anaemia
a decrease in the ability of the BLOOD to carry oxygen because of a reduction in the number of red blood cells ( ERYTHROCYTES ) or in the amount of HAEMOGLOBIN that they contain. Haemoglobin is the PIGMENT within the red blood cells that binds to oxygen. There are a number of different types of anaemia and a variety of reasons for it, and treatment depends on the underlying cause.
If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to the rest of your body. The most common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives the red color to blood. It carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, and high rates of red blood cell destruction.
Conditions that may lead to anemia include:
- Heavy periods
- Pregnancy
- Ulcers
- Colon polyps or colon cancer
- Inherited disorders
- A diet that does not have enough iron, folic acid or vitamin B12
- Blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, or cancer
- Aplastic anemia, a condition that can be inherited or acquired
- G6PD deficiency, a metabolic disorder
Anemia can make you feel tired, cold, dizzy, and irritable. You may be short of breath or have a headache.
Your doctor will diagnose anemia with a physical exam and blood tests. Treatment depends on the kind of anemia you have.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
anaemia