Anemia

Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs.Symptoms of anemia — like fatigue — occur because organs aren’t getting enough oxygen.

There are many types of anemia. All are very different in their causes and treatments.

There are more than 400 types of anemia, which are divided into 3 groupings:

• Anemia caused by blood loss
• Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
• Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Anemia Caused by Blood Loss:

Red blood cells can be lost through bleeding, which can occur slowly over a long period of time, and can often go undetected. This kind of chronic bleeding commonly results from gastrointestinal conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis (inflammation of the  stomach) and cancer, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory  drugs (NSAIDS) such as aspirin or Motrin, menstruation and childbirth in women, especially if menstrual bleeding is excessive and if there are multiple pregnancies.

Anemia Caused by Decreased or Faulty Red Blood Cell Production:

The body may produce too few blood cells or the blood cells may not work properly. In either case, anemia can result. Red blood cells may be faulty or decreased due to abnormal red blood cells or the a lack of minerals and vitamins needed for red blood cells to work properly.

Conditions associated with these causes of anemia include the following:

• Sickle cell anemia
• Iron deficiency anemia
• Vitamin deficiency
• Bone marrow and stem cell problems
• Other health conditions

Anemia Caused by Destruction of Red Blood Cells:

When red blood cells are fragile and cannot withstand the routine stress of the circulatory system, they may rupture prematurely, causing hemolytic anemia. Hemolytic anemia can be present at birth or develop later. Sometimes there is no known cause (spontaneous).

Known causes of hemolytic anemia may include any of the following:

• Inherited conditions, such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia
• Stressors such as infections, drugs, snake or spider venom, or certain foods
• Toxins from advanced liver or kidney disease
• Inappropriate attack by the immune system (called hemolytic disease of the newborn when it occurs in the fetus of a pregnant woman)
• Vascular grafts, prosthetic heart valves, tumors, severe  burns, chemical exposure, severe  hypertension, and clotting disorders
• In rare cases, an enlarged spleen can trap red blood cells and destroy them before their circulating time is up