Anemia
Anemia is a condition that occurs when there is a deficiency of
red blood cells or when there is less than the normal quantity of
hemoglobin in the blood. The result is a decreased oxygen-carrying
capacity of the blood. Persons afflicted with anemia may feel tired
and fatigue easily, appear pale, develop palpitations and become
abnormally short of breath. Children with chronic anemia are prone
to infections and learning problems.
Anemia has four basic causes. One or more of these causes must
be operating to produce anemia:
- Hemorrhage -- bleeding
- Hemolysis -- excessive destruction of red blood cells
- Underproduction of red blood cells
- Low levels of normal hemoglobin
Women are more likely to suffer from anemia than men because of
the loss of blood each month through menstruation. Iron deficiency
anemia is common and in adults is most often due to chronic blood
loss. This can be from menstruation or from small amounts of repeated
bleeding (which can be very subtle). In children, anemia is mostly
due to a lack of iron in the diet. Anemia is also often due to gastrointestinal
bleeding caused by medications including common drugs like aspirin
and ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin).
There are numurous forms of anemia, some of them common, others
rare. They include:
- Aplastic anemia
- Benzene poisoning
- Fanconi anemia
- Hemolytic disease of the newborn
- Hereditary spherocytosis
- Iron deficiency anemia
- Osteopetrosis
- Pernicious anemia
- Sickle cell disease
- Thalassemia
- Myelodysplastic syndrome and other bone marrow diseases.
Anemia Products: Essential
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