Contents:
- Medical Video: The Role of Red Blood Cells in Anemia
- Introduction to blood
- Can anemia be treated?
- Various facts about anemia
Medical Video: The Role of Red Blood Cells in Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower number of red blood cells
Anemia can also occur if red blood cells do not contain enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood red. This protein helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body.
If you have anemia, your body does not get oxygen-rich blood. As a result, you may feel tired or weak. You may also have other symptoms, such as shortness of breath, dizziness, or headaches.
Severe or continuous anemia can damage your heart, brain, and other organs in your body. Very severe anemia can even cause death.
Introduction to blood
Blood consists of many parts, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets (platelets), and plasma (a fluid part of the blood).
Red blood cells are shaped like discs and look like donuts without a hole in the middle. They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide (waste products) from your body. These cells are made in bone marrow tissue like a sponge in bone.
White blood cells and platelets (platelets) are also made in the bone marrow. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets remain together to cover small wounds or are located in the walls of blood vessels and stop bleeding. With some types of anemia, you may have a low number of all three types of blood cells.
Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, or high levels of damage to red blood cells. This cause may be a result of illness, condition, or other factors.
Can anemia be treated?
Many types of anemia can be mild, occur in the short term, and are easily treated. You can even prevent some types of anemia with a healthy diet. Other types can be treated with food supplements.
However, some types of anemia can be very severe, persistent, and even life threatening if not diagnosed and treated.If you have signs or symptoms of anemia, see a doctor. Treatment will depend on the cause of anemia and how severe the anemia is.
Various facts about anemia
- Globally, anemia is estimated to occur in 1.62 billion people, this value accounts for 24.8% of the world population.
- Pre-school children are the most at risk for this condition, with an estimated 47% suffering from this disease.
- At present there are more than 400 types of anemia that have been identified.
- Anemia due to iron deficiency is the most common type of blood disorder throughout the world.
- Iron-rich foods to fight anemia include meat, fish, shellfish and oysters.
- Anemia is not limited to humans and can affect cats and dogs.
- In developing countries, every second pregnant woman and about 40% of preschoolers are estimated to have anemia.
- A person can have a mild form of anemia and, therefore, show little or no symptoms.
- Fatigue is the most common symptom of anemia, regardless of the type of anemia.
