Let healthy blood flow into your veins

Blood has many important functions to perform. These include providing body with nutrition, oxygen, and waste removal – no wonder it is known as the body’s transport system. In order to lead healthy lives, healthy red blood cells (RBC) in adequate amount are essential, but when anemia strikes, the entire body system trips leading to a number of health issues. WTN tells you how to have healthy blood count.

Types of anemia

There are at least 400 types of anemia. But the most common types include,

· Iron deficiency: This is the most common type of anemia found in all age groups. The bone marrow needs iron to make haemoglobin and RBCs. It is caused due to menstrual cycle, internal bleeding, ulcers, cancer, pain relievers etc.

· Thalassaemia: This is an inherited blood disorder in which the body makes fewer healthy RBCs. The genes, which control making haemoglobin protein chains, are missing or altered. People with family history are at risk.

· Aplastic: Here, the bone marrow is unable to make enough new blood cells. It is common in young adults and elderly.

· Haemolytic: In which the blood cells get destroyed and cleared before their actual lifespan.

· Sickle cell:  This is a serious disease in which the RBCs are sickle shaped. They are stiff, sticky, form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels. Blocked vessels cause pain, infections and finally organ damage. It is common in Africa, South or Central American, Caribbean islands, Mediterranean countries, India and Saudi Arabia

· Pernicious: Due to lack of vitamin B12, the body is unable to make healthy RBCs. It leads to poor reflexes and unusual movements like facial tremors, etc. This may require lifelong treatment. Those with family history, have had stomach removed, suffer from auto immune disorder or intestinal diseases, vegetarians, etc are at risk.

· Fanconi: This is a unpredictable rare, inherited disorder leading to bone marrow failure or prevents the marrow from producing enough new blood cells. This can affect vital body organs, tissues, and systems.   The average lifespan of FA sufferers is 20 to 30 years.

Who can suffer from anemia?

· Women in childbearing years

· Infants due to hereditary reasons

· Older adults due to poor diet and other medical conditions

Causes

The primary reasons for anemia can be due to

· Blood loss: This could be because of excessive menstruation or bleeding into or from the gut, gastritis, haemorrhoids or worm infestation in children.

· Increased blood consumption: This could be during pregnancy or in children – especially during infancy and adolescence as they undergo rapid growth spurts.

· Destruction of RBCs: This occurs when blood cells are fragile and are unable to bear the routine stress of the system and rupture prematurely

· Decreased or faulty RBCs production: This is due to problems like sickle cell, iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, bone marrow and stem cell problems etc

· Additional causes: Other reasons could include lack of stomach acid, after partial or total removal of stomach, chronic diarrhea, or malabsorption.

Symptoms

· Fatigue, weakness

· Dizziness, headache

· Shortness of breath

· Pale skin & cold limbs

· Throbbing or irregular heartbeat, chest pain

· A smooth, shiny, inflamed tongue (glossitis)

· Erosion, tenderness, swelling at the mouth corners(Angular stomatitis)

· Craving for chalk, clay, mud, starch, ice, etc

Treatment

· Dietary changes

· Medicines & supplements

· Blood transfusions & surgery

· Iron shots, intravenous iron therapy

Iron-boosting foods

Iron deficiency can be dealt with healthy food habits that boost RBCs.  Also, consuming vitamin C pills or vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits can also help your body absorb the iron.

· Liver

· Seafood

· Red meat

· Whole grains

· Nuts & dried fruits

· Beans – especially lima

· Green leafy vegetables

· Blackstrap molasses

· Iron-fortified foods

Caution

Certain foods and beverages like coffee, tea, egg whites, milk, fiber, soy protein etc, prevent body from absorbing iron.

Complications

Anemia can reduce oxygen transport of blood to organs, causing mental and physical fatigue. If ignored for long, anemia can lead to secondary organ dysfunction or damage, including heart arrhythmia and heart failure.

Anemic children can suffer from impaired growth, motor and mental development, short attention span, stroke etc. In the elderly, it could lead to decreased strength and increase the risk of falls. It could also reduce their chances of survival from heart failure and attacks, lead to cognitive impairment or worsen existing dementia. Deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause irreversible neurologic damage.

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