Anemia: Low Red Blood Cell Count
comparative Essay
622 words
Definition: Anemia is a common condition that afflicts many people around the world. Anemia is a Greek word meaning ‘without blood’. The modern definition of Anemia is any condition characterized by an abnormal decrease in the body’s total red blood cell mass. It is also defined as a condition in which a person has fewer red blood cells than normal and feels very weak and tired.
Anemia Causes: The causes of Anemia are all related to the Red Blood Cells (RBC). It is cause d mainly due to impaired RBC production or increased RBC destruction and is caused due to blood loss and fluid overload. The most common cause of anemia is blood loss, although this does not have any permanent symptoms. Excessive blood loss can be caused by stomach ulcers, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the stomach, cancer, some medications, childbirth, mensuration, surgery and trauma in accidents. Immune reactions, some medications, infections, medical procedures and toxins for example using a heart-lung bypass machine, or hemodialysis can cause hemolysis. Diet and hormones also play a key role in the development of anemia. A diet that lacks iron, Vitamin B12 or folic acid can forestall the body from performing enough red blood cells.
Symptoms of the Disease: When suffers from Anemia, the symptoms are not obvious soon. The symptoms of anemia depend on the condition or according to the cause of the anemia. Lethargy and tiredness are the most public symptoms of anemia and the most pronounced. Lethargy is a mental condition in which a person does not feel like working and fatigue is a physical condition in which a person feels he does not have enough energy to work. Another symptoms are malaise (seems that one is not well), dyspnea (shortness of breath; breathing hard or difficult), poor concentration, palpitations and sensitivity to acold temperatures.
Treatment of the Disease: Anemia is diagnosed through a blood test and once the doctor identifies the cause of anemia there are different treatment options available. Treatments may have dietary changes or supplements, medicines, procedures, or surgery to treat blood loss. The goal of treatment is to modify the average of oxygen that the blood can carry.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that anemia is a common condition that afflicts many people around the world.
- Explains the causes of anemia, which are related to the red blood cells. excessive blood loss can be caused by stomach ulcers, hemorrhoids, inflammation of the stomach, cancer, medications, medical procedures, and toxins.
- Explains that the symptoms of anemia depend on the condition or according to the cause of the disease. lethargy and tiredness are the most pronounced.
- Explains that anemia is diagnosed through a blood test and there are different treatment options available. the goal of treatment is to modify the average of oxygen that the blood can carry.
- Advises patients whose diets are lacking in iron to consume plenty of iron-rich foods, such as dark-green leafy vegetables, artichokes, apricots, beans, lentils
- Explains that to raise the vitamin or iron level, the doctor may prescribe vitamin and iron supplements, such as vitamin b12 and folic acid.
- Explains blood transfusions and blood and marrow stem cell transplants. patients with anemia may need surgery.
- Advises that anemia should be diagnosed at the earliest and a doctor's advice should include taking the proper medications and making dietary changes where necessary.
- Cites garrison, cheryl, national heart, lung and blood institute, and nordqvist, christian.
Related
- explanatory
- The Most Common Blood Disorder: Anemiaexplanatory essayAnemia 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the importance of determining the cause of anemia, which may be a sign of serious illness.
- Explains that some types of anemia cannot be prevented. sickle-cell disease is an example of this.
- Explains that anemia is the most common blood disorder among women. it is not only one type, but it is over twenty different types.
- Explains that anemia causes, symptoms, treatment - when to seek medical care on emedicinehealth.
- Explains that anemia affects about 3.5 million americans and is the most common blood condition in the u.s.
- Explains the mayo clinic's "anemia: symptoms" website and the webmd website.
1100 wordsRead More - Diagnosing and Treating Iron Deficiency Anemiaexplanatory essayAnemia is a condition in which your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. These cells play an important role because are the main carriers of oxygen to your organs. They take up oxygen from the lungs and release carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Without the red blood cells, you body wouldn’t get any oxygen or carbon dioxide and your body would slowly die. Anemia can be mild or severe. It can be so mild, that people go a long time without even know they have it. They’ll start to realize it the worse it gets.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that anemia is a condition in which your blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells, which are the main carriers of oxygen to your organs.
