Anemia
8
Anemia facts Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal. For men , anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml. Anemia is caused by either a decrease in production of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or an increase in loss or destruction of red blood cells. Some patients with anemia have no symptoms. Others may feel tired, easily fatigued, appear pale, a feeling of heart racing, short of breath, and/or worsening of heart problems. Anemia can be detected by a simple blood test called a complete blood cell count (CBC). The treatment of the anemia varies greatly and very much depends on the particular cause. Reviewed on 3/26/2012 What is anemia? Read 4 Comments Share Your Story Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal. The normal level of hemoglobin is generally different in males and females. For men, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml. These definitions may vary slightly depending on the source and the laboratory reference used. Reviewed on 3/26/2012 What causes anemia? Any process that can disrupt the normal life span of a red blood cell may cause anemia. Normal life span of a red blood cell is typically around 120 days. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Anemia is caused essentially through two basic pathways. Anemia is caused by either:
-
Upload
ishabrijeshsharma -
Category
Documents
-
view
220 -
download
0
Transcript of Anemia
Anemia facts
Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal.
For men, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml.
Anemia is caused by either a decrease in production of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or an increase in loss or destruction of red blood cells.
Some patients with anemia have no symptoms. Others may feel tired, easily fatigued, appear pale, a feeling of heart racing, short of breath, and/or worsening of heart problems.
Anemia can be detected by a simple blood test called a complete blood cell count (CBC). The treatment of the anemia varies greatly and very much depends on the particular cause.
Reviewed on 3/26/2012
What is anemia?
Read 4 Comments Share Your Story
Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobinis less than normal. The normal level of hemoglobin is generally different in males and females. For men, anemia is typically defined as hemoglobin level of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml and in women as hemoglobin of less than 12.0 gram/100 ml. These definitions may vary slightly depending on the source and the laboratory reference used.
Reviewed on 3/26/2012
What causes anemia?
Any process that can disrupt thenormal life span of a red blood cellmay cause anemia. Normal life span of a red blood cell is typically around 120 days. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow.Anemia is caused essentially through two basic pathways. Anemia is caused by either:
1. a decrease in production of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or2. an increase in loss or destruction of red blood cells.
A more common classification of anemia (low hemoglobin) is based on the Mean Corposcular Volume (MCV) which signifies the average volume of individual red blood cells.
1. If the MCV is low (less than 80), the anemia is categorized as microcytic anemia (low cell volume).
2. If the MCV is in the normal range (80-100), it is called a normocytic anemia (normal cell volume).
3. If the MCV is high, then it is called a macrocytic anemia (large cell volume).Looking at each of the components of a complete blood count (CBC), especially the MCV, a physician can gather clues as to what could be the most common reason for anemia in each patient.
Can inadequate iron cause anemia? (Continued)
Another common reason for iron deficiency anemia can be due to recurring or small ongoing bleeding, for instance from colon cancer or from stomach ulcers. Stomach ulcer bleeding may be induced by medications, even very common over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin andibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Slow and chronic oozing from these ulcers can lead to loss of iron. Gradually, this could result in anemia. In infants and young children, iron deficiency anemia is most often due to a diet lacking iron.
Interpretation of CBC may lead to clues to suggest this type of anemia. For instance, iron deficiency anemia usually presents with low mean corpuscular volume (microcytic anemia) in addition to low hemoglobin.
What about acute (sudden) blood loss as a cause of anemia?
Acute blood loss from internal bleeding(as from a bleeding ulcer) or external bleeding (as from trauma) can produce anemia in an amazingly short span of time. This type of anemia could result in severe symptoms and consequences if not addressed promptly. Dizziness, lightheadedness,fatigue, confusion, shortness of breath, and even loss of consciousness can occur with severe, sudden blood loss anemia.Reviewed on 3/26/2012
What are other causes of anemia?
Some of the most common causes include: Vitamin B12 deficiency may causepernicious anemia. This type of anemia could happen in
people who are unable to absorb vitamin B12 from their intestines due to a number of reasons.o Strict vegetarians are at risk if they do not take adequate vitamin supplements.o Long-term alcoholics.o People who have abnormal structure or function of the stomach or intestines leading to impaired
B12 absorption despite adequate intake.This typically causes macrocytic (largeblood cell volume) anemia. Vitamin B12, along with folate, is involved in making the heme molecule that is an integral part of hemoglobin. Folate deficiency can be the culprit of anemia as well. This may also be caused by inadequate absorption, under-consumption of green, leafy vegetables, and also long-term heavy alcohol use.
There can be rupture or destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) due to antibodies clinging to the surface of the red cells. Examples of hemolytic anemia include hemolytic disease of the newborn, medication induced hemolytic anemia, transfusion related hemolysis, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
A wide assortment of bone marrow diseases can cause anemia.o For example, cancers that spread (metastasize) to the bone marrow, orcancers of the bone
marrow (such as leukemia or multiple myeloma) can cause the bone marrow to inadequately produce red blood cells, resulting in anemia.
o Certain chemotherapy for cancers can also cause damage to the bone marrow and decrease red blood cell production, resulting in anemia.
o Certain infections may involve the bone marrow and result in bone marrow impairment and anemia.
o Finally, patients with kidney failure may lack the hormone necessary to stimulate normal red blood cell production by the bone marrow.
o Chronic alcohol consumption may lead to anemia via different pathways and thus, anemia is commonly seen in alcoholics.
Another common cause of anemia is called anemia of chronic disease. This could typically occur in individuals with longstanding chronic diseases.
Some medications can cause anemia in a variety of ways. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) can
cause anemia.
Can anemia be hereditary?
