Anemia  (anemia – Anemia) is a medical condition characterized by the lack of a sufficient amount of cells  , blood  red in the body to convey a sufficient amount of oxygen to the tissues.

A person suffering from anemia is likely to feel tired often.

Anemia is defined as a drop in one or more of the measurements related to red blood cells, namely:

Hemoglobin concentration (HGB): It is the primary oxygen-carrying hemoglobin concentration in the blood.

Hematocrit (HCT): The hematocrit or percentage of the volume of red blood cells out of the total blood volume.

Count of red blood cells (RBC count): It is a red blood cell count found in a given volume ID in advance of the total blood volume.

The definition of anemia according to the above test values ​​differs between them in males and females:

Males : values ​​less than 13.5 g / dL for hemoglobin concentration and values ​​less than 41 for hematocrit percentage.

Females : Values ​​less than 12 g / dL for hemoglobin concentration and values ​​less than 36 for hematocrit.

Different hemoglobin values

Below we will talk about special groups whose normal hemoglobin values ​​may differ from the rest of humanity for genetic reasons, hereditary or related to their lifestyle:

Smokers : It is known that smokers have higher hematocrit values ​​than non-smokers in the normal situation. This may lead to camouflage and conceal the presence of anemia in those smokers, if any, because we will not see this in laboratory blood tests.

Highlanders : People who live higher than sea level have higher hemoglobin values ​​than those who live near sea level.

African Americans : had hemoglobin values ​​0.5-1.0 g / dL lower than internationally.

Chronic disease : Having chronic diseases may lead to hemoglobin values ​​that are lower than the internationally recognized normal values, but these values ​​do not indicate actual anemia.

Athletes : Athletes have normal hemoglobin values ​​that are different from the internationally recognized normal values.

There are a few different types of anemia, and each type has its own cause.

Anemia can be a temporary condition or an ongoing medical condition, and it can range from mild to severe.

When anyone suspects that they have anemia, they should see a doctor, because anemia can be an early sign of the development of a more severe disease.

Treatments for anemia range from taking food additives to medical treatments. It may be possible to prevent the development of certain types of anemia by maintaining a balanced, varied and healthy diet.

The symptoms of anemia in patients depend on the degree of anemia they are experiencing as well as the rate at which the disease develops and the patient’s need for oxygen.

Symptoms of anemia (listed below) usually appear if the progression of the disease is very rapid, but if the development of anemia is slow, it is possible that these symptoms will not appear because the body has become accustomed to the new position

• Tired
• Paleness of the complexion
• Rapid and irregular heart palpitations
• Dancing heartbeat
• shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Sleepers
• Changes in cognitive state
• Cold hands and feet
• Headache
• Myocardial infarction (in rare and severe cases of the disease).

Anemia may be very mild and imperceptible in its beginnings, but symptoms worsen as the disease progresses

Causes and risk factors of anemia

Blood consists of a fluid called “plasma” (plasmapheresis) and cells

Types of blood cells

There are three different types of blood cells that float in the plasma:

Cells / white blood cells (Leucocytes): These cells fight infection (Infections).

Platelets (Platelet / Thrombocyte): These cells help the blood to clot after an injury.

Erythrocytes: These cells carry oxygen (Oxygen) from the lungs, via blood flow, to the brain and other vital organs and tissues in the body.

The importance of hemoglobin

Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, which is an iron-rich protein red in color that gives blood its usual (red) color.

Hemoglobin enables red blood cells to transport (carry) oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body and transport carbon dioxide from the body, back, to the lungs, so that it can be excreted from the body in the process of exhalation.

Most blood cells, including red blood cells, are constantly produced in the marrow, which is a red, spongy substance found in the cavities of large bones in the body.

In order to produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, the body needs iron and other minerals, vitamins  and proteins that are found in the food that a person eats. In addition to some hormones, the most important of which is the erythropoietin hormone (EPO), which the kidneys secrete in order to produce red blood cells.

It should be noted that the average lifespan of a red blood cell ranges from 110 to 120.

When a person suffers from anemia , his body does not produce enough red blood cells, but rather loses or destroys many of them more quickly than it is able to produce new blood cells

Common types of anemia – anemia – and their causes include:

Anemia caused by iron deficiency (Iron deficiency anemia): Thiscommon type of anemia affects approximately 2-3% of the US adult population. The reason for its occurrence is a lack of iron in the body. This is because the bone marrow needs iron in order to produce hemoglobin, and if the iron supply is not adequate, the body will not be able to produce enough hemoglobin for the red blood cells.

