Incidence Of Anemia<\/h2>\n![\"Anemia](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fnfdoc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Anemia-In-Women.jpg?resize=843%2C474&ssl=1\")
Anemia In Women<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGlobally, 24.8% of the population has anemia. It can affect the kids, the elderly and the expecting women. But its prevalence is highest among preschool kids and lowest among men. A large number of non-pregnant women also suffer from anemia. Although there are certain types of anemia that target a specific population ( e.g. sickle cell anemia is highly common in West Africans and Native Americans ), the bottom line is that it can affect people from all races and geographical backgrounds.<\/p>\n
Causes Of Anemia<\/h2>\n
The primary marker of anemia is a lack of adequate number of RBCs to oxygenate the cells. Vital functions are impaired and structures damaged resulting in a crisis situation. Cases of anemia show a broad spectrum intensity. Some patients have a mild case of anemia that can be cured by short-term treatment. However, others undergo prolonged treatment for chronic anemia. Sometimes the situation escalates and there is a grim ending. (Think Heaven and Hell)
\nThere is a wide variety of scenarios that can lead up to anemia. Here we list some common causes of anemia:<\/p>\n
\n- You already have Iron Deficiency<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/li>\n
- You have an inherited blood disorder.<\/li>\n
- You have encountered a serious accident, fall or hemorrhage.<\/li>\n
- You have undergone chemotherapy sessions for quite some time now.<\/li>\n
- You eat a diet poor in folic acid and Vitamin B 12.<\/li>\n
- You already suffer from pernicious anemia.<\/li>\n
- You have a malfunctioning bone marrow.<\/li>\n
- You are pregnant or a nonpregnant woman with the heavy menstrual flow.<\/li>\n
- You have intestinal troubles.<\/li>\n
- You have a family history of anemia.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You Already Have Iron Deficiency<\/h3>\n![\"Iron](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fnfdoc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IRON-DEFICIENCY1.jpg?resize=843%2C474&ssl=1\")
Iron Deficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNot only is Iron important for the formation of other essential elements in the body(e.g., myoglobin, cytochromes, cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase, and catalase), it is crucial for the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is the central atom around which the pyrrole rings assemble during the production of hemoglobin. Henceforth, it is important for the production of erythroblasts in the bone marrow. Dried fruit, green vegetables, nuts, and lentils are some of the diets rich in iron.<\/p>\n
If you have a diet plan low on either of these, then you are susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. But fret not, iron supplements can enhance your iron stores and help you get back on track.<\/p>\n
You Have An Inherited Blood Disorder<\/h3>\n
From a genetic point of view, there are many anomalies that interfere with normal synthesis and functioning of blood cells. For example, in inherited spherocytosis, the RBCs formed are spherical and small-sized that easily rapture within the blood vessels. Other genetic disorders that cause hemolysis of RBCs are sickle-cell anemia and erythroblastosis fetalis.<\/p>\n
Sickle Cell Anemia<\/h4>\n
Hemoglobin is a globular protein. It is made of polypeptide chains that are coiled and folded around one another. Haemoglobin A, which is the hemoglobin present in adults, is a combination of four polypeptide chains – two alpha chains and two beta (\u00df) chains. In each of the two \u00df chains, the sixth position is occupied by glutamic acid. In comparison, sickle-cell patients have valine in place of glutamic acid in the sixth place. This minor substitution occurs because of a genetic defect. The defective gene causes improper and faulty synthesis of hemoglobin (designated as HbS).<\/p>\n
At low oxygen tension, the HbS molecule is crystallized within the RBC. The red cell becomes sickle-shaped and is readily raptured while passing through the capillaries. Keep in mind that the normal RBC is a biconcave disc that has a bag-like, flexible membrane. But the sickle-cell RBC can’t move through tight vascular beds owing to its fragile membrane.<\/p>\n
