Anaemia symptoms - Symptoms & Causes

Edited By Irshad Anwar | Updated on Oct 14, 2024 05:49 PM IST

Anaemia develops when your red blood cells aren't producing enough or aren't functioning correctly. Your body gets oxygen from your red blood cells. Your cells are given energy by oxygen. Your body can't get the energy it needs to function if it doesn't have healthy red blood cells that do their job. Anaemia is one of the most important topics in biology. The chapter carries a weightage of 2% of the total marks in NEET and 1-3% of the weightage of other entrance exams like Paramedical and Pharmacy.

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This Story also Contains

Types of Anaemia
Symptoms of Anaemia
Causes of Anaemia
Risk factors of Anaemia
Diagnosis of Anaemia
Treatment of Anaemia
Types of Questions Asked from Anaemia
Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Anaemia

What is Anaemia?

Your body cannot create enough healthy red blood cells to adequately oxygenate your tissues when you have anaemia. You could have fatigue and flimsiness if you have low haemoglobin, or are anaemic. As a result, experiencing cold and exhibiting signs of weakness are common.

Although anaemia can take many different forms, iron deficiency anaemia is the most common. By increasing your intake of iron, you can start to reduce the symptoms of this type of anaemia. While some forms of anaemia are mild and transient, others can be lifelong. Some basic facts about anaemia are discussed below:

Anaemia is diagnosed using several types of blood tests to know the exact diagnosis.
The treatment may be involved that we change supplements medication or even blood transfusion in severe cases.
Some of the basic symptoms of anaemia are fatigue, weakness, pale skin, breathlessness and dizziness.
Some types of anaemia may include iron deficiency, vitamin b12 deficiency, and folate deficiency and even it can be related to some kind of chronic disease.

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Types of Anaemia

Anaemia can take many different forms. A few prevalent forms of anaemia include

Hemolytic anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia
Aplastic anaemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia

All of them are discussed below in the table.

Type of anaemia	Explanation
Hemolytic Anemia	A condition where red blood cells are destroyed faster than they are produced.
Iron Deficiency Anemia	A common type of anaemia is caused by to lack of iron and it leads to a reduction in the production of haemoglobin.
Aplastic Anemia	A rare and serious condition where the bone marrow fails to produce a sufficient amount of blood cells which includes RBC WBC and platelets.
Vitamin B12 Anemia	A common type of anaemia which occurs due to lack of vitamin B12. This is essential for the formation of red blood cells.

Symptoms of Anaemia

The most common symptom of anaemia is fatigue. symptoms vary from person to person. Mild anaemia can cause some people to have few or no symptoms. Other common symptoms include

Pallid complexion
A fast or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Headache
Lightheadedness

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Causes of Anaemia

To survive, the body needs RBCs. They move haemoglobin, a sophisticated protein that binds to iron atoms. From the lungs, these molecules transport oxygen to the rest of the body. Low RBC counts and anaemia can be brought on by a variety of medical disorders. Some common grounds are discussed below:

Contributing Factors	Explanation
Blood loss	Excessive loss of blood can lead to iron deficiency which can be followed by anaemia.
Reduced or damaged RBCs	Bone marrow is responsible for producing RBCs and any dysfunction of bone marrow can lead to a reduction in RBC production.
RBC destruction	Premature RBCs are destroyed due to autoimmune diseases. This leads to anaemia.

Risk factors of Anaemia

According to the following factors, you are more likely to have anaemia:

Factors	Explanation
Menstruation	Premenopausal women often have a higher risk of iron deficiency anaemia than postmenopausal.
Pregnancy	If you are expecting and do not take a multivitamin with folic acid and iron, your risk of developing anaemia rises.
Intestinal disorders	Gastrointestinal problems have the risk of developing anaemia. If you have an intestinal condition like Crohn's disease or celiac disease that interferes with the absorption of nutrients in your small intestine.
Family background	Family history of anaemia that is passed down through generations, such as sickle cell anaemia, may also be more prone to the condition.
Chronic illnesses	Cancer, kidney disease, or any other chronic illness, you may be at risk for anaemia or other chronic diseases. These conditions may lead to a lack of red blood cells.

