Anemia is a condition where the blood has fewer red blood cells than normal, leading to a lack of oxygen throughout the body. This can cause symptoms like tiredness and shortness of breath that may be severe enough to require hospitalization for some people with anemia. This article will tell you everything about anemia so you know when to make an online appointment with the best cardiologist in Kolkata.
What Are The Types of Anemia?
Following are the types of anemia:
Aplastic Anaemia:
Aplastic anemia is when the body cannot produce enough new blood cells. It is most common among teens and young adults but can affect people of all ages. Aplastic anemia occurs when stem cells fail to form enough red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets (which are necessary for normal blood clotting).
Thalassemia:
Thalassemia is a group of hereditary blood disorders affecting hemoglobin production. People with thalassemia have less hemoglobin in their red blood cells than would typically be present, which results in reduced oxygen-carrying ability and fatigue.
Sickle cell anemia:
Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary blood disorder that results in abnormal hemoglobin. This leads to red blood cells with crescent or sickle shape rather than the regular doughnut-shaped discus, which can cause blockages in small vessels and reduce circulation.
Iron deficiency anemia:
It is one of the most common types of anemia. It can be caused by:
- Lack or deficiency in iron intake and absorption (most prevalent cause)
- Intestinal blood loss, such as ulcers; stomach cancer; inflammatory bowel disease; hemorrhoids; colon polyps; cancers outside the digestive tract, such as leukemia and lymphoma; and menstrual blood loss.
What Are The Causes of Anemia?
There are many reasons a person may be anemic. Some of these causes include blood loss, certain medications and medical treatments, chronic disease states such as liver or kidney failure, gastrointestinal disorders like ulcers or inflammatory bowel diseases where there is prolonged bleeding in the gut, which can result in iron deficiency anemia (IDA), endocrine issues including thyroid problems, diabetes where there are chronic blood sugar issues which can also result in IDA and other nutrient deficiencies.
What Are The Symptoms of Anemia?
Anemia can be challenging to identify because the symptoms are not always immediately present. When anemia is acute or sudden in onset, it may cause more apparent signs and symptoms that you should seek immediate medical attention for. These include fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, or dizziness when standing up quickly.
Blurry vision, headaches, irritability, and palpitations are also symptoms of anemia. Symptoms may look similar to other conditions or medical problems, so you must talk with your healthcare provider through an online appointment or offline appointment for a diagnosis.
How is Anemia Diagnosed?
Following are the way through which anemia is diagnosed by the best cardiologist in Kolkata:
Complete Blood Count:
The complete blood count test can help individuals know about their hemoglobin and red blood cell levels. The doctor will usually order this test for patients who have symptoms of anemia or those with a history of low red blood cell counts. Then, the results are sent back for further analysis, in which case it might be concluded as per the patient’s symptoms.
How is Anemia Treated?
Following are the treatment options for anemia:
- Iron supplements
- Vitamin B12 shots or dietary supplementation with vitamin B12
- Folate pills, injections, or intramuscular injection of folate. These are also called prenatal vitamins because they are often prescribed to pregnant women by their doctors to prevent neural tube defects in babies. The recommended dosage for pregnant women is 600 micrograms of folate per day.
- Blood transfusion
- Corticosteroids (such as prednisone) can help stimulate the production of red blood cells. However, long-term use of steroids is not practical for treating anemia. They cause numerous side effects throughout the body and suppress natural hormone production in many parts of the endocrine system.
- Bone marrow transplant is very effective, but it can be risky, so this treatment option should only be used when other options are not available.
Anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. It can cause symptoms like fatigue, pale skin, and breathlessness. Anemia has several causes, including genetic diseases, iron deficiency anemia (IDA), or vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (Vitamin B12). The treatment of anemia depends on the cause of it.