Yes, anemia may be genetic. Hereditary disorders can shorten the life span of the red blood cell and lead to anemia (for example, sickle cell anemia). Hereditary disorders can also cause anemia by impairing the production of hemoglobin (for example,alpha thalassemia and beta thalassemia).
Depending on the degree of the genetic abnormality, hereditary anemias may cause mild, moderate, or severe anemia. In fact, some may be too severe to be compatible with life and may result in death of the fetus (unborn infant). On the other hand, some of these anemias are so mild that they are not noticeable and are incidentally revealed during a routine blood work.
What are the symptoms of anemia?
Read 33 Comments Share Your Story
Some patients with anemia have no symptoms. Others with anemia may feel: Tired Fatigue easily Appear pale Develop palpitations (feeling of heartracing) Become short of breath
Additional symptoms may include: Hair loss Malaise (general sense of feeling unwell) Worsening of heart problems
It is worth noting that if anemia is longstanding (chronic anemia), the body may adjust to low oxygen levels and the individual may not feel different unless the anemia becomes severe. On the other hand, if the anemia occurs rapidly (acute anemia), the patient may experience significant symptoms relatively quickly.
How is anemia diagnosed?
Anemia is usually detected, or at least confirmed, by a complete blood cell (CBC) count. A CBC test may be ordered by a physician as a part of routine general checkup and
screeningor based on clinical signs and symptoms that may suggest anemia or other blood abnormalities.
What is a complete blood cell (CBC) count?
Traditionally, CBC analysis wasperformed by a physician or alaboratory technician by viewing a glass slide prepared from a blood sample under a microscope. Today, much of this work is often automated and done by machines. Six component measurements make up a CBC test:
1. Red blood cell (RBC) count2. Hematocrit 3. Hemoglobin4. White blood cell (WBC) count5. Differential blood count (the "diff")6. Platelet count
Only the first three of these tests -- the red blood cell (RBC) count, the hematocrit, and the hemoglobin -- are relevant to the diagnosis of anemia.Additionally, mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is also often reported in a CBC, which basically measures the average volume of red blood cells in a blood sample. This is important in distinguishing the causes of anemia. Units of MCV are reported in femtoliters, a fraction of one millionth of a liter.Other useful clues to causes of anemia that are reported in a CBC are the size, shape, and color of red blood cells.
How is blood collected for a CBC?
Blood is collected by venipuncture (using a needle to draw blood from a vein) in a lab, hospital, or physician's office. Typically, blood is collected in a special sterile tube from an arm vein.The tube has some preservatives to prevent clotting of the blood. Results may be available in an hour or longer depending on the setting.In some instances, a quick in office
test called hemoglobin rapid test may be performed using a few drops of blood from a finger prick. The advantage of this quick test is that results may be obtained in a few minutes and only a few drops of blood may be required.
What is the red blood cell (RBC) count?
The red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes) are the most common type of cells in the blood. We each have millions and millions of these little disc-shaped cells. The RBC count is done to determine if the number of red blood cells is low (anemia) or high (polycythemia).In an RBC count, the number and size of the RBCs are determined. This is usually reported as number of RBCs per a specified volume, typically in millions of RBCs in microliters (one one-thousandth of an ml) of whole blood. The shape of the RBCs is also evaluated under a
microscope. All of this information, the number, size and shape of the RBCs, is useful in the diagnosis of anemia. Further, the specific type of anemia may be determined by this information.
What is hemoglobin?
Hemoglobin is a red pigment that imparts the familiar red color to red blood cells and to blood. Functionally, hemoglobin is the key chemical compound that combines with oxygen from the lungs and carries the oxygen from the lungs to cells throughout the body. Oxygen is essential for all cellsin the body to produce energy.The blood also transports carbon dioxide, which is the waste product of this energy
production process, back to the lungs from which it is exhaled into the air. The transport of the carbon dioxide back to the lung is also achieved by hemoglobin. The carbon dioxide bound to hemoglobin is unloaded in the lungs in exchange for oxygen to be transported to the tissues of the body.
What does a low hemoglobin level mean?
Low hemoglobin is called anemia. When there is a low hemoglobin level, there is often a low red blood cell count and a low hematocrit, too. Reference ranges are slightly different from one source to another, but typically hemoglobin of less than 13.5 gram/100 ml is abnormal in men and less than 12.0 gram/100 ml in women
What is the hematocrit?
The hematocrit is specifically a measure of how much of the blood is made of red cells. The hematocrit is a very convenient way to determine whether the red blood cell count is too high, too low, or normal. The hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of blood that is composed of the red blood cells.
How is hematocrit determined?
The red blood cells in the sample of blood are packed down by spinning the tube in a centrifuge under prescribed conditions. The proportion of the tube that consists of red blood cells is then measured. Let's say that it is 45%. The hematocrit is 45%.
What is the hematocrit?
The hematocrit is specifically a measure of how much of the blood is made of red cells. The hematocrit is a very convenient way to determine whether the red blood cell count is too high, too low, or normal. The hematocrit is a measure of the proportion of blood that is composed of the red blood cells.
How is hematocrit determined?
The red blood cells in the sample of blood are packed down by spinning the tube in a centrifuge under prescribed conditions. The proportion of the tube that consists of red blood cells is then measured. Let's say that it is 45%. The hematocrit is 45%.
What are the complications of anemia?
As mentioned earlier, hemoglobin has the important role of delivering oxygen to all parts of the body for consumption and carries back carbon dioxide back to the lung to exhale it out of the body. If the hemoglobin level is too low, this process may be impaired, resulting in low levels of oxygen in the body (hypoxia).
What is the outlook (prognosis) for anemia?
Anemia generally has a very good prognosis and it may be curable in many instances. The overall prognosis depends on the underlying cause of anemia, its severity, and the overall health of the patient.
