Anemia is defined as a decrease in the number of red blood cells (or RBCs) in your blood.
There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia occurs when you don’t have enough iron in your body. Iron is required to make hemoglobin, a component of red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to our organs, muscles and other tissues. Without enough red blood cells, our muscles and organs like our heart and brain don’t get the oxygen that they need, to function properly and we feel tired and weak.
Iron deficiency anemia can be caused by a number of different conditions. The two main causes of iron deficiency anemia in adults in our society are:
1. Blood loss or bleeding, and
2. Not absorbing enough iron from the foods that we eat
Are there other types of anemia?
Yes…
Some long-term medical conditions, like kidney disease, can lead to anemia. This is called anemia of chronic disease:
The kidneys release a hormone called erythropoietin that tells our bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Our bone marrow is where our blood cells are made. In people with chronic kidney disease, not enough of this hormone is produced, which leads to anemia.
Pregnancy can cause anemia due to increased nutritional needs placed on the mother from the developing fetus, and changes in body fluid levels associated with pregnancy.
Blood loss during delivery can result in anemia.
Poor nutrition or malabsorption of other vitamins like B12 or folate can cause anemia
Vitamin B12 and folic acid are necessary to make new red blood cells.
Strict vegetarians or individuals who don’t eat a variety of foods in their diet may be at risk for nutritional deficiencies.
Individuals who have had gastric bypass surgery are not able to absorb certain nutrients from food sources as well as people with normal GI anatomies. This can result in anemia.
Alcoholism can cause anemia due to poor nutrition and vitamin deficiencies. Alcohol can also be toxic to the bone marrow, resulting in anemia.
Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary condition where red blood cells are shaped like “sickles”. This condition is more common in people of African, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean ancestry.
Thalassemia is a hereditary condition where the body makes an abnormal form, or inadequate amount, of hemoglobin. Affected individuals will tend to have a history of long-standing mild anemia. It is more common in people of African, Mediterranean, and Southeast Asian ancestries.
Some blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma can affect the production of red blood cells and result in anemia. Aplastic anemia is a condition where the bone marrow stops producing enough red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets: all types of blood cells, not just red blood cells.
Hemolytic anemia is a type of anemia where red blood cells rupture. Hereditary conditions like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase or G6GD deficiency, valvular heart disease, and kidney disease can sometimes cause this type of anemia.
Certain medications can cause anemia.
Other conditions like thyroid disease, cancers, liver disease, autoimmune diseases like lupus, lead poisoning, certain viral conditions, parasitic infections, malaria, hepatitis, and bleeding disorders can all cause anemia, too.
All anemias should be worked up by a trained medical professional to determine the underlying cause and guide appropriate workup and management.