It is defined as the decrease in the number of circulating red blood cells.
(We often say that we have anemia when we feel dizzy, but it is the wrong expression.)
Causes
-
Iron deficient anemia
5~6 months after birth, puberty period, menorrhagia,
pregnancy, bleeding(including hemorrhoids), blood diseases,
malnutrition, deviated eating habits, etc. -
Anemia caused by chronic disease
It occurs due to other chronic diseases.
Infection (tuberculosis or abscesses), rheumatic diseases,
cancer, etc. -
Thalassemia
It is the form of inherited red blood cell disorder.
It is relatively common in Black American, the Mediterranean
and South Asia. -
Hemolytic anemia
It is caused by medication or blood diseases.
-
Bone marrow related disease
It may occur when bone marrow does not produce blood well
like aplastic anemia.
Symptoms
- General symptoms include dizziness, tiredness, paleness, cold sweat, heart beating, etc.
- If you have hemolytic anemia, you may have red urine.
- In addition to them, thalassemia may have enlargement of liver and spleen, fracture, leg ulcer, unusual facial appearance,
infection(gall bladder), etc.
Treatments
- If anemia becomes worse, transfusion of red blood cell is required.
- Treatments are different based on different causes.
1) Iron deficient anemia : You should take iron(more than 6 months)(It can’t be cured only with foods that are rich in iron.)
2) Anemia caused by chronic disease : Chronic disease should be treated/managed. If it gets severe, hematinic injections may
be required.
3) Thalassemia : transfusions, medication treatment, splenectomy, etc
4) Hemolytic anemia, Bone marrow related disease : medication treatment, etc.
Precautions
-
– If iron boost is prescribed, you should take it for more than 6 months.
– If you take it together with vitamin C (example: fruit juice) before the meal, it will be absorbed better.
– If you feel discomfort to take it before the meal, you can take it immediately after the meal.
– If you still feel discomfort right after the meal, you can take liquid medicine instead of a pill. -
– If you take it together with some foods such as milk, coffee and persimmon, it will interfere with the absorption.
– You can drink the milk with a gap of more than 2 hours when taking the iron boost. - If you take the iron boost, stool turns black. However, it is normal, and thus do not worry.
- It is recommended that patients with congenital anemia such as thalassemia visit the hospital on a regular basis
to prevent complications and get the management such as immunization.