Vitamin Deficiency Anemia:In addition to its need for iron, the body also needs folic acid and vitamin B12 to produce enough healthy red blood cells. A diet that is deficient in one of the vital nutrients can reduce red blood cell production. There are some people whose body cannot absorb vitamin B-12 effectively.

Anemia as a symptom of a chronic disease:infection with many chronic diseases, such as cancer (Cancer), AIDS (AIDS immunodeficiency syndrome – AIDS), gout (Gout), Crohn ‘s (Crohn’s disease) disease, and inflammatory diseases and other chronic, can influence production Red blood cells, thus causing chronic anemia. Kidney failure can also lead to anemia.

 Aplastic anemia (Aplastic anemia):This type of anemiavery rare, butisdanger to life. It occurs as a result of the decreased ability of the bone marrow to produce the three types of blood cells (red, white and platelet cells). The cause of aplastic anemia remains unknown in most cases. However, there is a belief that it is related to diseases that affect the functioning of the immune system (Immune system).

Anemia due to a disease in the bone marrow:Many diseases, such as leukemia , myelodysplasia are a pre-leukemia medical condition that can lead to anemia and affect the bone marrow. The effects of precancerous or semi-cancerous disorders, these can range from a very mild change in the amounts of production of blood cells to a complete cessation of their production, which poses a threat to life. There are also other types of cancer attacks the blood and bone marrow, such as multiple Anakaa tumor ( Multiple Myeloma ), reproduction disorders myelogenous (Myeloproliferative disorders), tumor lymphatic (lymphoma).

Hemolysis anemia:This group of anemia develops when red blood cells are destroyed more quickly than the bone marrow can produce new blood cells.

Infection with some diseases: There are certain blood diseases that can intensively damage red blood cells. Disturbances in the immune system can cause the body to produce antibodies to red blood cells and cause them to be destroyed prematurely. Also, taking certain medicines, such as different types of antibiotics (Antibiotics) used to treat different types of infections (infections), can also cause damage to red blood cells.

Sickle cell anemia (Sickle cell anemia):This type of anemiasometimes severe, transmittedheredity,in most cases affects people of African descent, Arab or Mediterranean Sea. This type of anemia is caused by a defect in hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to have an exceptional sickle-like shape. This form of red blood cells causes these cells to atrophy and die prematurely, thus causing a chronic shortage of red blood cells.

Other types of anemia:There are other additional types of anemia, are more rare species such as Thalassemia (Thalassemia), and the types of result from defects in hemoglobin. Sometimes, it is not possible to reach an accurate diagnosis of the cause of the emergence of anemia

Risk factors for developing anemia include:

Malnutrition: Every person, whether young or adult, whose diet consists mostly of iron-poor foods and vitamins, and especially folic acid, is at risk of developing anemia. The body needs iron, protein and vitamins to produce enough red blood cells.

Diseases and disorders in the intestine: Those with diseases or disorders in the intestine that affect the absorption of food compounds in the small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease and Celiac disease, are people who are at risk of developing anemia. An operation to remove part of the small intestine , or to treat the affected part of the small intestine, in which food compounds are absorbed, can lead to a deficiency in certain food compounds, and subsequently to anemia.

Menstrual cycle: Women of fertile age are, in general, more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia, compared to men. This is because a woman loses amounts of blood, and as a result, she loses iron as well, during her menstrual period.

Pregnancy: A pregnant woman is very susceptible to iron deficiency anemia, because her iron stores should support a larger volume of blood than in the normal state and be, also, a source of hemoglobin that the fetus needs for growth and development.

Diseases and chronic: People with a cancerous disease, kidney failure (Renal failure) or failure hepatic (Hepatic failure), or any other chronic medical condition, can be susceptible to the development of anemia called “anemia associated with blood chronic diseases” (anemia as a symptom of a chronic disease ).

These medical conditions may cause a deficiency of red blood cells. Also, slow but chronic blood loss caused by a peptic ulcer or an ulcer elsewhere in the body may deplete the iron stores in the body and thus cause iron deficiency anemia.

Genetic factors: If there is a family member who suffers from an anemia that is transmitted genetically, such as sickle cell anemia, then this constitutes a risk factor for developing anemia, on a genetic basis