Life Research News : What Is Anemia?
To understand anemia, it helps to start with breathing. The oxygen we inhale doesn’t just stop in our lungs. It’s needed throughout our bodies to fuel the brain and all our other organs and tissues that allow us to function. Oxygen travels to these organs through the bloodstream — specifically in the red blood cells.
Red blood cells, or RBCs, are manufactured in the body’s bone marrow and act like boats, ferrying oxygen throughout the rivers of the bloodstream. RBCs contain hemoglobin (pronounced: hee-muh-glow-bin), a protein that holds onto oxygen. To make enough hemoglobin, the body needs to have plenty of iron. We get this iron, along with the other nutrients necessary to make red blood cells, from food.
Anemia occurs when a person has fewer RBCs than normal. This can happen for three main reasons:
1. Red blood cells are being lost.
2. The body is producing RBCs slower than it should.
3. RBCs are being destroyed by the body.
Each of these causes is linked to a different type of anemia:
Blood Loss
When a small amount of blood is lost, the bone marrow is able to replace it without a person becoming anemic. But if a large amount of blood is lost over a short period of time, which can happen if someone has a serious accident or injury, for example, the bone marrow may not be able to replace the red blood cells quickly enough.
Losing a little blood over a long period of time also might lead to anemia. This can happen in girls who have heavy menstrual periods, especially if they don’t get enough iron in their diets.
The treatment of anemia
The treatment of anemia depends on what’s causing it. If the anemia is caused by iron deficiency, your doctor will probably prescribe an iron supplement to be taken several times a day. Your doctor may do a blood test after you have been on the iron supplement. Even if the tests show that the anemia has improved, you may have to continue taking iron for several months to replenish your body’s total iron stores.
Because some people become nauseated if they take an iron supplement on an empty stomach, it can help to take it with food. Vitamin C boosts iron absorption, so drink a glass of orange or grapefruit juice when you take your iron. You can increase the chances that the iron you get from food will be absorbed by your body in other ways, too. For example, avoid drinking tea with food because a substance in tea called tannin reduces the body’s ability to absorb iron found in the food or iron supplement. Milk can also interfere with iron absorption, so don’t pair milk with iron-rich foods if you are concerned about getting enough iron.
To make sure you get enough iron, eat a balanced diet every day, starting with a breakfast that includes an iron source, such as an iron-fortified cereal or bread. Lean meat, raisins, spinach, eggs, dried beans, and molasses are also good sources of iron.
If someone’s anemia is caused by another medical condition, doctors will work to treat the cause. People with some types of anemia will need to see a specialist, called a hematologist, who can provide the right medical care for their needs.