1. Check the Pallor of Your Skin
Hemolytic anemia, a medical condition which causes the premature destruction of red blood cells, can lead to cardiovascular collapse, heart disease and lung disease. One of the easiest ways to spot symptoms of hemolytic anemia is to check the color of your skin. If you have hemolytic anemia, your skin will become pale, and you will lose the flush in your cheeks. In addition, jaundice can occur, which will lead to a yellowish color in both your skin and the whites of your eyes. Jaundice is usually caused by the presence of bilirubin, a substance that is produced by the dying off of red blood cells.
2. Note a Loss of Energy
In most cases of anemia, you will probably feel exhaustion and fatigue. With hemolytic amemia, these common symptoms may be joined by chills, shortness of breath and an increase in your heart rate. The absence or destruction of red blood cells, also known as hemolysis, will cause your energy levels to drop to alarmingly low levels.
3. Check the Color of Your Urine
One of the most telling ways to spot additional symptoms of hemolytic anemia is by a pronounced darkening of your urine. This is due to increased levels of hemoglobin, bilirubin and hemosiderin that are being evacuated from your bloodstream.
4. Ask Your Doctor to Check for an Enlarged Spleen
Hemolytic anemia may cause an enlargement of your spleen, also known as splenomegaly. Symptoms of an enlarged spleen include difficulty in eating large meals due to sudden pain or cramping in the abdomen, a persistent pain in the upper left side of your abdomen, and chronic hiccups. The presence of an enlarged spleen can usually be confirmed by your doctor, who will examine your abdomen and check for tenderness or unusual pain.
