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Anemia is a common health disorder, particularly affecting children and pregnant women. As per World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, 42% of children below the age of 5 and 40% of pregnant women globally are anemic. It also states one out of every three women of reproductive age is anemic and 30% of the world population is affected by this disorder. Anemia is a nutrition deficiency disorder, especially iron deficiency.
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Keyterms: Health disorder, WHO, Nutrition, oxygen, red blood cells, hemoglobin, tissue, fatigue, iron-rich protein, protein
Read Also: Difference Between RBC and WBC
Anemia: Definition
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Anemia is defined as the deficiency of healthy red blood cells to transport enough oxygen to tissues in our body. Anemia is also defined as when the hemoglobin concentration is lower than the normal level. Low oxygen levels cause fatigue and weakness in our bodies.
Anemia
Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein in blood that transports oxygen present in red blood cells(RBCs). There are different types of anemia depending upon the cause of deficiency of red blood cells. It can range from induced anemia to genetic disorders and also can be acute or chronic. Anemia is also spelt as anemia.
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Causes of Anemia
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Anemia occurs when your body has a deficiency in the number of red blood cells, this can happen when:
- Nutrition deficiency especially iron
- Destruction of red blood cells
- Excessive bleeding
- Not enough production of red blood cells
Anemia: Causes
Anemia: Symptoms
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Anemia is a common blood disorder that has affected over 2 billion people worldwide. The symptoms of anemia vary as per sex, age, and severity of anemia. However, the common symptoms of anemia include:
- Pale or Yellowish skin similar to jaundice
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Bone, Joint pains
- Abdominal aches
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Delay in physical developments in children and teenagers
- Numbness in hands and feet
- Inflammation in tongue and its colour changes to red
Young children and women are more prone to blood-related disorders and increase as they grow older. It can be caused due to genetic disorders, can be acquired as one grows old or particularly in women due to severe blood loss during the menstrual cycle, or during childbirth.
Anemia: Symptoms
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Things to Remember
- Anemia is a common blood-related disorder that is defined as a deficiency of healthy red blood cells
- Anemia is also often spelled as anemia.
- The hemoglobin concentration is lower than the normal level in anemic people.
- Hemoglobin is a protein containing iron present in the blood and is primarily responsible for oxygen transportation in the body. Also, it gives blood its red colour.
- Anemia occurs due to iron deficiency, autoimmune diseases, severe blood loss, and also due to the destruction or not enough production of red blood cells.
- Symptoms of anemia include pale and yellowish skin, fatigue, weakness, dizziness and pain in the abdomen, bones and joints.
- Young children and pregnant women are majorly affected by this blood disorder.
- There are over 400 types of anemia that range from genetic disorders to induced or acquired over the life span.
- The most common type of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia.
Types of Anemia
Sample Questions
Ques: What deficiencies can cause anemia? (5 marks)
Ans: Anemia is a blood-related disorder and can occur due to a deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid in our body.
When hemoglobin concentration in blood is lower than the normal level of a given sex and age, then the person is called anaemic. When a person is anaemic it can be due to the following deficiencies:
- Iron deficiency: Iron deficient anemia occurs in a person who has an iron-deficient diet. It is the most common cause of anemia. Insufficient iron in the body causes hindrance in the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. The red blood cells (RBCs) count falls to 3-4 million per cubic millimetre. Pernicious anemia is also known as Addison’s anemia or Biermer’s anemia.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency: Anemia due to vitamin B12 is termed Pernicious anemia. Our body needs vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells. When a person’s body is unable to absorb enough vitamin B12 then the count of red blood cells falls. This can happen due to an autoimmune disease or weakened stomach lining.
- Megaloblastic anemia: Megaloblastic anemia or folate deficiency anemia is due to a lack of folic acid in the blood. The lack of folic acid causes the body to make abnormally large-sized red blood cells. These red blood cells can not function properly and hence the person becomes anaemic.
Ques: What is Sickle cell anemia? What causes it? (3 marks)
Ans: Sickle Cell anemia is due to a genetic disorder. It is an inherited disease in which red blood cells that are normally disc-shaped however due to DNA mutation get sickle-shaped. These sickle-shaped red blood cells die early and get stuck in blood vessels and block blood flow into our body, causing pain.
Sickle cell anemia is a chronic disease and can’t be cured. However, the patients need a blood transfusion as treatment.
Ques: What if an anaemic person is left untreated? (2 marks)
Ans: If an anaemic patient is left treated then this can lead to fatality. Or otherwise severe heart ailments and fatigue. In pregnant women, anemia can cause the birth of a premature baby.
Ques: What is Thalassemia? (3 marks)
Ans: Thalassemia is an inherited blood-related disorder. In thalassemia, the body produces an insufficient amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein that is responsible for the transportation of oxygen to various organs.
Haemoglobin is made up of two proteins which are alpha-globin protein and beta-globin protein. In thalassemic patients, the DNA responsible for synthesising these proteins is either muted or missing. And this results in an inadequate number of red blood cells.
Ques: What are the symptoms of anemia? (4 marks)
Ans: The symptoms of anemia include:
- Pale or Yellowish skin similar to jaundice
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid and irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue and weakness
- Headaches, migraine, dizziness
- Bone, Joint pains
- Brittle nails
- Numbness in hands and feet
Ques: How does anemia affect pregnant women? (3 marks)
Ans: Women may have mild anemia during pregnancy. But in severe anemia cases, the birth of a premature baby can occur. Pregnant women are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia or folate deficiency anemia. However, blood loss during and after pregnancy can cause anemia. These lead to severe fatigue, weakness, difficulty to fight infections and postpartum depression.
Ques: How can anemia be prevented? (2 marks)
Ans: Anemia is a common blood-related disease. Though there are over 400 types of anemia but most common is iron-deficiency anemia. A balanced diet containing iron-rich foods like meat, green leafy vegetables, beans, seafood, etc can help in preventing anemia. However, in other types, vitamin supplements and medical supervision may be needed.
Ques: What factors increase the risk of anemia? (5 marks)
Ans: The factors that increase the risk of anemia are listed below:
- A diet lacking iron and B vitamins
- Menstrual and pregnancy increases the risk of anemia in women
- Intestinal disorders affect the absorption of nutrients and vitamins, this may increase the chances of being anaemic.
- If anemia is inherited then one is at risk of having anemia.
- Any chronic disease like cancer or kidney failure can lead to a shortage of red blood cells and hence anemia.
- Elderly people are at higher risk of anemia.
- Other factors may include drinking and smoking. This disrupts the production and mortality of red blood cells in the body.
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