1- What is anemia? What are its symptoms?
Characteristics of Anemia:
Anemia occurs when the hemoglobin level in our blood leads to an insufficient oxygen supply to the body tissues. The hemoglobin in red blood cells (erythrocytes) transports the oxygen molecules in the blood. This condition primarily affects pregnant women and women with heavy menstrual bleeding, but also young children.
The symptoms:
A mild anemia does not necessarily cause symptoms, as the body can adapt to a slightly lower hemoglobin level. However, if the hemoglobin level is significantly too low and the oxygen deficiency in the tissues is high, various symptoms may occur. These include
- A sudden and unusual fatigue, which can particularly cause dizziness when getting up, and headaches that can sometimes be debilitating.
- A very pale face, indicating a lack of oxygen saturation in the tissues. Similarly, people with anemia may also have white eyelids on the inside, as well as pale nails and lips.
- Brittle nails and hair loss,
- Cold extremities (hands and feet),
- Palpitations and shortness of breath at rest. These symptoms are due to the increased demand on the heart to supply the body with oxygen.
- Low infection resistance in certain types of anemia.
- Decreased libido
- memory problems, reading and/or concentration difficulties.
- A general decline in energy and momentum as well as difficulties in performing simple and familiar tasks (cooking, cleaning...).
- Psychological and emotional fatigue
A severe anemia that has suddenly occurred or lasts particularly long can impair heart and lung function.
Other symptoms may also indicate the origin of this anemia: a heavy menstrual bleeding, jaundice, internal bleeding in the digestive tract, an enlarged spleen, or low blood pressure.
2- What are the causes?
The causes of anemia are diverse and can occur due to various pathologies and dysfunctions.
Iron deficiency and other deficiency symptoms:
"Anemia can be attributed to deficiencies. The most common type of anemia is the so-called iron deficiency anemia. It is caused by:"
- A diet low in iron. It can particularly be attributed to anorexia. A vegetarian diet can also lead to iron deficiency.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding or menorrhagia. Women with particularly heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding, with more than 80 ml per cycle and/or a period length of more than seven consecutive days, may suffer from anemia. This is because the body is not always able to replenish its blood reserves between cycles when the blood loss is particularly large. The consequence of this is a deficiency in hemoglobin, which can significantly weaken women.
- The intake of medications. Certain types of medications can also have a direct impact on the iron content of your blood. This includes anti-inflammatory medications that reduce the absorption of iron. A rarer case is the so-called sideroblastic anemia, a specific type of anemia that prevents the binding of iron in hemoglobin.
- A pregnancy. Many pregnant women are anemic because the fetus relies on the mother's iron stores for the growth of its tissues.
- Lack of vitamins B12 and/or B9 (Folate).
Bleeding:
There is a type of anemia known as hemorrhagic anemia; blood loss, which can have various causes, leads to a too low hemoglobin level.
Hemorrhagic anemia can be caused by a localized and abnormally strong blood loss, e.g. due to childbirth, a deep wound...
But even a slight, but chronic, blood loss can lead to anemia. This is sometimes the case with blood loss in the digestive tract, such as with ulcers or intestinal polyps.
Insufficient production of red blood cells:
Anemia can, in rare cases, also be attributed to a damage to the spinal cord and is then referred to as aplastic anemia. In this case, the production of blood cells is significantly reduced, and the platelets as well as the white and red blood cells are not sufficiently present in the blood. The main causes are as follows:
- Specific cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy or high-dose radiation therapy.
- Exposure to toxic substances such as benzene compounds, insecticides, pesticides, narcotics...
An insufficient production of red blood cells can also be caused by chronic and inflammatory diseases such as Crohn's disease .
Malfunction in the renewal of red blood cells :
In such a case, one speaks of a hemolytic anemia, i.e. the red blood cells are renewed too slowly and are quickly broken down. The causes are diverse, e.g.:
- An immune disease (HIV, hepatitis ...) or hereditary disease (Fanconi anemia ...),
- Krebs,
- gastrointestinal or liver diseases,
- An infection (malaria),
- An allergic reaction.
3- How is it diagnosed and treated?
The diagnosis :
If you notice several of the symptoms described above, consult your doctor. Specifically, see your doctor if your period is very heavy and you feel particularly tired. Wearing menstruation underwear is recommended in this case so that you can recognize the intensity and control the fullness of your flow. After a thorough examination and various tests, the specialist can accurately determine the causes of your anemia. If anemia is suspected, the doctor will almost systematically prescribe a complete blood count (CBC).
Treatment :
As soon as the diagnosis is made, the treatment completely depends on the cause of the disease. In the case of iron deficiency anemia or anemia due to another deficiency, iron and/or other supplements (Vitamin B9, B12) are prescribed in tablet form. In the case of hemorrhagic anemia, the cause of the bleeding may require surgery, therapy, or even a blood transfusion depending on its type. In anemia due to a dysfunction or production disorder of red blood cells, ainjection of erythropoietin, a blood-forming hormone, may be necessary. Specific diseases such as cancer, inflammatory and hereditary diseases, or infections must be treated on a case-by-case basis (chemotherapy, fasting, etc.).
Your doctor will recommend a iron-rich diet in any case. So choose organ meats, dark chocolate, lentils, nuts, fish, and seafood...
Anemia is often harmless, but it can also be a symptom of underlying pathologies. If you notice several typical symptoms in yourself, you should not hesitate to consult a specialist.