- Explains that there are over 400 types of anemia, including sckle cell, pernicious, and aplastic. all of them fall back on red blood cells.
- Explains that anemia is most common in women, about 3.5 million americans are diagnosed with it. bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin.
- Explains that anemia is something that you can go a long time without knowing you have it. the symptoms vary from person to person and include: weakness, pale skin, dizziness or lightheadedness, extreme fatigue, cold feet and hands.
- Explains that iron deficiency anemia can occur if one doesn't take enough iron and loses a large amount of blood due to menstruation or pregnancy. other reasons include frequent blood donation and digestive conditions.
- Describes how they were diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia when they fainted in a movie theater after loosing blood from their menstrual cycle.
- Describes how they had lightheadedness, pale skin, extreme weakness, and restless legs syndrome. once the doctor explained to them what they could do, they began to feel better.
- Explains that anemia can be treated in many ways. it is up to one's physician to know the right treatment.
- Opines that it is possible to live with anemia and forget it. it doesn't have to be severe. when your bone marrow can produce enough red blood cells again, it can go away.
788 wordsRead More - Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemiaexplanatory essayOn September 1st, 2010, I took my six-year old to the doctor to ascertain why he was so weak and to determine the underlying causes of his condition. The doctor ordered a complete blood count test or CBC blood test to measure his red blood and white blood cell count. A CBC blood test is the main test that is used to make a general diagnosis of anemia. A CBC blood test involves taking a small blood sample and analyzing the number of red and white blood cells and the number of blood platelets in the blood. (American Association for Clinical Chemistry, 2009). When the CBC test results came back, it showed that his white blood cell count was highly elevated and his red blood cell count was unusually low. Following the ...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the immune system is a defense system that shields the body against invasion from infections and other diseases.
- Describes how they decided to explore autoimmune hemolytic anemia when their six-year-old was diagnosed with the disease in september. he experienced extreme weakness, unable to walk without collapsing from exhaustion, and lost his appetite to eat.
- Describes how they took their six-year-old to the doctor to determine why he was so weak and determine the underlying causes of his condition.
- Explains that an autoimmune disorder occurs when the immune system inadvertently mistakes its own red blood cells as invaders and makes antibodies that attack and destroy the body’s own red blood cells.
- Explains that autoimmune hemolytic anemia symptoms may appear rather sudden or come on gradually. the disease is more likely to affect middle-aged and older persons.
- Explains that hemolytic anemia can be diagnosed by a complete blood count or cbc. abnormal results may be an indicator of autoimmune hemolysis, an infection, or another condition.
- Describes how they took their six-year-old back to the doctor for a reevaluation of his condition. although blood tests showed improvement in his red blood cell count, he was still deteriorating.
- Describes how their six-year-old angle succumbed to complications arising from autoimmune hemolytic anemia and abdominal cancer.
- Explains that there are no cures available for autoimmune disorders, since the course of the disorders is unpredictable, it poses problems for medical practitioners to predict what will happen to the patient.
- Explains that franz, janie f. "autoimmune disorders." the gale encyclopedia of medicine. jacqueline l. longe.
- Explains laberge, monique, and davidson, tish. "autoimmune disorders." the gale encyclopedia of medicine. jacqueline l. longe.
- Cites craft, joseph e., and kantor, fred s. in the patient's guide to medical tests.
- Explains that the american association for clinical chemistry has published a complete blood count for hemolytic anemia in the gale encyclopedia of medicine.
1048 wordsRead More - Pernicious anemiaexplanatory essayAnemia is a disorder of the blood. It occurs when your body does not produce enough erythrocytes or red blood cells. Without the erythrocytes oxygen cannot be adequately delivered to the tissues and organs throughout the body. There are several different types of anemia. Some of these include haemorrhagic, iron-deficiency, aplastic, and pernicious. Pernicious anemia is one of many types of the larger family of megaloblastic anemias. It is a condition in which the body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn't have enough vitamin B12 circulating in the blood. It is characterized by an abnormal or megaloblastic type of erythropoiesis in which red blood cells appear larger than regular red blood cells. These large numbers of immature or incompletely developed cells do not function like healthy red blood cells leading to oxygen deficiency throughout the organs and tissues of the body. Since these cells are underdeveloped they also have a shorter life expectancy.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that anemia occurs when the body does not produce enough erythrocytes or red blood cells and oxygen cannot be adequately delivered to the tissues and organs.
