Anemia is a set of conditions that occur as a result of insufficient oxygen transport to the tissues due to the lack of healthy and sufficient red blood cells. Anemia is most often manifested by weakness and fatigue.
Anemia has many causes and types. Depending on whether anemia is short or long-term, the effects on the person can be serious or mild.
If you think you have anemia, you should definitely see a doctor. Because it can be a harbinger of many serious diseases. Treatment of anemia ranges from simple nutritional support to serious medical treatments (drugs, blood transfusion). It is possible to protect ourselves from some types of anemia only by eating healthy and by following the recommended diets.
What are the symptoms?
Fatigue
Pale skin
Palpitation
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness
Attention deficit
Cold hands and feet
Headache
Many of these symptoms may be absent in the mild anemia period. As the anemia deepens, the symptoms increase. The clinic sits.
When to see a doctor?
If you feel tired for no reason, you should see a doctor. Some causes of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia, are common. Fatigue can have many other causes, although anemia may be the underlying cause of fatigue. Do not always attribute this to anemia.
Causes of anemia;
our body cannot make enough red blood cells
bleeding: if we are losing more blood than the red blood our body produces
if our body is breaking down our red blood cells
Common causes of anemia :
Anemia due to iron deficiency: Bone marrow needs iron in order to make blood cells. Insufficient iron in the body reduces blood production, thus causing anemia.
Anemia due to vitamin deficiency: In addition to iron for healthy blood cells, our body also needs folate and vitamin B12. The deficiency of these vitamins in the diet causes anemia. Sometimes, although we get enough of these vitamins from the diet, they cannot be absorbed in the intestines or the body cannot process them and results in anemia.
Anemia due to chronic diseases: In some chronic diseases such as; Anemia occurs in cancer, chronic kidney failure, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory diseases. Here, these chronic diseases cause anemia by interfering with the production of red blood cells.
Aplastic anemia (anemia): In this very rare type of anemia, the bone marrow is invaded by adipose tissue and red blood cells cannot be produced from the bone marrow. It can occur due to many diseases, drugs, autoimmune diseases.
Anemia associated with bone marrow disease: In blood diseases such as leukemia (blood cancer) and myelodysplasia, the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells for various reasons. It can cause anemia by suppressing production in the bone marrow, not only in blood cancer, but also in many other types of cancer.
Hemolytic anemias: This type of anemia is caused by the destruction of blood cells in the vessels or some organs, faster and more than the rate at which they are produced in the bone marrow. These anemia can be inherited or develop later
Sickle cell anemia: This inherited disease occurs due to the deformation of red blood cells in the long term, with the destruction of blood cells in vessels or various organs. It is a serious disease.
Other anemias: There are many types of anemia that are less common. For example, thalassemias. In these diseases, there are disorders in hemoglobin, which is the building block of red blood cells.
Risk factors:
Some factors increase the risk of anemia.
Lack of certain vitamins in the diet: Iron, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in the diet increase the risk of anemia.
Intestinal diseases: Intestinal diseases (such as crohn’s disease, celiac disease) that will cause malabsorption increase the risk of anemia. Various surgical bowel resections (removals) can result.
Menstruation (menstruation): Iron deficiency constitutes the greatest risk for anemia in non-menopausal women. Because red blood cell loss occurs with menstruation.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy is also an increased risk for iron deficiency anemia. The reason for this is the need for increased blood volume during pregnancy and the need for blood for the baby to develop and grow. In short, it is due to the increased need for blood.
Various chronic diseases: Many chronic diseases, such as kidney disease, liver disease, cancer, shorten the life of red blood cells and cause them to die quickly. Sometimes, iron deficiency anemia occurs in the long term due to gradual ducts in those with chronic stomach ulcers. Since vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis, there will be vitamin B12 deficiency anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency in the long term.
Hereditary diseases: If there is a family history of hereditary diseases such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, children who will be born should definitely be screened.
Other factors: Some infections, blood diseases, autoimmune diseases, exposure to various toxic chemicals (benzene), various drugs used (cancer drugs, some antibiotics) can reduce red blood cell production or increase its destruction, leading to anemia.
Untreated anemia leads to many complications;
Severe fatigue: A full-blown anemia can make a person so tired that they cannot do their daily work.
Heart problems: Anemia can cause irregular heartbeats, rapid heartbeat, that is, palpitations. The cause of palpitations or rapid heartbeat is the insufficiency of red blood cells, which will carry oxygen to the tissues due to anemia. The heart tries to make up for it by overworking. In the long run, it can even lead to heart failure.
Death: Death may occur only in certain rare hereditary anemia. (such as sickle cell anemia)
Treatment and medications:
Iron deficiency anemia: This type of anemia can be treated by changing diet and increasing iron intake. If it has developed due to blood loss due to non-menstrual bleeding, the bleeding site should be determined and the bleeding stopped.
Vitamin deficiency anemia: Folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia can be treated with folic acid and vitamin B12 intake. However, if these vitamins, which are found in food from our digestive system, cannot be absorbed sufficiently, injection therapy should be given especially for vitamin B12.
Anemia of chronic disease: There is no specific treatment for this type of anemia. The important thing here is to treat the underlying disease, the existing disease. If symptoms worsen or worsen, blood transfusion, a hormone called erythropoietin (normally produced in the kidneys) stimulates red blood cell production by exogenous administration. This reduces symptoms.
Aplastic anemia: This disease involves red blood transfusion. Since the bone marrow is not healthy, one of the definitive treatment options is a bone marrow transplant.
Anemia due to bone marrow disease: In this type of anemia, there are treatment modalities ranging from simple drug treatments to chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation.
Hemolytic anemias: Suspicious drugs and infections that will cause hemolysis (breakdown of blood cells) should be avoided as much as possible. . In these anemias, the destruction of red blood cells can be prevented by using steroids or immunosuppressive drugs. Depending on the severity of the anemia, a blood transfusion may be required.
Sickle cell anemia: Possible complications should be treated. During the destruction of blood cells, intravenous fluids can be given and painkillers can be given to reduce pain. If necessary, blood transfusion can be done. Bone marrow transplant is one of the effective treatment options. In addition, hydroxyurea, a cancer drug, can be used in the treatment.
Prevention:
Many forms of anemia are not preventable in advance. However, anemia due to iron deficiency and vitamin deficiencies, which are common, can be prevented by diet.
Iron: Iron-rich foods should be consumed. Iron is especially found in red meat and other white meats. Beans and lentils are iron-rich grains. Dark green leafy vegetables and dried fruits are also rich in iron.
Folic acid: It is found in abundance in citrus fruits and their juices, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, cereals and pasta.
Vitamin B12: It is naturally abundant in meat and dairy products. It is also abundant in grains.
Vitamin C: Fruits containing vitamin C such as citrus fruits, watermelon and strawberries increase iron absorption. Eating them in abundance increases the absorption of iron from food.
Cem Özcan
Internal Medicine Specialist
