What Is Anemia? Know Causes And Symptoms

Image Credit: Getty

What is anemia?

Anemia is a condition where one has a lack of healthy red blood cells (RBC), leading to a reduced flow of oxygen to different organs.

Image Credit: Getty

Symptoms of anemia

Fatigue, tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath and pale skin are some common signs of anemia. Symptoms may vary depending on the type of anemia one has.

Video Credit: Getty

Aplastic anemia

This condition can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin, fever, frequent infections and skin rashes, which are a result of bone marrow damage.

Video Credit: Getty

Iron deficiency anemia

It is a common type of anemia with symptoms like extreme weakness, pale skin, chest pain, dizziness, cold hands and feet, brittle nails and poor appetite.

Image Credit: Getty

Sickle cell anemia

It is a genetic disease in which RBCs have an abnormal shape. Symptoms include episodes of severe pain, delayed growth, vision problems and swelling of hands and feet.

Video Credit: Getty

Thalassemia

It is an inherited blood disorder with symptoms like bone deformities, dark urine and delayed growth. Thalassemia is characterised by less haemoglobin and fewer RBCs in the body.

Image Credit: Getty

Vitamin deficiency anemia

This type is a result of folate, vitamin B-12 or vitamin C deficiency that exhibits symptoms of anemia along with weight loss, muscle weakness and tingling in hand and feet.

Image Credit: Getty

Hemolytic Anemia

In this condition RBCs are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. Most symptoms of hemolytic anemia are the same as those for other forms of anemia.

Video Credit: Getty

When to see a doctor?

If you feel fatigued without any reason with one or more of aforementioned symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor.

Video Credit: Getty

Complications

If left untreated, anemia can cause health issues like difficulty in performing daily tasks, pregnancy complications and heart problems.

Image Credit: Getty

For More Stories like
this check out:
doctor.ndtv.com

Video Credit: Getty
Click Here