DJOKO EKASANU: 27 November 2008

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Anemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Anemia: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Anemia is a blood disorder that is created when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body is not getting enough iron.

Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by a complete blood cell (CBC) count. It is the common blood disorder. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs. It is found in the person when the number of red blood cells in your blood is low. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe anemia as having a low blood count

Symptoms of anemia:

feeling of restless fastly and loss of energy.
fatigue — occur because organs aren’t getting enough oxygen
Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
Shortness of breath and headache in exercise also
Difficulty in concentrating on something

Types & causes of Anemia

1) Macrocytic anemia:Macrocytic anemia can be further divided into “megaloblastic anemia” or “non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia”. The cause of megaloblastic anemia is primarily a failure of DNA synthesis with preserved RNA synthesis, which result in restricted cell division of the progenitor cells.

2)Microcytic anemia: Microcytic anemia caused due to hemoglobin synthesis failure or insufficiency .Iron deficiency anemia is the common type of anemia so it has many causes. RBCs often appear hypochromic (paler than usual) and microcytic (smaller than usual) when viewed with a microscope

3)Normocytic anemia :Normocytic anaemia causes when the overall Hb levels are decreased, but the red blood cell size (MCV) remains normal. Causes include:

Accurate blood loss
Anemia of chronic disease
Bone marrow failure Aplastic anemia

4)Heinz body anemia: Heinz bodies are an abnormality that forms on the cells in this condition. This form of anemia may be brought on by taking certain medications; it is also triggered in cats by eating onions or acetaminophen (Tylenol). It can be triggered in dogs by ingesting onions or zinc and in horses by ingesting dry Red Maple leaves.

5) Dimorphic anemia : When two causes of anemia act simultaneously, e.g., macrocytic hypochromic due to hookworminfestation leading to deficiency of both iron and vitamin B12or folic acid or following a blood transfusion more than one abnormality of red cell indices may be seen Hemolytic anemia

There are more than 400 types of anemia found in the medical science, which are divided into 3 groups:

Anemia caused by blood loss
Anemia caused by decreased or faulty red blood cell production
Anemia caused by destruction of red blood cells

Treatments of Anemia

To over come the problem of anemia,

1)A proper diet including green vegetables is must

2)Consult with doctor or physician to diagnose the type of anemia and treatment options

3)Take proper nourishments, vitamins and nutritional supplements – Iron, B12 or folic acid

4)infections treatment , inflammations or malignancies

5)Blood transfusions provides red blood cell transfusions for bleeding and/or severe chronic anemias can save the life of a person.

6)Red cell transfusions are the old mainstay, which offers the quickest relief for anemias provided proper consultation should be taken as several risks are associated with transfusion.

A successful treatment of anemia is to identify and treating the above cause: blood loss, a nutritional deficiency, cancer, bone marrow infiltration, chronic illness, inflammation, or decreased response to erythropoietin. Laboratory test results and a physical examination, a physician can determine the cause of you.

The article contains main information about anemia, to know more about pernicious anemia visit and sickle cell anemia and find more on several other a complete online health guide – blood diseases

Anemia during pregnancy – symptoms and prevention of anemia

Anemia during pregnancy – symptoms and prevention of anemia

Anemia is a common pregnancy complication faced by many expecting mothers. Anemia is primarily a deficiency of iron when the red blood cells in the body do not have enough of iron content to circulate oxygen around the body. The most obvious symptoms of anemia are breathlessness and tiredness. A regular intake of iron is important. From even before you have conceived you should have been consuming at least 15 mg of iron each day and during your pregnancy you need to consume twice of that which is 30 mg to make sure your baby stays healthy.

When you go for your first prenatal visit, your doctor will check your blood to know what your level of hemoglobin is. It is normal if your level of hemoglobin has dropped by a little margin during your pregnancy because all the excess fluid does tend to dilute your red blood cells. According to the World Health Organization, 35% to 75% women in the United States are anemic. You would thus be required to take iron supplements from the earliest stages of your pregnancy and if you have high levels of iron in the first trimester, the supplements will be given to you during the following trimesters. Do not worry about these things; your doctor will help to guide you through with the prescription of iron intake.

Fatigue is a common symptom of anemia but obviously that would not always let you know that you are anemic since while you are pregnant, feeling drained out is quite a natural thing. So look out for these symptoms – if your skin is looking pale, if your nails are feeling brittle, if you feel like you cannot breathe in enough air, if you are getting dizzy very frequently, if you want to drink and eat unusual things – these are all signs of anemia. However since these do not determine definitely if you are anemic, do go in for a blood check before you reach a conclusion.

If you are anemic by a very small margin, improving your diet will help to mend your problem and this should be discussed with your doctor. However if your iron levels are low which means that you are shockingly anemic, you will be given iron supplements. But you should be aware that many a times iron supplements tend to cause constipation so make sure while you are on these supplements which you obviously need, you must eat a lot of fibers as well like salads. If this does not help, ask your doctor if you can take a different brand of iron supplements as there are plenty of options and a different one could prove to suit you better.

