Anemia is a life-threatening danger. What causes, symptoms and risk factors

Anemia is a great suffering for many people of different ages that can cause fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath; in addition to that, anemia is the problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the tissues of the body, and hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carry oxygen from the lungs to all other organs of the body.

There are many forms of anemia and each has its own cause. It can be short-term or long-term and range from mild to severe and anemia may be a warning sign of a serious disease, treatment for anemia may include taking nutritional supplements or undergoing medical procedures in addition to eating a healthy diet that may prevent some forms of anemia.

Symptoms of anemia

The symptoms of anemia depend on the cause and how bad the anemia is. and anemia can be so mild that it does not cause any symptoms at first, but the Symptoms usually occur and worsen as the anemia worsens.

If there is another disease that causes anemia, the disease can hide the symptoms of anemia and then test another case, which may lead to the discovery of anemia, and there are certain types of anemia that have symptoms that indicate the cause, and these possible symptoms of anemia are as follows:

-pooping

-weakness

-Shortness of breath

Pale or yellowish skin, which may be more noticeable on white skin than on black or brown skin

-Arrhythmia

-Dizziness or lightheadedness

-Chest pain

-Cold hands and feet

-Headaches

Causes of anemia

Anemia occurs when the blood does not contain enough hemoglobin or red blood cells, and this can happen if:

The body does not create enough red blood cells or hemoglobin.

Bleeding causes red blood cells and hemoglobin to lose faster than can be replaced.

The body destroys red blood cells and the hemoglobin in them.

What do red blood cells do?

The body makes three types of blood cells. Red blood cells distribute oxygen throughout the body, white blood cells fight infection, and platelets aid in blood clotting.

Red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein that gives the blood its red color, called hemoglobin Red blood cells use hemoglobin to transport oxygen from the lungs to every area of the body. It allows red blood cells to carry carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs to be exhaled by exhaling.

The spongy material found within many large bones, called bone marrow, makes red blood cells and hemoglobin. To manufacture them, the body needs iron, vitamin B12, folate, and nutrients.

Types of anemia

There are different types of anemia that have different causes, and these types include:

-Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency in the body causes this most common type of anemia, and the bone marrow needs iron to manufacture hemoglobin and without enough iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells.

" Pregnant women can develop this type of anemia if they don't take iron supplements, plus blood loss can also cause it, and blood loss may be due to heavy menstrual bleeding, ulcers, cancer, or regular use of certain painkillers, especially aspirin."

-Vitamin deficiency anemia

Besides iron, there is another type in which the body needs folic acid and vitamin B12 to produce enough healthy red blood cells, a diet that does not contain enough of these and other key nutrients can lead to the body not producing enough red blood cells, Some people also can't absorb vitamin B-12, and this can result in pernicious anemia, commonly known as vitamin deficient anemia.

-Inflammatory anemia

That diseases that cause persistent inflammation can prevent the body from producing enough red blood cells such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, and kidney disease.

Risk factors

There are risk factors warned of the need to avoid and stay away from them, as these factors can increase the risk of anemia and are as follows

A diet that does not contain enough vitamins and minerals, and not getting enough iron, vitamin B12 and folate increases the risk of anemia.

Problems with the small intestine may be a condition that affects how the small intestine gets nutrients, increasing the risk of anemia.

Menstrual periods In general, heavy periods of menstruation may lead to a risk of anemia, and menstruation leads to the loss of red blood cells.

Pregnancy: Pregnant women who do not take a multivitamin containing folic acid and iron are more likely to develop anemia.

Chronic diseases such as cancer, kidney failure, diabetes or any other chronic condition may increase the risk of anemia, and these conditions can lead to very few red blood cells.

Slow and chronic blood loss from an ulcer or other source within the body can consume the body's iron stores, leading to iron deficiency anemia.