The Most Common Blood Disorder: Anemia

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Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body isn't getting enough oxygen. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe someone with anemia as having a low blood count. A person who has anemia is called anemic. It can reduce your quality of life and increase your risk of death. Anemia is the most common blood condition in the U.S. It affects about 3.5 million Americans (E medicine 1). Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of anemia (Mayo Clinic 1). Certain forms of anemia are hereditary and infants may be affected from the time of birth. Women in the childbearing years are particularly susceptible to a form of anemia called iron-deficiency anemia, which is the most common because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy. Seniors also may have a greater risk of developing anemia because of poor diet and other medical conditions.

There are many types of anemia. All are very different in their causes and treatments. Some forms of anemia, like the anemia that develops during pregnancy are even considered normal. Some other types of Anemia include Folic acid deficiency anemia- when levels of folic acid are low because of inadequate dietary intake or faulty absorption, Pernicious anemia- when the inability of the body to properly absorb vitamin B12, Hemolytic anemia- when the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely, Sickle cell anemia-when inherited abnormality of hemoglobin and occurs mainly in people of African or Mediterranean decent, and Aplastic anemia- when there is a decreased bone marr...

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... each day, eat a healthy diet to keep up your strength, and lastly speak to your doctor or a professional health care team about medicines you can take to help manage your anemia.

Works Cited

"Anemia Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - When to Seek Medical Care on EMedicineHealth." Emedicine Health. May 2003. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .

"Anemia." PubMed Health. Apr. 2009. Web. 12 Apr. 2011. .

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Anemia: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. 1998. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .

Staff, WebMD. "How Anemia Is Diagnosed and Treated." WebMD - Better Information. Better Health. Web. 14 Apr. 2011. .

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