The most common types of anemia result from a nutritional deficiency that prevents the body from building healthy red blood cells. The signs and symptoms of anemia usually come on gradually and begin with feeling overtired and listless. Generally, if the symptoms are severe, the anemia has progressed to a more serious condition. Some of the more advanced signs of anemia resemble those of a heart attack and may require emergency attention.
Symptoms
Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, pale skin on the face, in the mouth and under fingernails, shortness of breath for no apparent reason and rapid heartbeat. Pica, a condition where cravings occur for unusual and often nonfood substances such as dirt, paint and paper, is sometimes a symptom of iron-deficiency anemia.
The clinical signs of anemia that show up in blood tests include low levels of hemoglobin in your blood and low percentage of red blood cells in your plasma which is called hematocrit. In men, anemia is present when hemoglobin is less than 13 g/dL or hematocrit is less than 39 percent. For non-pregnant women, anemia is indicated when hemoglobin falls below 12 g/dL or hematocrit is less than 36 percent.
Causes
The signs of anemia are a result of excessive bleeding, low red blood cell production or cell destruction within the body. Heavy menstrual bleeding is a major cause of symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia in women. Internal bleeding in the digestive tract, urinary tract or from surgery, injury, certain types of cancer or other medical conditions can also contribute to blood loss and red blood cell destruction.
Your body cannot make enough red blood cells if it lacks the right tools, which include certain nutrients in the diet such as iron, folic acid and vitamin B12. If you are lacking any of these nutrients, you may begin to see and feel signs of anemia.
Significance
A reduced number of healthy blood cells means less oxygen is delivered throughout the body. This lack of oxygen eventually leads to symptoms of fatigue, weakness and, sometimes, mental confusion.
A diminished supply of hemoglobin or red blood cells causes your heart to pump harder to try to get enough blood circulating throughout your body in order to deliver enough oxygen to all body cells. The first signs that anemia is affecting your heart may be cold hands and feet, breathlessness, chest pain and irregular heartbeat. Untreated symptoms of anemia can result in blood oxygen levels that are low enough to trigger a heart attack.
Diagnosis
Not everyone shows or recognizes physical signs of anemia, especially in the early stages, so diagnosis is often based on clinical testing. If routine lab tests indicate low blood levels of iron, your doctor will probably order a complete blood count (CBC) that will measure many different components of your blood to find signs of anemia or other problems. If anemia is diagnosed, further testing may be necessary to pinpoint the cause.
Prevention
The best way to prevent recurring anemia is to treat the condition that is causing the physical signs and symptoms. That may include changing your diet or taking supplements, or consulting with a specialist to find out how to control excessive bleeding from heavy menstrual bleeding or other causes.