- Explains that pernicious anemia has been studied by many different researchers, starting in the late 17th century.
- Explains that pernicious anemia is more prevalent in people of northern european and celtic descent than any other ethnic group.
- Explains that a person suspected of pernicious anemia can have the following symptoms in relation to the nervous system: numbness, tingling, weakness, bad coordination and personality changes.
- Explains that the most common cause of pernicious anemia is the loss or inefficiency of the parietal cells lining the stomach.
- Explains that pa is relatively easy to treat, but signs and symptoms can go unnoticed and can be fatal if left untreated.
1114 wordsRead More - Anemia is a medical condition which is a decrease in the count of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to all of the body parts. Infants that are born premature are often anemic. Babies may develop Anemia for many reasons some of which are not developing enough red blood cells in the first few weeks after they are born, their red blood cells have a shorter life span than those in adults, and blood that is being taken for testing. Anemia in newborns is usually diagnosed with a Complete Blood Count (CBC). Many infants tend to have a mild form of Anemia that does not require any treatment. Infants who are anemic may stop breathing for 20 seconds or more, have a higher heart rate, and may feel sleepy. Treatments may include dietary iron supplements, and drugs that increase the production of red blood cells. Severe cases of Anemia which are caused by Hemolytic Disease in premature newborns weighing less than 2 pounds require red blood cell transfusions.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that premature infants may experience a pause in breathing, which is called an apnea. the baby stops breathing for 15-20 seconds, heart rate lowers, and the skin color changes to blue from lack of oxygen.
- Explains that jaundice occurs when the liver is not developed and isn't able to remove a product called bilirubin from the blood.
- Explains that an nicu is a neonatal intensive care unit designed to treat various medical conditions for premature infants.
- Necrotizing enterocolitis is a gastrointestinal disease that affects one to five percent of premature newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit. sepsis is another medical condition that is more common in infants than in anyone else.
1151 wordsRead More - Pernicious Anemiaexplanatory essayPernicious anemia is a condition in which the body is unable to make an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells because it is lacking vitamin B12. When a person lacks intrinsic factor, a protein made in the stomach, they are unable to absorb enough vitamin B12, which leads to vitamin B12 deficiency and pernicious anemia. When there is a lack of B12, your red blood cells are unable to divide normally and will be too large to get out of the bone marrow properly. Without enough red blood cells carrying oxygen throughout your body, you may begin to feel tired and weak. This lack of oxygen can damage organs in the body, including the heart and brain.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that pernicious anemia occurs when the body is unable to make an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells because it is lacking vitamin b12.
- Explains that pernicious anemia is most commonly found in people of northern european or african descent. older individuals have a more difficult time absorbing vitamin b12.
- Explains that vitamin b12 deficiency can lead to nerve damage, loss of reflexes, and muscle weakness. a lack of red blood cells causes the heart to work harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to the entire body.
- Explains that primary care doctors can diagnose and treat pernicious anemia by checking for pale or yellowish skin, an enlarged liver, irregular rhythms, and a blood test.
- Explains the goals of pernicious anemia treatment, such as preventing or treating its signs and symptoms, managing complications, and treating the cause.
- Explains that one can prevent pernicious anemia caused by a lack of intrinsic factor by eating foods high in vitamin b12.
- Explains that having pernicious anemia may require lifelong treatment, but you can recover, feel well, and live a normal life.
- Concludes that pernicious anemia is a serious condition that can be treated and controlled, but treatment may be lifelong.
840 wordsRead More - “Sickle Cell Disease & Thalassemia”explanatory essay‘Thalassemia,’ on the other hand, is a disorder caused by the weakening and destruction of the red blood cells. People with thalassemia make less hemoglobin and fewer circulating red blood cells than normal, which results in mild or severe anemia.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sickle cell disease and thalassemia are two of the most common blood disorders among humans.
