Let’s Talk Anemia
A few salient facts
Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia; both affect all age groups.
Nine out of ten anemia sufferers lie in developing countries; on average, every one out of two pregnant woman and four about of ten preschool children are anemia.
In many developing countries, iron deficiency anemia is aggravated by worm infection, which cause blood loss to same 2 billion people worldwide; malaria, which affects 300-500 million people. In endemic areas, malaria may be the primary cause of half of all severe anemia cases.
For children, health consequences include premature birth, low birth weight, infection and elevated risk of death. Later physical and cognitive development is impaired, resulting in lowered school performance. For pregnant woman, anemia contributes to 200% of all maternal deaths.
What is anemia?
Anemia is a condition, which occurs when you have an abnormally low amount of red blood cells. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a red pigment that gives blood its color. The job of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen around the body. When red blood cells and therefore hemoglobin are low the blood fails to supply the body’s tissue with sufficient amounts of oxygen. As your lungs and heart will then have to work harder to get oxygen into the blood, symptoms of anemia, such as difficulty in breathing will begin to develop. Anemia mainly affects women during pregnancy or women who suffer with heavy period.
What causes anemia?
There is not usually one cause of anemia, however the following are reasons why anemia may develop:
Heavy periods.
Diet low in iron.
Internal bleeding, for example if you have an ulcer or a tumor.
Diet low vitamin B12 or folic acid.
Blood diseases such as leukemia.
Infection, such as malaria.
What are the different types of anemia?
The main types of anemia are caused by shortages of iron, vitamin B12 folic acid, all of which are needed (among other things) to produce red blood, so if one or more of these are missing or running low then anemia will develop.
Iron deficiency anemia
The most type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia, which basically means the body is running low on iron. The body needs iron to successfully produce hemoglobin the substance that carries oxygen throughout the body.
The main reason why people may have a shortage of iron is because the body is losing blood faster than the body can remark it. Gastritis, piles, stomach cancer, and ulcer or bowel caner can cause this. In women the most reason for iron deficiency is menstrual bleeding (period). Another possible reason for a shortage of iron is diet, which is low in iron. Good sources of iron include fruit, dark green vegetables, whole meal bread, fortified breakfast cereal, bean and meat.
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
The main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia (also called pernicious anemia) is when there is inadequate absorption of vitamin B12 from the diet. This can be due to ulcers, stomach cancer, and diseases of the small intestine or from the after effects of surgery.
A vegan or vegetarian is at risk of developing pernicious anemia because vitamin B12 is only found in foods of animal origin. Vitamin B12 can be found in liver, meat and dairy products.
Vitamin B12 is also essential for the nervous system, so if you have a lack of vitamin B12 you can also develop inflammation of the nerves or dementia.
Folic Acid deficiency
The main reason why you may have alack of folic acid is due to a poor diet and if you drink excessive alcohol it can reduce the uptake of folic acid. Folic acid can be found in fresh fruit, raw green vegetable, beans and whole grain cereals.
Folic acid deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia may also be knows as megaloblastic anemia.
What symptoms are linked with anemia?
As anemia causes a shortage of oxygen, the main symptoms is usually chronic tiredness and palpitation:
· Pale appearance
· Shortness of breath and dizziness
· Fainting
· Angina
· A red sore tongue and reduce senses of taste this usually only a symptoms with folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency anemia.
Is there anything I can do to avoid becoming anemia?
To avoid getting anemia you should stick to a health balance diet and ensure you eat food that contains good sources of iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. You should also cut down on alcohol consumption. If you are a strict vegetarian you should take vitamin B12 supplement to avoid deficiency.
How is anemia diagnosed?
Very few test are needed to diagnose anemia, the main test is a full blood count, this basically a blood test that looks at the number, size and shape of red blood cells. The doctor may also measure iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid levels. If anemia is diagnosed and there is no obvious cause, your doctor may suggest you have an x-ray to ensure there is no internal bleeding.
How is anemia treated?
The treatment you receive will depend greatly on the cause of anemia. Treatment is usually simple and may be resolved with an improved diet or by taking supplements. If the cause of your anemia is vitamin B12 deficiency then your doctor may prescribe vitamin B12 injection. This injection will need to be given every 3 months, usually throughout the patient’s life. It also possible to have iron injections but this is not often necessary.
If internal bleeding has caused your anemia e.g. ulcer then medicines or surgery may be required. If anemia is severe then you may also need to have a blood transfusion.
What happens if anemia is left untreated?
If anemia is left untreated your symptoms will get worse and you may become very tired and weak, you may also develop angina or suffer with leg pains when walking. The body’s ability to fight infection may also be weakened so you may find you pick up infections more easily.
The challenge
Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. The numbers are staggering: as many as 4 – 5 billion people, 66-80% of the world’s population, may be iron deficient; 2 billion people >30% of the world’s population are anemic, mainly due to iron deficiency, and in developing countries, frequently exacerbated by malaria and worm infection.
Iron deficiency affects more people than any other condition, constituting a public health condition of epidemic proportions. Subtler in its manifestations than, for example, protein-energy malnutrition, it exacts the heaviest overall toll in terms of ill-health, premature death and lost earning.
Iron deficiency and anemia reduce the work capacity of individuals and entire populations, bringing serious economic consequences and obstacles to national development. Conversely, treatment can raise national productivity levels by 20%. Overall, its most vulnerable, the poorest and least educated who are disproportionately affected by iron deficiency, and its they who stand to gain the most its reduction.
TOGETHER Magazine
February 2006, volume 2, issue 8. Published by the AWARE center. Kuwait.