The patient’s systems experience a shortage of oxygen and hence more sickling and subsequent RBC destruction. Therefore, a Sickle Cell Disease<\/a> “crisis” may ensue. Once the process starts, it progresses rapidly, eventuating in a serious decrease in RBCs within a few hours and, in some cases, death.<\/p>\n![\"Sickle](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fnfdoc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sickle-Cell-Anemia.jpg?resize=843%2C422&ssl=1\")
Sickle Cell Anemia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nErythroblastosis Fetalis<\/h4>\n
In addition to the usual ABO blood group system, there is another blood group system that depends on the presence and absence of Rh antigens on the RBC. This is designated as the Rh – blood group system. Now when an Rh – -ve woman married to an Rh – +ve man conceives an Rh – +ve fetus, it is likely that the fetus will have erythroblastosis fetalis.<\/p>\n
The maternal Rh – -ve antibodies cross the placental barrier and attack the Rh – +ve blood cells of the baby. These antibodies weaken the RBCs, making them so fragile that they suffer a breakdown. The spleen of the fetus enlarges and it may have congenital jaundice. Also, the child is born with a serious case of anemia. However, this type of anemia rarely causes death. An easy cure is replacing the baby’s blood with Rh – -ve blood.<\/p>\n
You Have Encountered A Serious Accident, Fall Or Haemorrhage<\/h3>\n
During accidents and other physical mishaps, you lose a lot of blood. Naturally, there is a shortfall of red blood cells in the body. The oxygen supplied to your tissues is lesser than normal. Even after a hemorrhage, your body faces a deficit of hemoglobin. Luckily, it takes only 3-6 weeks for the body to replenish its RBC production. But only if you didn’t have a second hemorrhage. The plasma portion of blood takes only three days to return to its normal concentration. But the production of blood cells in the bone marrow is a time-taking process. And that is exactly why it takes over a month to make up for the lost RBCs.<\/p>\n
You Have Undergone Chemotherapy Sessions For Quite Some time Now<\/h3>\n
Your stem cells may also be damaged when you are exposed to high-dose radiation or you are being treated for cancer. This radiation can damage the stem cells from which all blood cells arise. When the stem cells malfunction, the blood cells formed have strange and irregular shapes and amount of pigment. For instance, if the RBCs have a low quantity of hemoglobin and are reduced in size then this is a case of microcytic, hypochromic anemia.<\/p>\n
You Eat A Diet Poor In Vitamin B 12 And Folic Acid<\/h3>\n
Maturation of RBCs requires Vitamin B 12, folic acid and an intrinsic factor of the stomach mucosa. Except the IF produced by parietal cells in your stomach, both the folic acid and vitamin compounds are taken up from your diet. So if you follow a diet plan that is deficient in meat, poultry, and lentils, you may develop “Vitamin Deficiency Anemia<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a>“.<\/p>\nThe best sources of Vit B 12 are eggs, cheese, milk, shellfish, poultry, meat and other fish. Similarly, foods rich in folic acid are lentils, dried beans, peas, nuts, avocados, citrus fruit, and most importantly, green vegetables. So if you avoid healthy eating and consumption of veggies and meat, you may suffer from “megaloblastic anemia.”<\/p>\n
Your bone marrow forms abnormal RBCs that are irregularly-shaped and large. These RBCs are termed as megaloblasts and the resulting disease “Megaloblastic Anemia.” The erythroblasts fail to develop and proliferate properly, hence causing breakdown of red cells early on.<\/p>\n
You Already Suffer From Pernicious Anemia<\/h3>\n
By pernicious anemia, we refer to a disease in which the stomach mucosa degenerates and fails to produce an intrinsic factor that takes up Vitamin B12 in the GIT. This atrophy of the stomach lining depresses the amount of Vitamin B12 absorbed hence leading to abnormal maturation of RBCs. In a nutshell, the Vitamin B12 Deficit<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span> causes anemia. In addition to atrophy of the stomach lining, it may also occur after the loss of the entire stomach(gastrectomy).<\/p>\nYou Have A Malfunctioning Bone Marrow<\/h3>\n
The bone marrow is the spongy tissue present in the interior of the bone. In sternum and the short bones like the ribs and vertebrae, the bone marrow is responsible for all three lines of blood cells – RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. In “Aplastic anemia<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/a>” the patient endures a malfunctioning bone marrow. Bone marrow aplasia means lack of functioning bone marrow. For instance, chemotherapy for cancer and exposure to high-dose radiation can damage hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow, followed in a few weeks by anemia.<\/p>\n
