Anemia is considered one of the most common blood disorders.
What are its symptoms?
- Weakness
- Shortness of breath
- Dizziness
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Ringing in the ears
- Headache
- Cold extremities
- Paleness of the skin
- Chest pain
What are its types?
- Iron-deficiency anemia
- Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia
- Aplastic anemia
- Hemolytic anemia
- Anemia caused by diseases
Firstly: Iron-deficiency anemia:
It is the most common type of anemia.
Causes:
- Following an iron-deficient diet
- Heavy menstruation or bleeding
- Frequent blood donation
- Digestive system diseases such as Crohn's disease, malabsorption, hemorrhoids, gastric ulcer, gastric surgery
- Pregnancy, advancing age
Iron-deficiency anemia causes a condition called pica: mainly affecting pregnant women and children. The affected individuals have a desire to consume sand, ice, or dirty and harmful substances.
Treatment:
- By administering oral iron supplements or giving injections to patients who cannot absorb iron, along with following an iron-rich diet.
- Iron-rich foods include: meats, poultry, fish, leafy vegetables (such as spinach and kale), legumes (like beans and lentils), and nuts.
Iron supplements usually contain one of the following salts:
| Iron Fumarate | Iron Gluconate | Iron Sulfate | |
| Iron Content | 33% | 12% | 20% |
| Bioavailability | High | Less | Least |
| Gastrointestinal side effects | Common and strong | Less | Least |
Therefore, iron fumarate is considered the safest, in addition to being gentler on the stomach, much like Folic Mammy from Domina.
Factors affecting iron bioavailability:
- Vitamin C enhances the bioavailability of iron.
- Vitamin A and beta-carotene release iron from its stores.
- Meat, fish, and poultry increase iron absorption.
- Foods containing phytic acid, such as grains, hinder iron absorption.
- Calcium has a negative impact on iron absorption.
- Polyphenols found in coffee and tea inhibit iron absorption.
- Iron inhibits the action of certain medications: tetracycline, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, Parkinson's disease drugs.
- Conversely, acid-reducing medications and calcium-containing supplements weaken iron absorption.
Secondly: Anemia due to B12 deficiency:
- This vitamin is essential for the formation of healthy blood cells.
- Anemia resulting from its deficiency is called macrocytic anemia, which causes the red blood cells to be abnormally large and not divide properly, leading to a decrease in their numbers.
Causes:
- Pernicious anemia
- Stomach surgery
- Helicobacter pylori infection
- Advancing age
- Following a vegetarian diet
- Some medications: most notably, metformin, contraceptives, and stomach acid reducers
Diagnosis:
It is diagnosed by performing a blood test to determine the level of B12.
Treatment:
Oral supplements containing the deficient vitamin or injections.
Thirdly: Anemia due to folic acid deficiency:
- This vitamin is essential for the formation of healthy blood cells.
- Anemia resulting from folic acid deficiency is called macrocytic anemia.
Causes:
- A diet poor in leafy vegetables or whole grains.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Digestive system issues.
- Pregnancy.
- Some medications: phenytoin, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, triamterene, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, and barbiturates.
Treatment:
Oral supplements containing the deficient vitamin.
Fourthly: Aplastic Anemia:
- It is a rare disorder of the bone marrow, where the bone marrow fails to produce enough blood cells.
- This occurs due to the destruction or depletion of the stem cells that form blood cells in the bone marrow, especially when the immune system attacks the stem cells.
Causes:
- Viral illnesses
- Ionizing radiation
- Exposure to chemicals or toxins
Fifthly: Hemolytic Anemia:
It occurs when red blood cells break down in the bloodstream or in the spleen.
Causes:
- Mechanical causes (blood vessel expansion, heart valve leakage)
- Autoimmune disorders
- Congenital abnormalities: Examples include certain types of thalassemia, low levels of G6PD, sickle cell anemia (a hereditary hemolytic anemia)
Treatment:
The treatment is based on the underlying cause.
Anemia due to other causes:
- Kidney diseases: Some kidney patients develop anemia because the kidneys do not produce enough erythropoietin hormone
- Chemotherapy
References:
1. Anemia 2021 [Available from: https://www.hematology.org/education/patients/anemia.
2. Holm G. Everything You Need to Know About Pica 2023 [Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/pica.
3. Lights V. What Is Anemia? 2021 [Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/anemia.
4.Warwick K. Best Diet Plan for Anemia 2023 [Available from: https://www.healthline.com/health/best-diet-plan-for-anemia#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
5 .lexicomp. Ferrous sulfate: Drug information: UpToDate; 2023 [Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ferrous-sulfate-drug-information?search=ferrous%20sulfate&source=panel_search_result&selectedTitle=1~34&usage_type=panel&kp_tab=drug_general&display_rank=1.
6. lexicomp. Ferrous gluconate: Drug information: UpToDate; 2023 [Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ferrous-gluconate-drug-information?search=ferrous%20gluconate&source=panel_search_result&selectedTitle=1~11&usage_type=panel&kp_tab=drug_general&display_rank=1.
7.lexicomp. Ferrous fumarate: Drug information: UpToDate; 2023 [Available from: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/ferrous-fumarate-drug-information?search=ferrous%20fumarate&topicRef=13054&source=see_link.
8. Tan V. How to Increase the Absorption of Iron from Foods 2023 [Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/increase-iron-absorption.
9.Meacham J. Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency 2023 [Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-b12-deficiency-symptoms.
10. DerSarkissiank C. What Is Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia? 2022 [Available from: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/folic-acid-deficiency-anemia.