Diagnosis of Anaemia

Anaemia can be diagnosed in several ways, but the most popular option is a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC). This examination evaluates several elements, including,

Hematocrit levels are calculated by contrasting the volume of RBCs with the total amount of blood.
levels of haemoglobin.
RBC count.

Anaemia can be treated in a variety of ways. Each seeks to raise an individual's RBC count, which raises the blood's oxygen content.

Treatment of Anaemia

The type of anaemia a person has determines the necessary treatment. The following are some common anaemia treatment options:

Types of Anaemia	Treatment options
Hemolytic Anaemia	Immunosuppressive medications Anti-infection medication Plasmapheresis ( filtration of entire blood)
Iron- Deficiency Anaemia	Iron supplements Dietary modifications Treatment of excessive bleeding
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anaemia	Vitamin B12 supplements Vitamin B12 injections
Aplastic Anaemia	Bone marrow transplant Blood transfusions

Types of Questions Asked from Anaemia

During exam preparation, different types of questions about anaemia are asked. The table below contains the different patterns of questions asked in different exams.

Exam Type	Types of Questions Asked	Weightage
CBSE	Definition and symptoms of anaemia Types of anaemia (iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, hemolytic, aplastic) Role of iron in RBC production Causes and effects of anaemia on the body Treatment options for anaemia	2%
NEET	Types of anaemia and their causes (genetic disorders, dietary deficiencies, autoimmune diseases) Mechanism of RBC formation (erythropoiesis) Role of haemoglobin and its importance in oxygen transport Diagnostic criteria for anaemia (blood tests, haemoglobin levels)	2%
Paramedical	Anaemia as a public health issue (prevalence, at-risk populations) Nutritional causes of anaemia (iron, vitamin B12, folate deficiency) Anaemia about chronic diseases (kidney disease, cancer, infections) Anaemia's impact on pregnancy and child development	1-3%

Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Anaemia

It takes effort to remember everything in a single go. We made the entire problem easy. Some of the tricks regarding Anaemia are given below which you can use to memorise the important points.

Types of Anemia

"HIB-V: Hemolytic, Iron deficiency, B12 deficiency, Aplastic"
H: Hemolytic anemia
I: Iron deficiency anaemia
B: Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
V: Aplastic anaemia

Causes of Anemia

"BIR: Blood loss, Insufficient RBC production, RBC destruction"
B: Blood loss
I: Insufficient RBC production
R: RBC destruction

Symptoms of Anemia

"FATD: Fatigue, Anemia (low haemoglobin), Tiredness, Dizziness"
F: Fatigue
A: Anemia
T: Tiredness
D: Dizziness

Treatment of Anemia

"SIFT: Supplements, Injections, Food, Transfusions"
S: Supplements (iron, B12)
I: Injections (vitamin B12 or iron)
F: Food (iron-rich foods like spinach, and red meat)
T: Transfusions (blood transfusion in severe cases)

Diagnosis of Anemia

"BCF: Blood tests, CBC, Ferritin levels"
B: Blood tests

C: Complete blood count (CBC)

F: Ferritin levels

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the primary reason for anaemia?

Some forms of anaemia may be inherited, while others may result from certain chronic conditions. Iron deficiency anaemia, the most common type of anaemia, is brought on by a poor diet.

2. What does fatigue due to anaemia feel like?

Anaemia may be the cause of your weakness, fatigue, and inability to handle even mild exercise while you're awake. When your body doesn't produce enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout your body, anaemia sets in.

3. Can anaemia cause one to die?

Anaemia is a condition in which your body lacks sufficient numbers of healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout it. Anaemia may be persistent or transient (chronic). Anaemia is frequently moderate, but it can occasionally be significant and even fatal.

4. What happens when anaemia persists for too long?

The signs and symptoms of anaemia will get worse over time if untreated. These symptoms include lightheadedness, weakness, heart palpitations, exhaustion, and weakness. If anaemia is not treated, the heart must continue to beat more forcefully to supply the body with oxygen.

5. What causes anaemia in females?

Loss of blood iron resulting from heavy menstruation or pregnancy is a major cause of iron deficiency anaemia in women of childbearing age. Iron deficiency anaemia can also be brought on by a poor diet or specific intestinal conditions that interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron.