Anaemia, or anemia, is a condition where there is a defieciency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.
What are Red Blood Cells:
Red blood cells are called erythrocyte, which are shaped in a biconcave disc. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the cells in the body and takes the carbon dioxide to the lungs to release from the body. Red blood cells do not have nuclei, and that is to maximize the storage of oxygen in it. They are shaped in a biconcave inward bending shape, so that it has a larger surface area of gas transfer.
Types of Anaemia:
- Iron deficiency anaemia - most common type - where body lacks iron
- Vitamin deficiency anaemia - lack of vitamins
- Aplastic anaemia - when body not producing enough new red blood cells
- Sickle cell anaemia - usually inherited - not enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen around body
- Thalassemia - when body is making an abnormal form of hemoglobin
Symptoms:
Causes:
- Malnutrition (Bad diet) - Vitamin B12, Iron, Folic Acid
- Family - disorder passed on
- Drugs and alcohol
- Blood Loss
- Infections
- Chronic diseases
- Hormone disorders
- Bone Marrow disorders
- Pregnancy
- Puberty
- Cancer
- ...
What if you don't treat it
- Death from Heart attack
- Damaged organs due to lack of oxygen
- Death from damaged bone marrow
- Infections
- Blood cancer
- Tumors
Treatment:
- Vitamin and Iron supplements
- Vegetables
- Medications
- Bone marrow transplants
- Blood transfusions
- Painkillers