- Explains that sickle cell disease is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene.
- Explains that the'sickled' cells, no longer flexible but anomalously rigid, are unable to move freely through the blood capillaries, creating obstruction in the regular blood flow.
- Explains that thalassemia is a disorder caused by the weakening and destruction of the red blood cells, which results in mild or severe anemia.
- Explains that thalassemia occurs when there is a defect in the production of hemoglobin proteins.
- Explains that the lack of rbc and hemoglobin is characterised as anemia, so both ‘sickle cell disease’ and ‘thalassemia’ are different forms.
- Explains that sickle cell disease and thalassemia are hereditary diseases. both parents must be carriers of the disease.
- Explains that sickle-cell disease occurs more commonly among people whose ancestors lived in tropical and subtropical regions where malaria was common. thalassemia has its origin in areas with high malaria risk.
- Explains that bone marrow transplant at a younger age has almost eighty percent possibility of curing the diseases. multiple blood transfusion leads to excess iron content in the blood which has to be removed by medication.
- Explains that while ‘sickle cell disease’ and ‘thalassemia’ are separate diseases, they have a lot in common.
818 wordsRead More - Sickle Cell Anemiaexplanatory essaySickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that affects hemoglobin (pronounced: hee-muh-glow-bin), a protein found in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout the body.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sickle cell anemia is a hereditary disorder that affects people of african ancestry, but also occurs in other ethnic groups.
- Explains that sickle cell anemia affects hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Explains that teenagers with sickle cell anemia may develop jaundice (pronounced: jon-dis), a condition that results from the high rate of red blood cell breakdown.
- Explains that there is no cure for sickle cell anemia, and it is possible for some people to die. doctors can provide treatments that help prevent complications from the disease.
1107 wordsRead More - Sickle Cell Anemia Essayexplanatory essaySickle cell anemia is a type of sickle cell disease that results in chronic anemia. Chronic anemia occurs when the body has less than the normal amount of red blood cells. This causes the body to be suppl...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the sickle cell shape causes the red blood cells to hit the wall of the blood vessels that surround them, and the connective tissue becomes blocked, damaged and scratched.
- Explains that sickle cell anemia affects millions of people around the world, with about 70,000 americans inheriting the disease, and many others carrying the sickle cell trait.
- Explains that in sickle cell disease, the hbb gene that encodes the beta globin gene on chromosome 11 is mutated creating a point mutation.
- Explains that if the tissues aren't receiving blood, organs like the heart, spleen, kidneys, and lungs will become damaged. people with sickle cell anemia are prone to infections and sickness.
1969 wordsRead More - Sickle Cell Anemiaexplanatory essaySickle cell anemia is a blood disorder that is inherited from both parents in which the body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells. In sickle cell anemia, the hemoglobin in red blood cells links together; resulting in the red blood cells to become rigid and a C-shaped. These deformed cells block blood and oxygen flow in blood vessels. Sickle cells deteriorate quicker than normal red blood cells, which results in anemia.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that sickle cell anemia is a blood disorder inherited from both parents in which the body produces abnormally shaped red blood cells.
- Explains that sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder that requires two copies of the gene, one from each parent. people with the illness can pass the deformed gene on to their children.
- Explains that sickle cell anemia causes many complications due to the blockage of blood flow in the arteries.
- Explains that each red blood cell in the human body contains about 280 million hemoglobin molecules, which cause regular oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. the sickle cell reduces or denies adequate oxygen to many major parts of the body.
- Explains that there are two different types of hemoglobin. hemoglobine a is the molecule found in normal red blood cells.
- Explains that sickle-shaped cells cringe to the walls of arteries and cannot squeeze through capillaries, which deprive tissues and organs of oxygen. sickle cells have a shorter life span than normal red blood cells.
- Explains that the only true way to determine if someone has sickle cell anemia is through a blood test. there are medicines that help to prevent attacks and anti-inflammorty medicines help with joint pain associated with this disease.
631 wordsRead More