Anemia Can Be Cured - Symptoms, Causes, Prevention, and Treatment

Anemia is a disorder characterized by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells in the bloodstream.

It is a condition in which the body's red blood cells are either absent or malfunctioning as a result the body's organs receive less oxygen.

Anemia comes in a variety of types, each with its own set of symptoms and causes. Anemia can be minor to severe, and it can be short or long-term. A variety of factors can contribute to anemia. If you think you might have anemia and want to know how anemia can be cured, read this blog till the end. It can be a sign of something severe. Now let us first understand the types of anemia before its symptoms and causes.

Types of Anemia 

Anemia can take many forms, but all these results in decreased red blood cells in blood circulation. There are various types of anemia, which includes:

• Sickle-cell anemia: It is a genetic disorder in which the body produces sickle-shaped red blood cells. The premature death of these abnormally shaped red blood cells results in a persistent lack of RBC's.
• Aplastic Anemia: This is life-threatening anemia caused by a reduction in the bone marrow's ability to create new red blood cells. Aplastic Anemia is said to be caused by infections and autoimmune disorders.
• Iron-deficiency anemia: A lack of iron in the body causes this type of chronic anemia. Your bone marrow needs iron to produce haemoglobin, a protein molecule found in red blood cells. The body can't make enough haemoglobin for your red blood cells if it doesn't have enough iron.

After understanding these types of anemia, it is equally important to understand the symptoms of anemia.

When to visit the doctor?

When you are exhausted and don't know when to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Don't panic! Stop assuming that just because you are feeling low, it means you are anemic. When people donate blood, they may discover that their hemoglobin levels are low, indicating severe anemia; observe various symptoms in yourself, and then make an appointment with your doctor.

Symptoms of anemia may include:

- You feel too much tired: An overall feeling of tiredness or exertion is one of the symptoms of anemia. If you have severe anemia, you may feel tired at times. However, one of the difficulties with fatigue in anemia is that everyone experiences and notices it differently.

Some people just become wearier, while others experience fatigue as a result of physical exercise. There isn't enough hemoglobin if you don't get enough vitamin B12 or iron, and when you don't get enough hemoglobin, you don't get enough oxygen to power your body. As a result, when you have anemia, you become excessively exhausted.

-Your skin looks Paler: You can't expect your skin, your body's largest organ, to look healthy if you don't have enough Red blood cells (RBCs)to power your vital organs with oxygen. Without enough iron or vitamin B12, the blood supply to your skin may be insufficient, causing your skin to appear whiter and even shallow.

-Your hands and feet are cold: If you notice that your hands and feet are too cold than usual, it could be an indication of iron deficiency or anemia. 

RBCs use iron to help them carry heat and nourishment to the rest of your body's cells. As a result, if you are deficient, your hands and feet will be too cold.

-You suffer severe headaches: Most people get headaches from time to time due to a lack of sleep, stress, or illness. However, if you get an unusually high number of headaches, get checked by the doctor.

Anemia-related headaches can range from moderate to severe, resembling a migraine. Iron deficiency means your brain isn't getting enough oxygen.

-Shortness of breath or feeling dizzy: If you don't get enough iron or vitamin B12, your body won't be able to create enough hemoglobin, a kind of protein required for the proper functioning of RBCs (red blood cells).

Haemoglobin, which contains a lot of iron and gives blood its red color, allows oxygen to attach to the body's cells so that the cells may carry it through the bloodstream.

Certain portions of your body will not receive enough oxygen if you don't have enough iron or vitamin B12 in your body to make enough haemoglobin. It causes shortness of breath. Furthermore, receiving a small amount of oxygen to your head will make you feel dizzy.

-You have a craving for unusual or non-nutritional foods: You crave non-nutritional meals like ice cubes, baking soda, or even pencils, which is one of the most strange and silent symptoms of anemia that you should never ignore. Surprisingly, doctors and academics are still confused as to; why patients want unusual items to consume or chew.

If you are experiencing any of these anemia symptoms, you should consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis to learn more about the type of anemia you have. It would also aid in the treatment of the condition in a more effective and timely manner.

After comprehending the symptoms, you should now understand the causes of anemia to prevent it.

Causes of Anemia

The most prevalent cause of anemia is iron deficiency. There are a variety of reasons why a person may become iron deficient. These are some of them:

• Inadequate iron consumption: A deficit in your body might occur if you eat too little iron for a lengthy period. Iron is present in multiple foods, including meat, eggs, and various green leafy vegetables. Since iron is necessary during rapid growth and formation, pregnant ladies and infants may require even more iron-rich diets.
• Iron absorption problems: The way your body absorbs iron can also get hampered by some intestinal problems or procedures. Even if you eat a balanced diet rich in iron, intestinal surgery such as gastric bypass may reduce the amount of iron your body absorbs.
• Menstruation: Iron deficiency anemia is more common in women who haven't gone through menopause than postmenopausal women. The loss of red blood cells occurs during menstruation.
• Other causes of anemia are blood loss, lack of red blood cell formation, and a high rate of red blood cell breakdown.

Treatment of Anemia

Anemia can be cured and there is no need to worry as there are different types of treatment for different types of anemia. Learn more :

• Iron deficiency anemia: This type of chronic anemia is usually treated by taking iron pills and modifying your diet. For some people, this may involve getting iron through their veins. Suppose a source of blood loss other than menstruation is the cause of iron deficiency anemia. In that case, it is necessary to identify the origin of the bleeding and control it. It could necessitate surgery.
• Sickle cell anemia: The treatment may include oxygen, pain medications, and oral, intravenous fluids. Doctors recommend blood transfusions and antibiotics. Sickle cell anemia gets treated by hydroxyurea, a cancer medication.
• Aplastic Anemia: Blood transfusions treat anemia by increasing the number of red blood cells in the body. If your bone marrow cannot produce healthy blood cells, you may require a bone marrow transplant.

It is also required to understand how to prevent anemia for the sake of a better future.

• You need to consume tofu, green and leafy vegetables, lentils, beans, iron-fortified cereals and bread as they are all high in iron.
• Consume vitamin C-rich foods and beverages.
• Do not consume tea and coffee along with your meals since they can impact overall iron absorption.
• If your job requires you to work with lead-containing materials such as batteries, gasoline, or paint, make sure you follow all safety precautions.

These are some of the things you should do to prevent anemia. 

After knowing that anemia can be cured, you can now take immediate action on seeing the symptoms in the patients.