Anemia is characterized by decreased levels of hemoglobin in the blood, which is a protein contained in red blood cells and responsible for the supply of oxygen to the body’s cells.
The causes of anemia are multiple, from poor diet to vitamins, bleeding, bone marrow dysfunction, autoimmune diseases or chronic diseases, for example.
- Anemia can be mild or even severe.
- When haemoglobin levels are reduced by 7%; on the other hand.
- The degree of severity in the soil depends on the cause.
- Also on the severity of the disease and the response of each person’s body.
Some of the main causes of anemia include
To properly produce red blood cells, the body needs essential nutrients; when they fail, they are called anemia because they are:
The absence of these nutrients is detected through blood tests requested by the doctor, usually this type of anemia gradually worsens and as the body manages to adapt to losses for a while, symptoms can take time to appear.
Bone marrow is where blood cells are produced, for this reason, if affected by disease, it could compromise red blood cell formation and cause anemia.
This type of anemia, also known as aplastic anemia or spinal anemia, can have several causes, including genetic defects, poisoning by chemical agents such as solvents, bismuth, pesticides, alchemical or anticonvulsant drugs; exposure to ionizing radiation, HIV infections, parvovirus B19, Eipstein-Barr virus from diseases such as nocturnal paroxystic hemoglobinuria, for example; however, in some unusual cases, the cause could not be identified.
Bleeding is severe because blood loss represents the loss of red blood cells and ultimately the reduction of oxygen and nutrient levels carried by the body’s organs.
Some of the most common causes of bleeding can be caused by personal injury, accident injuries, heavy periods or diseases such as cancer, liver disease, defects or ulcers, for example.
In some cases, internal bleeding is not visible for this reason; testing is required in order to identify them. Learn about the main causes of internal bleeding.
Inherited diseases are those transmitted by DNA, they can lead to changes in hemoglobin production, as well as in quality or quality; these changes usually result in the destruction of erythrocytes.
However, as long as the person with these genetic abnormalities has a worrying anemia, in some cases it can be serious and significantly compromise health. The main genetic anemias are those that affect the structure of hemoglobin, also known as hemoglobinopathies, including:
Although these are little known, there are other hemoglobin defects that can lead to anemia, such as methemoglobinemia, unstable hemoglobin or hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin, for example; are identified by genetic problems indicated by the hematologist.
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHAI) is an immune-cause disease that occurs when the body produces antibodies that attack its own red blood cells.
Although their exact causes have not yet been determined, they are known to be precipitated by other health conditions, such as viral infections, the presence of other immune diseases against tumors, for example, this type of anemia is generally non-hereditary and is not person-to-person communicable.
Treatment consists mainly of the use of drugs to regulate the immune system, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Learn more about how to identify and treat autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Chronic diseases, active for several months or years, such as tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute rheumatoid arthritis, osteomyelitis, multiple myeloma of Crohn’s disease, for example, cause an inflammatory reaction in the body that can lead to premature change anemia and alterations in erythrocyte production.
Similarly, diseases that cause changes in hormones that stimulate red blood cell production can also cause anemia, including hypothyroidism, androgen reduction, which can lower levels of the hormone erythropoietin, which can be reduced in kidney disease.
This type of alteration usually does not cause severe anemia and can be solved by the treatment of the disease that causes anemia.
Anemia can also occur from infections, such as viral or bacterial infections, as well as from the use of certain medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics or anticoagulants, and support for substances such as alcohol and excess, for example.
This could cause anemia, mainly from weight gain and fluids in circulation, as they dilute the blood.
Anemia can usually occur when symptoms such as
However, to confirm the diagnosis of anemia, it is necessary to go to the doctor and perform a blood test to assess haemoglobin levels, which should be above 13% in men, 12% in women and 11% in men. the second trimester. You know more about the evidence that confirms anemia.
If the hemoglobin values of the blood test are normal, the person is considered anemic; however, more tests may be needed to identify the cause and start treatment, especially if there is no apparent reason for the onset of anemia.