There are women who would stand a slightly higher chance of anemia. These would be women who in general avoid the intake of iron in their daily diet. Such women would also find their morning sickness more aggravated than others. There are chances that you would have anemia and somebody else would not considering you have had a pregnancy not very long ago before you conceived this one or if you are carrying two kids instead of one or if you experienced a very heavy period just before your pregnancy. However do not worry about your baby getting affected by your anemia. If you deal with the problem while it lasts, you would not be hampering your baby’s needs. Your baby will not be demanding for iron supplies will the second trimester so you have the whole of the first trimester to set things right.

Obstetricians are of the opinion that taking iron supplements alone do not help to raise levels of hemoglobin in your body. A combination of iron and protein helps to reach the desired level. In fact animal proteins are the best option! Pulses, legumes, spinach, fenugreek, mustard, coriander, mint, soya beans, whole meal breads, cereals, potatoes, prunes and raisins are the must haves in this list. Try to cut down on your consumption of tea, cola and coffee as these products make it difficult for your body to absorb iron.

Also Read : Get the tips, diet and care required for healthy pregnancy

Author shares information on causes, symptoms, effects, risk factors, preventions, treatments, prognosis of diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart attack, obesity and also shares information on Men’s health, women’s health, sexual health, mental health, health and fitness, pregnancy, Blood disorders, Muscles, bones and joints, Health issues, and Weight loss.

Women and Iron: A Guide to Anemia Prevention

Women and Iron: A Guide to Anemia Prevention

Iron is one of the most important nutrients that a woman must have a sufficient supply of. This is due to a woman’s unique condition where she needs more iron than men in order to supplement blood production to replace those lost during her menstrual period. Because of this, it becomes even more important for women to make sure that she has enough iron supply.

Understanding the Effects of Iron Deficiency

When a woman’s body does not have enough supply of iron, the result is anemia. This is a common disease among women especially those who pay scarce attention to their iron intake. What is even more depressing to note is that some women are not even aware they have anemia until it is too late. In order to understand anemia better, listed below are the signs and symptoms of the disease.

1)There is a general feeling of weakness, fatigue, and general malaise. Women commonly experience this during or on the first few days after menstruation. Because iron provides vitality to the body and adds stability to blood supply, lack of it results in a general decline in body activity. Poor concentration is also common among women with anemia.

2)There is shortness of breath when one engages even in the lightest physical activity.

3)There is palpitation or a sudden increase in blood pressure as if the chest is pounding. This happens because the lack of iron reduces the body’s ability to carry oxygen to various parts of the body. As a form of compensation, the heart increases its output as manifested by an increase in blood pressure.

4)A pale skin is also noticeable in women with anemia.

5)In some cases, bone deformities also happen to women with anemia. However, bone deformities alone is not a reliable sign in detecting anemia.

6)A woman with anemia may also experience chest pains.

The most important thing to consider in detecting anemia in women is that most symptoms are hardly noticed. As a result, most women are not aware of their condition. On the other hand, complicating the picture is the fact that anemia shares a lot of symptoms with other ailments. It is therefore very important for one to seek immediate medical attention once anemia is suspected.

Best Sources of Iron to Counter Anemia

When taking iron, the body must also take calcium-rich foods. This is because iron as a nutrient is something that is not readily absorbed by the body. It needs another nutrient that can make its absorption faster. This is why calcium is needed because it facilitates iron absorption.

The following are good sources of iron:

1)From animals, the best sources of iron are red meat, liver, and eggs. However, what is considered to be the excellent choice of iron from animals are seafood such as tuna, salmon, and oysters.

2)From vegetables, one may obtain iron from wheat and oats, beans, spinach, and soy products.

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Tags: Anemia, Guide., Iron, Prevention, Women.

Herbal Medicine: Ginseng Uses and History

Herbal Medicine: Ginseng Uses and History

Prized more than gold for thousands of years, Ginseng root has been Asia’s most revered “tonic” and most effective herbal medicine. It is viewed as an aphrodisiac that strengthens the body, enhances health and aids in longevity. Early Jesuit missionaries in Canada discovered American Ginseng in 1704 and made a fortune shipping it to China. For years it was America’s most valuable export until over collection just about wiped it out. Today it is grown in Wisconsin and most of the crop is shipped to Asia.

Until recently most scientists scoffed at the ginseng claims. But research is mounting that shows it helps the body resist illness and damage from stress. Studies show that it stimulates the immune system, helps reduce cholesterol buildup, protect the liver from toxic substances and increases stamina and nutrient absorption from the intestines. Asian athletes use it to boost their performances.

The Chinese for years said it enlightened the mind, increasing wisdom. Continuous use leads to longevity. Recent studies have said that ginseng prevents heart disease, blood coagulation, and protects cells from radiation damage. They are continually studying ginseng to find more positive results for its use.

Chinese herbalists may use ginseng combined with other herbs to treat manifestations of lymphoma, including anemia, fatigue, and enlarged spleen. It helps with nausea related to cancer treatment also. Ginseng is also used to help alleviate menopausal symptoms. Ginseng contains estrogen like substances may prevent bloating. As you can see there are many uses for ginseng on its own or combined with other herbs to help us lead healthier life.

Here is a sample recipe tea that is made from Ginseng:

GINSENG TEA RECIPE

For decoction, add ½ teaspoon of powdered root per cup of boiling water. Simmer 10 minutes. Drink up to two cups a day.

Kevin Smalley is an herb enthusiast and expert. For more great tips on herbal medicine, download this amazing eBook called Herbal Gardening Made Easy and find amazing ways to enjoy herb gardening!