years old,
  • 12 g / dl in women,
  • 11 g / dl in pregnant women,
  • 13 g / dl in men.

Another tested parameter is hematocrit, and the correct value should be in the range:

  • newborns from 44 to 80 percent,
  • women from 35 to 47 percent,
  • men from 42% to 52%

Anemia symptoms

Symptoms of anemiamost often appear gradually, and their intensity depends on the hemoglobin concentration. Anemia can cause a variety of symptoms, the most common being:

  • pale skin,
  • general weakness of the body,
  • dizziness,
  • tendency to faint,
  • shortness of breath,
  • problems with concentration,
  • muscle spasms,
  • feeling cold,
  • faster heart rate, especially during exercise,
  • increased susceptibility to infections.

Anemia - breakdown of anemia

There are several divisions of anemia, including: causesanemia , red cell indicators (parameters) (MCV, MCHC, MCH).

Anemia can be divided according to the degree of its intensity, which is directly related to the hemoglobin concentration.Following this criterion, we can distinguish anemia:

  • mild - hemoglobin concentration is 10 to 12 g / dL,
  • moderate - hemoglobin concentration is 8 to 9.9 g / dL,
  • severe - hemoglobin concentration is 6.5 to 7.9 g / dL,
  • Life-threatening - Hemoglobin is less than 6.5 g / dL.

Another division distinguishes the following types of anemia:

  • related to abnormal red blood cell and / or hemoglobin production
    • deficiency anemia (iron, vitamin B12, folic acid) - check how to quickly replenish vitamin B12 deficiency,
    • anemia due to aplasia or bone marrow hypoplasia,
    • anemia accompanying leukemia, collagenosis, liver disease, kidney disease or infections
  • haemolytic anemia associated with a shortened lifetime of erythrocytes and their faster breakdown
    • acquired (e.g. after taking certain medications)
    • inborn (e.g. of genetic background)
  • anemia as a result of blood loss
    • haemorrhage (acute anemia)
    • occult bleeding (chronic anemia).

Another division of anemia takes into account the morphological features:

  • microcytic anemia, e.g. iron deficiency, chronic lead poisoning,
  • normocytic anemia, e.g. congenital or acquired hemolytic anemia,
  • macrocytic anemia, e.g. vitamin B12 and / or folate deficiency.
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Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common and common type of anemia. It is estimated that it concerns up to 80 percent. cases. This type of anemia can be caused by malnutrition or starvation, with infants, premature babies and children up to three years of age being the greatest risk group.

Too little of the necessary ingredients reduces the production of hemoglobin and enzymes. Relatively often, the main causes of iron deficiency are intestinal parasites, malabsorption syndrome, as well as increased demand, e.g. in menstruating or pregnant women.

People struggling with iron deficiency anemia often struggle with brittleness and hair loss, mouth corners and brittle nails. Weakness, fatigue and pale skin appear.

In this case, immediately see a doctor for confirmation / or exclusionanemia and start appropriate treatment.

After conducting an interview and receiving the results of laboratory tests, the doctor must find the cause of the disease, which may be the result of:

  • Insufficient iron supply as a consequence of losing weight or following a vegetarian diet.
  • Increased iron requirement, e.g. during pregnancy, during lactation.
  • Poor iron absorption, e.g. in people after gastric resection surgery.
  • Chronic iron loss, which may be caused by urinary tract bleeding, gastric bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and vaginal bleeding.
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Iron deficiency anemia - what tests should be done?

To confirm anemia caused by iron deficiency, it is necessary to perform a laboratory blood test:

  • iron concentration,
  • content and volume of red blood cells,
  • blood cell hemoglobin concentration,
  • hematocrit.

The information on iron concentration is extremely important, but also:

  • concentration of transferrin (Tf),
  • iron transferrin saturation (TfS),
  • sTfR level,
  • total iron binding capacity (TIBC)
  • and latent iron binding capacity (UIBC).

Hemolytic anemia

Is associated with faster / premature breakdown of red blood cells (erythrocytes) and excessive destruction of red blood cells. There is increased intravascular or extravascular haemolysis (in organs such as the liver).

There are two types of haemolytic anemia - congenital, which arises as a result of an abnormal structure of blood cells, or acquired, where good blood cells are damaged for immunological reasons.

The most common symptoms of hemolytic anemia are yellowing of the skin, enlarged spleen, and enlarged liver. There is also an increase in the level of bilirubin and reticulocytes, as well as increased levels of urobilinogen in urine, stercoilinogen in feces and increased erythropoiesis in the bone marrow.

Treatment of haemolytic anemia is based on the use of immunosuppressive glucocorticosteroids and drug discontinuation,that may affect the development of haemolytic anemia. In case of emergency, blood transfusion is necessary.

Aplastic anemia

It is a disease associated with the atrophy (aplasia) of the bone marrow. In aplastic anemia, disturbances in the normal hematopoietic functions of the bone marrow and a decrease in the number of blood morphotic elements are observed. It can be congenital, acquired or idiopathic, but the most common is the idiopathic form, where the marrow cells are destroyed by T lymphocytes.

Aplastic anemia occurs in people of all ages, can occur suddenly and last for a long time. Her severe form even causes death. Although the reasons for the uprising are not fully understood, its development may be influenced by:

  • connective tissue diseases,
  • autoimmune dysfunctions,
  • viral infections,
  • radiation therapy,
  • chemotherapy,
  • contact with benzene,
  • contact with insecticides.

Treatment depends on the severity of the disease, as well as the patient's condition and age. The most common way is to eliminate the effects of radiation and harmful drugs. It also includes bone marrow transplant and immunosuppressive treatment.

To alleviate blood count deficiencies, use antibiotics and antifungal drugs to prevent infections.

Haemorrhagic anemia

Appears in the event of large blood loss resulting from trauma hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and vaginal bleeding. The most common symptoms of haemorrhagic anemia are:

  • cold sweat,
  • drop in body temperature,
  • hypovolemic shock,
  • loss of consciousness
  • and disturbed consciousness.

Anemia in pregnancy

This is one of the more common complications that occurs in up to 35 percent of women in the first trimester. During pregnancy, the body of the expectant mother produces 20 percent more. the amount of red blood cells to ensure the proper development of the fetus. The total blood volume in the body also increases.

However, since the total blood volume increases more than the red blood cell volume, their concentration decreases, which leads to the development of gestational anemia. If the level of erythrocytes keeps decreasing, dangerous consequences may appear, e.g. preterm labor.

That is why it is so important to regularly undergo blood tests during pregnancy, proper nutrition and supplementation of folic acid, iron and vitamin B12 (already at the stage of trying for a baby).

Anemia treatment

Anemia treatmentit is very diverse and depends mainly on its cause and severity. Iron deficiency anemia can be treated with diet and supplementation.

If it is caused by disease, e.g. kidney disease, hormone therapy may be necessary.

In severe cases, anemia may require blood transfusions, bone marrow transplants, and sometimes even removal of the spleen.

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Category:

Cardiology