Anemia - Sign And Symptoms
Definition of Anemia
Anemia is a medical condition in which the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin less than normal. The normal level of hemoglobin is generally different for men and women. For men, anemia is typically defined as a hemoglobin level of less gram/100ml from 13.5 and in women as hemoglobin less than 12.0 gram/100ml. These definitions may vary slightly depending on the source and reference laboratories.
Causes of Anemia
Any process that can disrupt the normal life of red blood cells may cause anemia. Normal lifetime of a typical red blood cell is about 120 days. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow (bone marrow).
Anemia is basically caused by two basic roads. Anemia caused by:
1. by reducing the production of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or
2. by blood loss or destruction.
As classification is more common than anemia (low hemoglobin) based on the MCV, or the volume of red blood cells of individuals.
1. If the MCV is low (less than 80), anemia is categorized as microcytic anemia (low cell volume).
2. If the MCV within the normal range (80-100), he called normocytic anemia (normal cell volume).
3. If the MCV is high, then it is called macrocytic anemia (large cell volume).
Looking at each of the components of a complete blood count (CBC), especially the MCV, doctors can gather clues as to what became the most common cause for anemia.
Iron Deficiency Can Cause Anemia?
Of course! This is because iron is a major component of hemoglobin and is essential for good function of it. Chronic blood loss caused by any cause is the major cause of low iron levels in the body because it thins the body's iron reserves to compensate for the loss of iron that is running. Anemia caused by iron levels are low so-called iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency is a very common cause of anemia.
Women more likely than men to have iron deficiency anemia due to blood loss through menstruation every month is normal. This is generally without any major symptoms because their blood loss is relatively small and temporary.
Iron deficiency anemia can also be caused by repeated minor bleeding, such as cancer of the colon (large intestine) or ulcers (ulcers) of the stomach. Bleeding stomach ulcers may or may not be induced by drugs and even prescription drugs without a very common such as aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). In infants and young children, iron deficiency anemia is most often caused by food (dietary) iron-deficient.
Interpretation of the CBC may lead to clues that suggest this type of anemia. For example, iron deficiency anemia usually presents a low mean corpuscular volume (microcytic anemia) in addition to low hemoglobin.
Acute blood loss (Suddenly) For Cause Anemia
Acute blood loss from internal bleeding (such as from a bleeding ulcer) or external bleeding (such as from trauma) can result in anemia in a short period of time awesome. This type of anemia can result in symptoms and severe consequences if not treated immediately.
Other causes of anemia
Some of the causes The most common include:
* Lack of vitamin B12 may cause pernicious anemia. This type of anemia can occur in people who are unable to absorb vitamin B12 from their intestines caused by a number of reasons:
o-vegetarians are strict vegetarians who may not be taking vitamin supplements is sufficient, or
o alcoholics long term.
This typically causes macrocytic (large cell volume) anemia. Vitamin B12, along with folate, is involved in making heme molecule that is an integral part of hemoglobin. Folate deficiency anemia can be accused of. It may also be caused by inadequate absorption, consumption is less than the green-green, leafy vegetables, and also long-term heavy alcohol use.
* Can be rupture of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) caused by antibodies that attach to the surface of cells of anger (eg, hemolytic disease of newborns and in many other conditions).
* A variety of bone marrow diseases that can cause anemia wide.
o For example, cancers that spread (metastasize) to bone marrow (bone marrow), or cancers of the bone marrow (such as leukemia or multiple myeloma) can cause the bone marrow is not producing enough red blood cells, resulting in anemia .
o Chemotherapy for certain cancers can also cause damage to the bone marrow and reduced production of red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
o certain infections may involve the bone marrow and resulted in the destruction of the bone marrow and anemia.
o Finally, patients with renal failure may lack the hormones needed to stimulate production of red blood cells by bone marrow (bone marrow).
* Another common cause of anemia is called anemia of chronic disease. This can typically occur in individuals with chronic diseases are prolonged.
* Some medications can cause anemia in a variety of ways.
* Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can cause anemia.
Can Anemia Inherited?
Yes, the anemia is probably genetic. Inherited diseases that can shorten the life of red blood cells and lead to anemia (eg, sickle cell anemia). Derivatives diseases can also cause anemia by exacerbating the production of hemoglobin (eg, alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia).
Depending on the degree of genetic disorders, anemia, anemia derivatives may cause a mild anemia, moderate, or severe. In fact, some may be too severe to be in harmony with life and may result in the death of the fetus (unborn child). On the other hand, some of the anemia-anemia is so mild that they are not recorded and revealed by chance during routine blood work.
Symptoms Of Anemia
Some patients with anemia have no symptoms. Others with anemia may feel:
* Tired,
* Easy fatigue,
* Appear pale,
* Develop palpitations (feeling of heart palpitations), and
* Become short of breath.
Additional symptoms may include:
* Loss of hair,
* Malaise (general feeling of malaise), and
* Worsening of heart problems.
