Ultimate guide to Anemia - the disease affecting 1.6 Billion

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When it comes to Anemia, everyone knows something: Fatigue, Pallor and dizziness ; but, no one knows it all because you have not been given a perfect explanation of it.
No problem . By the time you will be done reading this article, I promise, you will know everything about Anemia. 
So, Let’s Learn…
But before we start learning about the Disease, first understand the basics..


RBC: - 
Red Blood Cells are the blood cells that function to take Oxygenated blood from lungs to cells and the Deoxygenated blood back to lungs. Spongy tissue inside bone - bone marrow makes the RBCs and will dump it into circulation ,when the body requires.  
Blood cell
Normal Count:

  • For men, it is 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per dL.
  • For women who aren’t pregnant, it is 4.2 to 5.4 million per dL.
  • For children,it is 4.0 to 5.5 million per dL.
Hemoglobin: - 
The protein Hemoglobin(Hb) is situated in the RBC and responsible for carrying Respiratory Gases: oxygen and carbon dioxide.It is produced in the bone marrow by erythrocyte from Iron and Globin protein, with the help of Vit. B complex, folic acid and trace elements like Zinc. It is destroyed in the Spleen. 
Structure of human hemoglobin molecule
Normal Levels according to age: - 

  • Newborns: 17 to 22 gm/dL
  • One (1) week of age: 15 to 20 gm/dL
  • One (1) month of age: 11 to 15 gm/dL
  • Children: 11 to 13 gm/dL
  • Adult males: 14 to 18 gm/dL
  • Adult women: 12 to 16 gm/dL
  • Men after middle age: 12.4 to 14.9 gm/dL
  • Women after middle age: 11.7 to 13.8 gm/dL

What is Anemia?
It means decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen. It could be due to 
  • Decreased RBC
  • Decreased Hemoglobin or
  • Both
Who gets anemia?

Anyone can get this disease,but certain people - Vegetarians, Vegans, Nutritionally deficient and those affected by Chronic Inflammatory disease are at high risk of developing it. 
Types of Anemia:-

  • Iron deficiency anemia: - This is the most common type of Anemia that occurs because of deficiency of iron, either due to more loss,less consumption or absorption. 
  • Anemia due to chronic diseases: - Chronic disease - Tuberculosis, long lasting kidney disease and Cancer will disturb the iron metabolism and will stop or decrease the speed of RBC production.
  • Aplastic anemia: - It is an autoimmune disease in which the body fails to produce blood cells in sufficient quantity. 
  • Sickle cell anemia: - This is one of the consequences of Sickle Cell Disease, in which the RBCs become sickle shaped when the oxygen levels are low.
This will lead to it’s rupture in the blood capillaries.Patients of it mostly reveal family history of the disease. Also called hemolytic Anemia. 
  •                                       
  • Pernicious anemia: - Vitamin B12 is needed in the process of making Hemoglobin. Deficiency of it will result in decreased production of Hb.
  • Folate-deficiency anemia: - Just like Vit.B12, Folic acid is also an essential vitamin in Hb manufacturing in the body. Overall Hb level will be less in its deficiency. 
Iron deficiency anemia.The difference of Anemia amount of red blood cell and normal.

Symptoms of Anemia: - 
  • Fatigue
  • Dizziness 
  • Pale skin
  • Leg cramps  
  • Insomnia
  • Headache
  • Irregular heartbeat
Anemia in pregnancy: - 

  • As in this situation, the mother has to take care of the increased requirement of the nutrition, if nutrition is not supplemented via medication, the mother will develop the disease. 
  • However, it will go away after delivery of the baby as the increased requirement will no longer be there. 
  • Pregnancy anemia can lead to birth defects in the Foetus - Growth retardation, Low birth weight baby or perinatal death even.

Iron requirements according to age: - 
Age group
Male (mg/day)
Female (mg/day)
Birth to 6 months
0.27
0.27
7–12 months
11
11
1–3 years
7
7
4–8 years
10
10
9–13 years
8
8
14–18 years
11
15
19–30 years
8
18
31–50 years
8
18
51+ years
8
8
Pregnancy
—
27
Lactation (younger than 18 years)
—
10
Lactation (19–50 years)
—
9
Diagnosis: - 
Blood test is the best and accurate diagnostic tool for Anemia other than symptomatic diagnosis that depends upon the expertise of the Doctor.  

  • CBC ( Complete blood count) lab test will show the number of red blood cells in a single dL of blood. If the RBC are less, further investigation about the condition is done as per the guideline by the Doctor. 
  • Hemoglobin test will show the level of hemoglobin . 
  • In vitamin deficiency, RBCs will be either small or big in size.

Biochemist checking blood serum reaction in test sample, health check-up
Treatment: - 
Depending upon the deficiency, the disease is treated. For chronic disease induced Anemia, disease needs to be taken care of first. 

  • Iron supplementation - Tablets of ferrous fumarate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous sulfate. If the level of Iron is too low, it must be compensated by Injecting iron preparations - Iron dextran directly in the blood.
  • B12 is poorly absorbed through Digestive tract, so it is directly given into the bloodstream- hydroxocobalamin.
  • When the RBC counts are less due to acute - Road traffic accident or Chronic - stomach ulcer loss of blood, blood transfusion is advised. 

Prevention: - 

  • To stay protected from the disease, one must consume a type of Diet containing all the Ingredients of Hb production. 
  • Iron Sources - Peanuts, Tofu, Beans, Spinach, Dark Chocolates etc..
  • B12 containing food - Dairy products, Fish, Meat.
  • Folic acid diet - Citrus food, breads, Green Leafy Vegetables.
Now you Know everything about Anemia…. Congratulations..!
Even if, after reading this article, you have any Questions about the topic, feel free to leave a comment below…

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