Globally, 24.8% of the population has anemia. It can affect the kids, the elderly and the expecting women. But its prevalence is highest among preschool kids and lowest among men. A large number of non-pregnant women also suffer from anemia. Although there are certain types of anemia that target a specific population ( e.g. sickle cell anemia is highly common in West Africans and Native Americans ), the bottom line is that it can affect people from all races and geographical backgrounds.<\/p>\n
Causes Of Anemia<\/h2>\n
The primary marker of anemia is a lack of adequate number of RBCs to oxygenate the cells. Vital functions are impaired and structures damaged resulting in a crisis situation. Cases of anemia show a broad spectrum intensity. Some patients have a mild case of anemia that can be cured by short-term treatment. However, others undergo prolonged treatment for chronic anemia. Sometimes the situation escalates and there is a grim ending. (Think Heaven and Hell)
\nThere is a wide variety of scenarios that can lead up to anemia. Here we list some common causes of anemia:<\/p>\n
- \n
- You already have Iron Deficiency<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/a>.<\/li>\n
- You have an inherited blood disorder.<\/li>\n
- You have encountered a serious accident, fall or hemorrhage.<\/li>\n
- You have undergone chemotherapy sessions for quite some time now.<\/li>\n
- You eat a diet poor in folic acid and Vitamin B 12.<\/li>\n
- You already suffer from pernicious anemia.<\/li>\n
- You have a malfunctioning bone marrow.<\/li>\n
- You are pregnant or a nonpregnant woman with the heavy menstrual flow.<\/li>\n
- You have intestinal troubles.<\/li>\n
- You have a family history of anemia.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You Already Have Iron Deficiency<\/h3>\n
Iron Deficiency<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Not only is Iron important for the formation of other essential elements in the body(e.g., myoglobin, cytochromes, cytochrome oxidase, peroxidase, and catalase), it is crucial for the synthesis of hemoglobin. It is the central atom around which the pyrrole rings assemble during the production of hemoglobin. Henceforth, it is important for the production of erythroblasts in the bone marrow. Dried fruit, green vegetables, nuts, and lentils are some of the diets rich in iron.<\/p>\n
If you have a diet plan low on either of these, then you are susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. But fret not, iron supplements can enhance your iron stores and help you get back on track.<\/p>\n
You Have An Inherited Blood Disorder<\/h3>\n
From a genetic point of view, there are many anomalies that interfere with normal synthesis and functioning of blood cells. For example, in inherited spherocytosis, the RBCs formed are spherical and small-sized that easily rapture within the blood vessels. Other genetic disorders that cause hemolysis of RBCs are sickle-cell anemia and erythroblastosis fetalis.<\/p>\n
Sickle Cell Anemia<\/h4>\n
Hemoglobin is a globular protein. It is made of polypeptide chains that are coiled and folded around one another. Haemoglobin A, which is the hemoglobin present in adults, is a combination of four polypeptide chains – two alpha chains and two beta (\u00df) chains. In each of the two \u00df chains, the sixth position is occupied by glutamic acid. In comparison, sickle-cell patients have valine in place of glutamic acid in the sixth place. This minor substitution occurs because of a genetic defect. The defective gene causes improper and faulty synthesis of hemoglobin (designated as HbS).<\/p>\n
At low oxygen tension, the HbS molecule is crystallized within the RBC. The red cell becomes sickle-shaped and is readily raptured while passing through the capillaries. Keep in mind that the normal RBC is a biconcave disc that has a bag-like, flexible membrane. But the sickle-cell RBC can’t move through tight vascular beds owing to its fragile membrane.<\/p>\n
The patient’s systems experience a shortage of oxygen and hence more sickling and subsequent RBC destruction. Therefore, a Sickle Cell Disease<\/a> “crisis” may ensue. Once the process starts, it progresses rapidly, eventuating in a serious decrease in RBCs within a few hours and, in some cases, death.<\/p>\n
Sickle Cell Anemia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Erythroblastosis Fetalis<\/h4>\n
