Anaemia refers to the medical state of reduced number of red blood cells in our body due to which there are problems for the blood in carrying oxygen to the different parts of the body. Due to improper presence of oxygen in the various parts of the body, the person experiences significant tiredness and exhaustion coupled with many other unusual experiences of the symptoms of anaemia.

There are two causes of inadequate number of red blood cells. One of them is the decrease in the production of the red blood cells and the other being the increased amount of loss or failure of red blood cells.

In the bone marrow, the body generates these red blood cells. These cells are then allowed to flow throughout the body via the bloodstream. The red blood cells, once produced, stay alive in the body until 120 days approximately after which the body needs to generate more red blood cells. To reproduce more such cells, one of the mandatory criteria is that three vital nutrients namely, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid (belongs to the B group of vitamins) must be present in adequate quantities in our body.

Now, if any of these nutrients are not present in enough quantities, it results in anaemia. Among all the different types of anaemia, anaemia due to iron deficiency is the most common one. According to a research, iron deficiency is often prevalent among women who have developed the habit of smoking, whose diet contains low iron items, and who have heavy menstrual periods.

Functioning of the Red Blood Cells

The heart performs the pumping activity wherein the blood is pushed to travel to the entire body through the arteries. Arteries are nerves that are responsible for taking the blood from the heart to the different parts of the body.

Once the red blood cells are mixed up with the circulated blood propelled from the heart, their main function is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all the cells in the body. This oxygen is utilized to stimulate the burning of the sugar and fat in the body in order to generate the body’s energy.

While this process of combustion is taking place, the carbon dioxide gas is generated that is actually the waste product of this chemical reaction. The released waste product sticks itself to the red blood cells, which had provided oxygen for the combustion. The red blood cells then carry the attached carbon dioxide to the lungs. This chemical procedure is termed as oxidation. This carbon dioxide is exhaled from the lungs in exchange with the inhaled fresh oxygen that is taken away by red blood cells from the lungs.

Anaemia Causes

Listed below are the causes of anaemia due to lack of iron.

• Iron-deficit Diet
  This refers to not having adequate food items that are rich in iron. Normally, teenagers who eat junk food daily, elder people who tend to eat less, and specifically, alcoholics and drug addicts are more vulnerable to this type of anaemia.
• Premature Birth
  Kids born before the forecasted time of delivery are more likely to develop anaemia due to lack of iron, iron amounts are not adequate until the final stage of pregnancy.
• Low Intake of Iron during Growth
  This includes the duration of pregnancy and childhood during which the body requires more stores of iron due to rapid division of cells to a great extent.
• Heavy Periods
  Women having heavy periods can be vulnerable to anaemia due to lack of iron stores, as loss of blood can reduce the level of iron in the blood.
• Small Intestine Diseases
  These are diseases related to the small intestine such as gluten intolerance also known as coeliac disease and Crohn’s disease also known as inflammation of the intestine. They can affect the absorption of the folic acid that results in reduced ability to do so.
• Other Uncommon Factors
  These include tiny cracks in the intestine on the account of cancer or polyps (small growths), loss of blood from the digestive tract (hard to detect), and ulcers in the stomach and small intestine.

Anaemia Symptoms

The symptoms of anaemia due to lack of iron do not come up quickly if the person is healthy and fit enough to not have any other diseases or disorders.

Listed below are the symptoms of anaemia due to lack of iron.

• Tiredness and palpitations (the initial symptoms)
• Shortness of breath (common one)
• Dizziness (fainting – another common one)
• Angina (chest pain – for severe anaemia)
• Leg pain (sporadic claudication – for severe anaemia)
• Headache (for severe anaemia)

There are more symptoms that signify the prominent and long-term cases of iron deficiency. Listed below are these symptoms.

• A feeling of burning in the tongue
• Sores at the edges of the mouth
• Dryness in the mouth and throat
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Changed sense of touch
• Breakable hair
• Breakable and spoon-shaped nails more likely fray
• Pica (an greedy desire for a particular food item, for instance, liquorice)
• Permanent mutations in the soft lining in the throat known as the Plummer-Vinson syndrome (beginning stage of cancer)

Anaemia Diagnosis

To confirm anaemia due to lack of iron, the patient’s blood test is done. A sample of blood is taken, which is sent to the laboratory for analysis. A scrutiny of the red blood cells is performed to identify the iron levels, which forms the part of the test’s result.

If there is distinct iron deficiency, the result will report the red blood cells as small in size and pale. In other cases, the blood sample is further analyzed to examine two proteins namely, ferritin and transferrin that play an important role in storing and carrying iron throughout the body.

Anaemia Treatment

Taking iron tablets is the common treatment for anaemia due to lack of iron. However, for the tablets to be effective, first, the other causes of blood loss needs to be treated. The iron tablets have a few side effects, which are listed below.

• Stomach irritation, so needs to be taken after meals to avoid it
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Black stools

In some cases, rarely, intramuscular iron injections might be given rather than giving tablets. This is dependent on many factors and is up to the doctor’s judgment and your body needs.

Avoiding Iron Deficiency

Listed below are some of the ways to avoid iron deficiency.

• Opt for a varied, but balanced diet that includes items of all food groups. This means your diet must include proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, fruits, and vegetables.
• Include rich items of iron in your diet such as beef, cereals, wholemeal bread, and dried fruit.
• Visit your GP in case you even slightly exhibit any of the stated symptoms of anaemia. A visit is mandatory if you notice blood in urine or stools.
• In case of heavy periods, consult your doctor and seek advice accordingly. Otherwise, you are highly at the risk of this type of anaemia.
• During pregnancy, women are advised to take iron supplements. In nutshell, talk to your doctor or pharmacist in these matters to never let the levels of iron down.

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