Anemia is a low level of red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. Many things can cause anemia. Lack of iron is one of the most common causes. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. This is a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to your body's cells. Without enough iron, the body produces fewer and smaller red blood cells. As a result, your body's cells do not get enough oxygen, and you feel tired and weak. And you may have trouble concentrating.
Bleeding is the most common cause of a lack of iron. You may have heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding caused by conditions such as ulcers or cancer. Regular use of aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen) also can cause bleeding in some people. A lack of iron in your diet also can cause anemia, especially at times when the body needs more iron. This includes during pregnancy, infancy, and the teen years.
Your doctor may have prescribed iron pills. It may take several months of treatment for your iron levels to return to normal. Your doctor also may suggest that you eat foods that are rich in iron, such as meat and beans.
There are many other causes of anemia. It is not always due to a lack of iron. Finding the specific cause of your anemia will help your doctor find the right treatment for you.
Anemia is a condition in which a person doesn't have enough red blood cells. With fewer red blood cells, your blood isn't able to carry enough oxygen to the cells in your body. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, skin that is more pale than usual, and general tiredness (fatigue).
Different types of anemia are caused by:
Each type of anemia is treated differently.
When you have anemia, you may feel dizzy, tired, and weak. You may also feel your heart pounding or feel short of breath. It may be hard to focus and think clearly.
Sometimes eating more of a variety of healthy foods, taking iron pills, or taking folic acid or vitamin B12 supplements is what's needed. But you may also need medicine or other treatment for any problem that's causing the anemia. And people who are very anemic may need blood transfusions.
A blood test, sometimes done as part of a routine exam, will tell your doctor if you have anemia. Then your doctor will do other tests to figure out what's causing it.
Your doctor may recommend eating more iron-rich foods. These include red meat, poultry, eggs, beans, raisins, whole-grain bread, and leafy green vegetables. Some fortified cereals and grains are high in iron. You may also need to take iron pills.
Some common reasons why you might get anemia include:
Having anemia means you don't have enough red blood cells. Your body needs these cells to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. Anemia is fairly common. It's often easily treated. Sometimes, though, it's serious.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
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Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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