In addition to the usual ABO blood group system, there is another blood group system that depends on the presence and absence of Rh antigens on the RBC. This is designated as the Rh – blood group system. Now when an Rh – -ve woman married to an Rh – +ve man conceives an Rh – +ve fetus, it is likely that the fetus will have erythroblastosis fetalis.<\/p>\n
The maternal Rh – -ve antibodies cross the placental barrier and attack the Rh – +ve blood cells of the baby. These antibodies weaken the RBCs, making them so fragile that they suffer a breakdown. The spleen of the fetus enlarges and it may have congenital jaundice. Also, the child is born with a serious case of anemia. However, this type of anemia rarely causes death. An easy cure is replacing the baby’s blood with Rh – -ve blood.<\/p>\n
You Have Encountered A Serious Accident, Fall Or Haemorrhage<\/h3>\n
During accidents and other physical mishaps, you lose a lot of blood. Naturally, there is a shortfall of red blood cells in the body. The oxygen supplied to your tissues is lesser than normal. Even after a hemorrhage, your body faces a deficit of hemoglobin. Luckily, it takes only 3-6 weeks for the body to replenish its RBC production. But only if you didn’t have a second hemorrhage. The plasma portion of blood takes only three days to return to its normal concentration. But the production of blood cells in the bone marrow is a time-taking process. And that is exactly why it takes over a month to make up for the lost RBCs.<\/p>\n
You Have Undergone Chemotherapy Sessions For Quite Some time Now<\/h3>\n
Your stem cells may also be damaged when you are exposed to high-dose radiation or you are being treated for cancer. This radiation can damage the stem cells from which all blood cells arise. When the stem cells malfunction, the blood cells formed have strange and irregular shapes and amount of pigment. For instance, if the RBCs have a low quantity of hemoglobin and are reduced in size then this is a case of microcytic, hypochromic anemia.<\/p>\n
You Eat A Diet Poor In Vitamin B 12 And Folic Acid<\/h3>\n
Maturation of RBCs requires Vitamin B 12, folic acid and an intrinsic factor of the stomach mucosa. Except the IF produced by parietal cells in your stomach, both the folic acid and vitamin compounds are taken up from your diet. So if you follow a diet plan that is deficient in meat, poultry, and lentils, you may develop “Vitamin Deficiency Anemia<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/a>“.<\/p>\n
The best sources of Vit B 12 are eggs, cheese, milk, shellfish, poultry, meat and other fish. Similarly, foods rich in folic acid are lentils, dried beans, peas, nuts, avocados, citrus fruit, and most importantly, green vegetables. So if you avoid healthy eating and consumption of veggies and meat, you may suffer from “megaloblastic anemia.”<\/p>\n
Your bone marrow forms abnormal RBCs that are irregularly-shaped and large. These RBCs are termed as megaloblasts and the resulting disease “Megaloblastic Anemia.” The erythroblasts fail to develop and proliferate properly, hence causing breakdown of red cells early on.<\/p>\n
You Already Suffer From Pernicious Anemia<\/h3>\n
By pernicious anemia, we refer to a disease in which the stomach mucosa degenerates and fails to produce an intrinsic factor that takes up Vitamin B12 in the GIT. This atrophy of the stomach lining depresses the amount of Vitamin B12 absorbed hence leading to abnormal maturation of RBCs. In a nutshell, the Vitamin B12 Deficit<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/span> causes anemia. In addition to atrophy of the stomach lining, it may also occur after the loss of the entire stomach(gastrectomy).<\/p>\n
You Have A Malfunctioning Bone Marrow<\/h3>\n
The bone marrow is the spongy tissue present in the interior of the bone. In sternum and the short bones like the ribs and vertebrae, the bone marrow is responsible for all three lines of blood cells – RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. In “Aplastic anemia<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/a>” the patient endures a malfunctioning bone marrow. Bone marrow aplasia means lack of functioning bone marrow. For instance, chemotherapy for cancer and exposure to high-dose radiation can damage hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow, followed in a few weeks by anemia.<\/p>\n
![\"Anemia\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/fnfdoc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Anemia.png?resize=843%2C441&ssl=1\")