Anemia is a condition where the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells, so there isn’t enough oxygen being carried to your body’s tissues. There are different types of anemia, and each has its own cause. It’s a condition that can be temporary or long-term and can vary in severity.
Aplastic Anemia
This type of anemia occurs because of damage to blood-forming stem cells. It is commonly caused when your body’s immune cells attack stem cells found in the bone marrow.
Risk Factors:
Many things can affect blood cell production by damaging the bone marrow, including:
Autoimmune disorders
Medications such as antibiotics and those used to treat rheumatoid arthritis
Viral infections, including Epstein-Barr, hepatitis, cytomegalovirus, HIV, and parvovirus B19
Pregnancy, which may cause the body’s immune system to attack the bone marrow
Repeated exposure to toxic chemicals commonly used in pesticides, insecticides, or petrochemical benzene. When this type of exposure is avoided, the anemia might improve
Chemotherapy and radiation treatments can cause damage to healthy cells, including stem cells found in the bone marrow
Symptoms Can Include:
Abnormal bleeding, including nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or prolonged bleeding from cuts
Dizziness
Fatigue
Fever
Frequent infections or prolonged healing
Headache
Irregular or rapid heart rate
Pale skin
Shortness of breath
Skin rash
Unexplained or easy bruising
Iron Deficiency Anemia
This is a very common type of anemia that happens when your body cannot make enough healthy red blood cells because your body lacks the necessary amount of iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is essential in allowing the red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Risk factors:
Age: Adults, especially those over 65, are at a higher risk. For a variety of reasons, infants, children, and teens also have an increased risk.
Gender: Women are at higher risk for iron-deficiency anemia due to menstruation and pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Family History: Some hereditary genetic disorders can cause a higher risk.
Exposure: Lead contamination from the environment or water.
Symptoms that can gradually increase over time include:
Brittle nails
Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat
Cold hands and feet
Crack at the sides of the mouth
Difficulty concentrating
Headache, lightheadedness, or dizziness
Loss of appetite
Pale skin
Pica (non-nutritive substance cravings, such as ice, dirt, or starch)
Restless leg syndrome
Shortness of breath
Tiredness, fatigue
Tongue swelling or soreness
Weakness
Symptoms will depend on the cause and severity of the anemia and can range from mild or moderate. This type of anemia can be treated with healthy eating changes, iron supplements, and intravenous iron therapy. Red blood cell transfusions are used to treat severe iron-deficiency anemia. If left untreated, it can cause complications and can be life-threatening.
Sickle Cell Anemia
One of the disorders that is part of sickle cell disease is sickle cell anemia. It’s a hereditary disorder that results in an insufficient amount of red blood cells needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. With sickle cell anemia, red blood cells are abnormally shaped. Under a microscope, these cells have a sickle shape, also described as crescent moon shaped. These cells are rigid, sticky, and can get stuck in smaller blood vessels. This can slow or block the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
Risk factors:
Ancestry: Sickle cell disease is most common among African Americans, however Hispanic, southern European, Middle Eastern, and Asian Indians also are affected.
Symptoms can include:
Breathing difficulty
Dizziness and lightheadedness
Fatigue
Irritability
Jaundice (yellow color to the skin and whites of the eyes)
Pale skin color
Rapid heart rate
Slow growth rate / delayed puberty
Thalassemia
This hereditary genetic disorder causes lower-than-normal hemoglobin levels, a protein needed to create healthy red blood cells. Consuming a healthy diet and getting regular exercise are ways that can help you cope with the disease. However, for patients whose Thalassemia is more severe, blood transfusions may be required.
Risk factors:
Family History / Genetics: Thalassemia is caused by mutated hemoglobin genes.
Ancestry: African American, Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian populations are affected more often than other populations.
There are different types of Thalassemia, and the symptoms and associated complications depend on the type and severity of the disease. They can include:
Abdominal swelling
Bone deformities, commonly seen in the face/skull
Cardiac problems, including heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms
Dark urine
Excessive iron levels
Fatigue
Infection
Pale or yellowish-looking skin
Slow growth rate / delayed puberty
Spleen enlargement
Weakness
Helpful Patient Resources:
It is very important to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your doctor. We highly recommend that if you do any research about your diagnosis, you do so only with reputable sources. For your convenience, we’ve listed some below.
