Common Types of Anemia and Their Causes

Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 30 March 2022

Common Anemia Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells circulating in the body decreases. It is the most common blood disorder according to Peter Lam of Medical News Today. Around one-third of the world’s population has a form of anemia, according to a 2015 article in The Lancet. It often develops as a result of other health issues that interfere with the body’s production of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) or increase the rate of breakdown or loss of these cells.

Dennis Thompson Jr. defines Anemia, also known as iron-poor blood, as a common disorder that occurs when a deficiency in your red blood cells impedes the delivery of oxygen throughout your body. The most common cause of anemia is low iron levels in the blood – iron deficiency anemia. Without iron, your red blood cells may become low in a protein called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. You essentially begin to suffocate from within.

A normal red blood cell count in women is 12 grams per deciliter of blood (g/DL), and in men, it’s 15g/DL. If you show below-normal levels, your doctor will most likely perform other blood tests to determine what’s at the root of the problem. Peter Lam states that the most common symptom of anemia is fatigue. Other common symptoms include pale skin, a fast or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, and light-headedness. People with mild anemia may experience few or no symptoms.

What is the common cause of anemia? Various health conditions can result in low levels of RBCs. There are many types of anemia that have no single cause. In some people, it can be difficult to identify what is causing a low RBC count. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia based on a study conducted by Jeffery L. Miller, and blood loss is often the cause. A shortage of iron in the blood leads to this form of the condition, and low iron levels frequently occur as a result of blood loss. Blood loss can be acute and rapid or chronic. Some causes of rapid blood loss include surgery, childbirth, and trauma.

Another common cause of anemia is decreased or impaired red blood cells or RBCs. Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue at the center of bones, and it plays an essential role in creating RBCs. The marrow produces stem cells, which develop into RBCs, white blood cells, and platelets. A number of diseases can affect the bone marrow, including leukemia. This is a type of cancer that triggers the production of excessive and abnormal white blood cells, disrupting the production of RBCs. Other types of anemia that occur due to decreased or impaired RBCs include Sickle cell anemia, Iron-deficiency anemia, and Vitamin-deficiency anemia.

Destruction of RBCs is also one of the common causes of anemia. According to Giel J et Al., these cells typically have a lifespan of 120 days in the bloodstream, but the body may destroy or remove them before they complete their natural life cycle. One type of anemia that results in the destruction of RBCs is autoimmune hemolytic anemia. It occurs when the immune system perceives RBCs as foreign substances and attacks them. Many factors can cause an excessive breakdown of RBCs, such as infections, certain drugs, including some antibiotics, severe hypertension, vascular grafts, and prosthetic heart valves, toxins produced by advanced kidney or liver disease, and an autoimmune attack.

How can we treat anemia? According to Verneda Lights of Healthline, treating anemia depends on what’s causing it. Anemia caused by inadequate amounts of dietary iron, vitamin B-12, and folate is treated with nutritional supplements. In some cases, injections of B-12 are needed as it isn’t absorbed properly from the digestive tract. Your doctor and nutritionist can prescribe a diet that contains the proper amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. A proper diet can help prevent this kind of anemia from recurring. In some cases, if the anemia is severe, doctors use erythropoietin injections to increase red blood cell production in the bone marrow. If bleeding occurs or the hemoglobin level is very low, a blood transfusion may be necessary.

The long-term outlook for anemia depends on the cause and the response to treatment. Anemia is very treatable, but it can be dangerous if it’s left untreated. Verneda Lights further emphasized paying attention to food labels and investing in multivitamins to ensure that you’re getting the recommended daily amount of iron. It is advisable to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms of anemia, especially if you have a family history of it.

PNFP-ZDS Marie Claire A. Gaas

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