It is worth noting that if the anemia is prolonged (chronic anemia), the body may adjust the oxygen levels are low and the individual may not feel any different until anemia becomes severe. On the other hand, if anemia occurs rapidly (acute anemia), the patient may experience significant symptoms relatively quickly.
Diagnosing Anemia
Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by complete blood cell (CBC) count. CBC test may be ordered by a physician as part of a general check-ups and routine screening or based on signs and clinical symptoms that may suggest anemia or other blood abnormalities.
Definition of Complete Blood Cell (CBC) Count
CBC is a test to calculate and examine the different types of cells in the blood. Traditionally, CBC analysis performed by a doctor or lab technician to view the slide prepared from a blood sample under microscope. Today, much of this work is often automated and done by machines. Measurements of six components form a CBC test:
1. Red blood cell (RBC) count, or red blood cell count
2. Hematocrit
3. Hemoglobin
4. White blood cell (WBC) count or white blood cell count
5. Differential blood count (the "diff")
6. Platelet count or platelet count
Only the first three of these tests: red blood cell (RBC) count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin, are relevant to the diagnosis of anemia.
In addition, the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were also frequently reported on the CBC, which essentially measures the average volume of red blood cells in a blood sample. This is important in differentiating the causes of anemia. The units of MCV reported in femtoliters, fractions of one millionth liter.
Other helpful hints on the causes of anemia that was reported on CBC is the size, shape, and color of the red blood cells.
Taking Blood For CBC
Blood was drawn by venipuncture (using a needle to draw blood from a vein) in the lab, hospital, or doctor's office. Typically, blood is drawn in a special sterile tubes from the arm vein. The tube has several preservatives to prevent blood clotting. The results may be available within one hour or longer depending on the setting.
In some instances, where the practice of a rapid test called hemoglobin rapid test may be done using a few drops of blood from a finger prick. The advantage of this rapid test is that the results may be obtained within a few minutes and only a few drops of blood may be needed.
Definition of Red Blood Cell (RBC) Count
Red blood cells or red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) are the type of cells that are most common in the blood. We have each with millions of tiny cells are disc shaped. RBC RBC count or calculation performed to determine whether the number of red blood cells is low (anemia) or high (polycythemia).
At RBC count, the number and size of the RBCs is determined. This is usually reported as a number of RBCs per volume of a specific, typically in millions of RBC's in the micro-liters of whole blood. The shape of red blood cells were also evaluated under a microscope. All of this information, numbers, size and shape of the RBCs, is useful in the diagnosis of anemia. Furthermore, the specific type of anemia may be determined by this information.
Definition of Hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is the red pigment that gives red color that is known in red blood cells and in blood. Functionally, hemoglobin is the key chemical compound that combines with oxygen from the lungs and transports oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. Oxygen is essential to all cells in the body to generate power.
Blood also carries carbon dioxide, which is a waste product of this energy production process, back to the lungs from which it is exhaled into the air. Transport of carbon dioxide back into the lung is also carried by hemoglobin. Carbon dioxide bound to hemoglobin in the lungs is released in exchange for oxygen to be transported to body tissues.
The Meaning of Low Hemoglobin Levels
Low hemoglobin is called anemia. When there is a low hemoglobin level, there is often a red blood cell count is low and low hematocrit. The boundaries of reference is a little different from one source to another, but typically less from 13.5 hemoglobin is abnormal in men and less than 12.0 in women.
Definition of hematocrit
Specifically hematocrit is a measure of how much blood is made by the red cells. Hematocrit is a very convenient way to determine whether red blood cell count is too high, too low, or normal. Hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of blood that consists of red blood cells.
Determine the hematocrit
RBCs in the blood samples were packed into small by rotating (spinning) in a centrifuge tube under conditions that have been determined. The proportion of tubes consisting of RBCs is then measured. Tell them that it is 45%. Hematocrit is 45.
Treating Anemia
Treatment of anemia vary enormously. First, the underlying cause of anemia should be identified and corrected. For example, anemia as a result of blood loss from gastric ulcer should begin with medications to treat ulcers (ulcers). Likewise, surgery is often necessary to remove the colon cancer that cause chronic blood loss and anemia.
Sometimes iron supplements will also be needed to correct iron deficiency. In severe anemia, blood transfusions may be needed. Vitamin B12 injections will be necessary for patients who suffer from pernicious anemia or other causes of B12 deficiency.
In certain patients with bone marrow disease (or bone marrow damage from chemotherapy) or patients with renal failure, epoetin alfa (Procrit, Epogen) may be used for stimulates production of red blood cells of bone marrow.
If the drug is estimated to be the culprit, then he must be stopped under the direction of doctors who prescribe it.
What are the complications of anemia?
As mentioned earlier, hemoglobin has an important role delivering oxygen to all parts of the body for consumption and transport behind the carbon dioxide to the lungs to exhale out of the body. If the hemoglobin level is too low, this process may disturb, resulting in the body has a low oxygen level (hypoxia).
Prognosis For Anemia
Anemia generally have an excellent prognosis and it may be cured in many events. The overall prognosis depends on the underlying cause of anemia, severity, and overall health of the patient.
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