anemia

What is anemia? The MayoClinic defines “anemia" as a condition characterized by a lower-than-normal level of red blood cells, which leads to iron deficiency. There are many different types of anemia which include Iron-deficiency anemia,which has been associated with a low dietary intake of iron. There are two forms of dietary iron: heme and nonheme. Heme iron is the best source of iron and is found in animal foods such as red meats, fish, and poultry. Nonheme iron is found in plant foods such as lentils and beans.

Some direct causes of anemia may include blood loss (from injury or surgery), and blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, aplastic anemia. Other diseases such as cancer, kidney disease or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and medical treatments such as chemotherapy or AZT can also cause anemia.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 iron-deficiency anemia because of the blood loss from menstruation and the increased blood supply demands during pregnancy. Anemia also poses a greater risk in adults due to poor diet and other medical conditions.Although anemia is primarily defined as an iron deficiency condition, it can also result from folate and/or vitamin B12 deficiency, two vitamins required to produce and maintain the health of new cells. When caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, the anemia is called pernicious anemia.

Common symptoms of anemia include:

• weakness

• pale skin

• fast, irregular heartbeat

• shortness of breath

• chest pains

• dizziness

• coldness in extremities

• headache

Diagnosed of Anemia is done by taking the medical history of the patient, performing a ph...

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...for hemolytic anemia, it can often be successfully controlled, but outcomes depend on the cause and the severity of the anemia. The symptoms and complications of sickle cell anemia can often be treated, but there is no cure for the condition.

Even though some forms of anemia cannot be prevented, iron deficiency and vitamin deficiency anemias can be avoided by eating a healthy, varied diet that includes foods rich in iron, folate and vitamin B12.

Works Cited

Anemia." MayoClinic.com . February 21, 2007 [cited April 9, 2008]. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Guralnik, Jack M., et al. "Anemia in the Elderly: A Public Health Crisis in Hematology." Hematology (January 2005): 528-532. aas, J. D., and T. Brownlie. "Iron Deficiency : A Critical Review of the Research to Determine a Causal Relationship." World Health Organization(WHO) 85 (2001): S75-S80.