What is Anemia

 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), anemia affects approximately 3.4 million Americans, people of all ages and from all walks of life.

 

The blood in our bodies is composed of three types of cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets) that circulate throughout the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin (Hb), a red, iron-rich protein that carries oxygen from the lungs to all of the body's muscles and organs. Oxygen provides the energy the body needs for all of its normal activities. Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells (or the Hb in them) falls below normal and the body gets less oxygen and therefore has less energy than it needs to function properly.

 

Anemia may become worse if it is not treated, and it can lead to potentially serious, even life-threatening complications. When the number of red blood cells decreases, the heart works harder, pumping more blood to send more oxygen throughout the body. If the heart works too hard, it can develop a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia), and/or another serious condition known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), an enlargement of the heart muscle that in turn can lead to heart failure.

 

Sings and Symptoms

 

Anemia can be difficult to identify because early symptoms may be mild. In addition, it is easy to mistake some symptoms of anemia for symptoms of serious disease or medication side effects. As symptoms of anemia worsen, however, they can significantly affect a person's quality of life.

Anemia can make it hard to find the energy to enjoy hobbies or other leisure activities, or even to complete basic tasks at home or at work. Particularly for a person with a serious disease, the fatigue, weakness and other symptoms associated with anemia can compound the challenges of coping with the serious disease.

 

Major symptoms of anemia include:

-  Extreme fatigue

-  Weakness

-  Shortness of breath

-  Confusion or loss of concentration

-  Dizziness or fainting

-  Pale skin, including decreased pinkness of the lips, gums, lining of the eyelids, nail beds and palms

-  Rapid heart beat (tachycardia)

-  Feeling cold

-  Sadness or depression.