How do get anemia

Normal levels vary between individuals, but having a result…. The gums can turn pale for several reasons. Pale gums around the teeth may indicate anemia, which is often caused by a lack of iron, folate, or…. Nutritional-deficiency anemia happens when the body does not get enough iron or a few other nutrients from the diet.

Learn more, including how to…. A variety of conditions and lifestyle factors can lead to a reduction in hemoglobin. Common causes include anemia, pregnancy, and thyroid conditions….

What to know about anemia. Share on Pinterest A person with anemia may experience fatigue, an irregular heartbeat, and chest pain. Causes and types. Risk factors. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. Everything you need to know about iron. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.

Serum iron test: High, low, and normal ranges. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. What causes pale gums? Examples include an ulcer in your stomach , polyps in the colon or intestines, or colon cancer. Regular use of pain relievers, such as aspirin, can also cause bleeding in the stomach.

Certain disorders or surgeries that affect the intestines can also interfere with how your body absorbs iron. Even if you get enough iron in your diet, celiac disease or intestinal surgery such as gastric bypass may limit the amount of iron your body can absorb. If a woman has endometriosis she may have heavy blood loss that she can not see because it is hidden in the abdominal or pelvic area.

Anemia is a common condition and can occur in both men and women of any age and from any ethnic group. Some people may be at greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than others, including:. A complete blood count CBC is usually the first test a doctor will use. A CBC measures the amount of all components in the blood, including:.

The CBC provides information about your blood that is helpful in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. This information includes:. A normal hematocrit range is The normal hemoglobin range is In iron deficiency anemia, the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are low.

Also, RBCs are usually smaller in size than normal. A CBC test is often performed as part of a routine physical examination. It may also be performed routinely before a surgery. Anemia can usually be confirmed with a CBC test. Your doctor might order additional blood tests to determine how severe your anemia is and help determine treatments. They may also examine your blood through a microscope.

These blood tests will provide information, including:. Ferritin is a protein that helps with iron storage in your body. Low levels of ferritin indicate low iron storage. Transferrin is a protein that transports iron. Certain at-home test kits can check iron levels as well as being able to check ferritin levels and TIBC.

You buy a testing kit online through LetsGetChecked here. If your doctor is concerned that internal bleeding is causing your anemia, additional tests may be needed. Red blood cells explained Causes of anaemia Symptoms of anaemia Groups at high risk of anaemia Diagnosis of anaemia Treatment for anaemia Long-term outlook for people with anaemia Prevention of anaemia Where to get help.

Anaemia is a deficiency in the number or quality of red blood cells in your body. Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body using a particular protein called haemoglobin.

Anaemia means that either the level of red blood cells or the level of haemoglobin is lower than normal. When a person has anaemia, their heart has to work harder to pump the quantity of blood needed to get enough oxygen around their body.

This blood condition is common, particularly in females. Some estimates suggest that around one in five menstruating women and half of all pregnant women are anaemic. Red blood cells explained Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and have a life span of about days. Symptoms of anaemia Depending on the severity, the symptoms of anaemia may include: pale skin fatigue weakness tiring easily breathlessness drop in blood pressure when standing from a sitting or lying position orthostatic hypotension — this may happen after acute blood loss, like a heavy period frequent headaches racing heart or palpitations becoming irritated easily concentration difficulties cracked or reddened tongue loss of appetite strange food cravings.

Groups at high risk of anaemia Certain people are at increased risk of anaemia, including: menstruating women pregnant and breastfeeding women babies, especially if premature children going through puberty people following a vegetarian or vegan diet people with cancer, stomach ulcers and some chronic diseases people on fad diets athletes.

Diagnosis of anaemia Depending on the cause, anaemia is diagnosed using a number of tests including: medical history — including any chronic illnesses and regular medications physical examination — looking for signs of anaemia and a cause for anaemia blood tests — including complete blood count and blood iron levels, vitamin B12, folate and kidney function tests urine tests — for detecting blood in the urine gastroscopy or colonoscopy — looking for signs of bleeding bone marrow biopsy faecal occult blood test — examining a stool poo sample for the presence of blood.

Treatment for anaemia Treatment depends on the cause and severity, but may include: vitamin and mineral supplements — if you have a deficiency iron injections — if you are very low on iron vitamin B12 by injection —for pernicious anaemia antibiotics — if infection is the cause of your anaemia altering the dose or regimen of regular medications — such as anti-inflammatory drugs, if necessary blood transfusions — if required oxygen therapy — if required surgery to prevent abnormal bleeding — such as heavy menstruation surgery to remove the spleen splenectomy — in cases of severe haemolytic anaemia.

Anaemia: my doctor says I need more iron , Dietitians Association of Australia. When the amount of blood lost is greater than your body's ability to replace the lost red blood cells, you can become anemic.

Women who experience heavy menstrual periods, for example, and people who have internal bleeding due to ulcers or other digestive problems are at the greatest risk for anemia. Sometimes this type of blood loss is silent and unrecognized until anemia shows up on a blood test.

External bleeding from surgery or trauma also can cause anemia. Low production of red blood cells. Even if you're not bleeding, old red blood cells constantly need to be replaced with new ones. A number of factors can cause your body to produce too few red blood cells, or red blood cells lacking in sufficient hemoglobin. People who are anemic most often experience fatigue. As anemia worsens, your body can experience visible physical changes — your skin could become pale, your nails brittle and cuts may take longer to stop bleeding.