Anemia is a shortage of red blood cells in the blood. It is also possible that the red blood cells do not work properly, because they contain not enough hemoglobin. In both cases, less oxygen can be transported. This allows tissues and organs to function insufficiently and a person can get various symptoms.

Cause

Cause

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin. The hemoglobin absorbs oxygen in the lungs and transports it through the blood circulation to tissues and organs. This provides the whole body with enough oxygen. Iron is neccesary for the construction of hemoglobin. If a person has a shortage of iron, he or she cannot produce hemoglobin. This results in anemia. You can get an iron shortage as a result of extreme blood loss (due to injury, surgery, childbirth or heavy menstruation) or poor diet. An iron shortage also occurs when the body cannot absorb iron from food.
Other causes of anemia are:

Symptoms

Symptoms

The following signs and symptoms may occur in case of anemia:

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of anemia can be made on the basis of the story of the patient and by blood tests. A blood test can fairly easily determine whether or not a person has hemoglobin shortage. When it turns out to be too low, the doctor will order additional investigation to identify the cause of the anemia. Several additional examinations can be done.

Treatment

Treatment

The treatment of anemia depends on the cause:

Prognosis

Prognosis

The most common forms of anemia, such as iron or vitamin shortage, are treatable and recovery will usually take no longer than six months. However, the prognosis is dependent on the underlying cause of the anemia, the severity and the general health of the patient.

Considerations

Considerations

Facts

Facts