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Causes of Anemia

The staff at the Mayo Clinic explain that anemia is a condition where a healthy person does not have enough red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to their tissues and the most prevalent symptom is feeling tired all the time.  Further, they report, “There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause.  Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.”

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the three main causes of anemia are:

  1. Blood loss – If a lot of blood is lost, the body may lose enough red blood cells to cause anemia.
  2. Lack of red blood cell production – Both acquired and inherited conditions and factors can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells. Examples of acquired conditions and factors that can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells include diet, hormones, some chronic (ongoing) diseases, and pregnancy.
  3. High rates of red blood cell destruction – Both acquired and inherited conditions and factors can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells. One example of an acquired condition that can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells is an enlarged or diseased spleen. Examples of inherited conditions that can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells include sickle cell anemia, thalassemias, and lack of certain enzymes.

Additionally, they note that some people have anemia due to more than one of these factors.

More of a Symptom than a Problem
Dr. Andrew Artz, a hematologist from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine believes that, “Anemia is often considered to be relatively harmless, but should always prompt further evaluation as to what caused it.  Worsening anemia may lead to considerable problems.” The National Anemia Action Council reports, “A lack of iron, known as iron deficiency, is the most common cause of anemia. Your doctor may conduct some blood tests to check the level of iron in your blood and the level of other proteins which help move iron within your body.”

The experts at Merck confirm that the causes and severity of the anemia is will affect the symptoms:

Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the anemia and how rapidly it develops. Some people with mild anemia, particularly when it develops slowly, have no symptoms at all. Other people may experience symptoms only with physical exertion. More severe anemia may produce symptoms even when people are resting. Symptoms are more severe when mild or severe anemia develops rapidly, such as with bleeding that occurs when a blood vessel ruptures.

Mild anemia often causes fatigue, weakness, and paleness. In addition to these symptoms, more severe anemia may produce faintness, dizziness, increased thirst, sweating, a weak and rapid pulse, and rapid breathing. Severe anemia may produce painful lower leg cramps during exercise, shortness of breath, and chest pain, especially if people already have impaired blood circulation in the legs or certain types of lung or heart disease.

Sometimes anemia is detected before people notice symptoms, when routine blood tests are done.

Low levels of hemoglobin and a low hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume) found in a blood sample confirm the anemia. Other tests, such as examining a blood sample under a microscope and less often examining a sample taken from the bone marrow, help determine the cause of the anemia.

Because of the many causes of anemia and high potential for serious trouble, the Mayo Clinic doctors urge patients to “See your doctor if you suspect you have anemia, because anemia can be a sign of serious illnesses. Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing medical procedures. You may be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.

Sources Include

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anemia/ds00321

http://www.anemia.org/

http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec14/ch172/ch172a.html

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/anemia/anemia_causes.html


According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the threeCauses of Anemia
The staff at the Mayo Clinic explain that anemia is a condition where a healthy person does not have enough red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to their tissues and the most prevalent symptom is feeling tired all the time. Further, they report, “There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.”
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, the three main causes of anemia are:
1.Blood loss – If a lot of blood is lost, the body may lose enough red blood cells to cause anemia.
2.Lack of red blood cell production – Both acquired and inherited conditions and factors can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells. Examples of acquired conditions and factors that can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells include diet, hormones, some chronic (ongoing) diseases, and pregnancy.
3.High rates of red blood cell destruction – Both acquired and inherited conditions and factors can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells. One example of an acquired condition that can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells is an enlarged or diseased spleen. Examples of inherited conditions that can cause your body to destroy too many red blood cells include sickle cell anemia, thalassemias, and lack of certain enzymes
Additionally, they note that some people have anemia due to more than one of these factors.
Dr. Andrew Artz, a hematologist from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine believes that, “Anemia is often considered to be relatively harmless, but should always prompt further evaluation as to what caused it. Worsening anemia may lead to considerable problems.” The National Anemia Action Council reports, “A lack of iron, known as iron deficiency, is the most common cause of anemia. Your doctor may conduct some blood tests to check the level of iron in your blood and the level of other proteins which help move iron within your body.”
The experts at Merck confirm that the causes and severity of the anemia is will affect the symptoms:
Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the anemia and how rapidly it develops. Some people with mild anemia, particularly when it develops slowly, have no symptoms at all. Other people may experience symptoms only with physical exertion. More severe anemia may produce symptoms even when people are resting. Symptoms are more severe when mild or severe anemia develops rapidly, such as with bleeding that occurs when a blood vessel ruptures.
Mild anemia often causes fatigue, weakness, and paleness. In addition to these symptoms, more severe anemia may produce faintness, dizziness, increased thirst, sweating, a weak and rapid pulse, and rapid breathing. Severe anemia may produce painful lower leg cramps during exercise, shortness of breath, and chest pain, especially if people already have impaired blood circulation in the legs or certain types of lung or heart disease.
Sometimes anemia is detected before people notice symptoms, when routine blood tests are done.
Low levels of hemoglobin and a low hematocrit (the percentage of red blood cells in the total blood volume) found in a blood sample confirm the anemia. Other tests, such as examining a blood sample under a microscope and less often examining a sample taken from the bone marrow, help determine the cause of the anemia.
The Mayo Clnic doctors urge patients to seek medical attention in any case, “See your doctor if you suspect you have anemia, because anemia can be a sign of serious illnesses. Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing medical procedures. You may be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.
main causes of anemia are:

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 12:54 am and is filed under Health Issues. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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