Pale skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, and persistent exhaustion are some signs of anemia. Depending on the kind and severity of anemia, these symptoms can change.
When the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry the oxygen your organs and tissues require, anemia results. It could be brought on by chronic illnesses, dietary limitations, or blood loss.
Anemia can be either chronic or transient, with mild, moderate, or severe symptoms.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most prevalent kind of anemia and is frequently linked to blood loss from inadequate iron consumption.
Numerous different forms of anemia exist. Among them are:
- low levels of folate or B12 cause vitamin-deficiency anemia, while hemolytic anemia results from blood cells being broken down more quickly than they can be made.
- the rare disorder known as aplastic anemia is caused by the body’s inability to produce new blood cells.
- sickle cell anemia is a genetic form of anemia caused by the body’s insufficient absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine. It results in aberrant red blood cell size and pernicious anemia.
How does anemia feel?
Anemia can cause you to feel:
- Fatigued or weak: One of the main symptoms of the majority of anemia types is persistent fatigue or low energy. It is caused by less oxygen being delivered.
- Short of breath: Even with little physical exertion, you may have dyspnea due to your body’s inability to meet oxygen demands.
- Dizzy and lightheaded: You may experience brief episodes of vertigo or chronic vertigo due to insufficient oxygen delivery to the brain.
- In pain: Severe anemia can cause headaches and chest pain. If you already have a heart issue, you may be more susceptible to these anemia symptoms.
- Cold: You could feel cold when others don’t because anemia can affect circulation. Your hands and feet could feel clammy and cold all the time.
How does anemia look?
In addition to the symptoms you may experience, anemia can also manifest as the following:
- Pale or sallow skin: You can have paler-than-normal skin on your face, eyelids, gums, and nail beds.
- Brittle nails and hair loss: You can experience hair loss and weaker, more brittle nails if you have chronic iron-deficiency anemia.
- Tongue or mouth sores: Small, painful sores around your mouth may appear if you are deficient in vitamin B12 or folate. These might go away in a few days but then come back shortly after.
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes: Although hemolytic anemia is linked to this symptom, it may also indicate other liver-related illnesses.
- Unusual cravings: One common symptom of iron-deficiency anemia is the urge to devour non-food things (pica) or chew on ice.
How do doctors diagnose anemia?
A complete blood count (CBC test), which measures hemoglobin and red blood cell counts, is frequently used to diagnose anemia. Anemia will be indicated by a low hemoglobin level, but more testing is frequently required to assess the severity and underlying reasons.
Differential markers, which show variations in blood cell size and other properties, may also be included in CBC testing. Large red blood cells are associated with folate or vitamin B12 deficits, whereas small red blood cells frequently indicate insufficient iron. Other tests could be necessary if the size of the blood cells is normal because anemia could be caused by your body producing insufficient blood cells.
A doctor might also suggest the following tests to rule out or confirm anemia:
- iron panel that includes levels of folate, vitamin B12, serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation
- to determine the quantity of freshly produced blood cells, use the reticulocyte count.
- use a peripheral blood smear to examine your blood under a microscope and assess the red blood cells’ size, shape, and appearance.
Rarer forms of anemia, such as sickle cell or aplastic, may occasionally necessitate bone marrow or genetic testing.
What to do after an anemia diagnosis
Finding the kind of anemia and its underlying cause comes next after a diagnosis.
A variety of medical specialists may be engaged in care, depending on the cause:
- PCP, or primary care physician
- hematologist (expert in blood)
- gastroenterologist (should there be any suspicion of bleeding in the digestive tract)
- gynecologist (for periods that are heavy)
Anemia treatment options could include:
- iron supplements or infusions
- dietary adjustments
- injections of vitamin B12.
- therapy of further underlying problems (such as ulcers or bleeding in the digestive tract) with folate supplements
- medicine for anemia or blood transfusions (for severe instances)
Takeaway
Anemia is a disorder with many symptoms that can impact your appearance and mood. Anemia may be indicated by symptoms like exhaustion, lightheadedness, pale complexion, and dyspnea. A blood test is typically used to make the diagnosis, and the reason determines the course of treatment.