Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the United States. It affects your red blood cells and hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. You need iron in order to make hemoglobin. Most people who have anemia have a shortage of iron. This condition is called iron deficiency anemia.
There are a few other types of anemia, including:
- Aplastic anemia. This occurs when your bone marrow has damaged stem cells. Your body fails to produce enough new blood cells. The condition affects your red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Sometimes it is called bone marrow failure.
- Hemolytic anemia. This occurs when your body destroys red blood cells before they should. The normal lifespan of red blood cells is 120 days.
- Normocytic anemia. This occurs when your red blood cells are normal in size, but low in count.
- Pernicious anemia. This occurs when your body lacks vitamin B12. It causes a shortage of healthy red blood cells.
- Sickle cell anemia (a form of sickle cell disease). This is a genetic disease that affects your red blood cells. It occurs when you are born with 2 abnormal hemoglobin genes.
Mild forms of anemia may not cause any symptoms. Fatigue, or feeling tired, is a common symptom. This is because the hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen. A lack of oxygen reduces energy. It can cause your heart to work harder to pump oxygen. Anemia can produce other symptoms, such as:
- Paleness
- Shortness of breath
- Cold hands and feet
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Fast, slow, or uneven heartbeat
- Brittle nails or hair loss
- Strange food cravings (known as pica)
Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms. They can diagnose the type and cause of the condition.
Not being able to produce enough red blood cells can happen for several reasons, including diet, pregnancy, disease, and more.
Your body may not produce enough red blood cells if you lack certain nutrients. Low iron is a common problem. People who don’t eat meat or follow “fad” diets are more at risk of low iron. Infants and toddlers are at risk of getting anemia from a low-iron diet. Not having enough vitamin B12 and folic acid can cause anemia as well.
Certain diseases affect your small intestine‘s ability to absorb nutrients. For example, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease can cause low iron levels in your body. Some foods, like milk, can prevent your body from absorbing iron. Taking vitamin C can help this. Medicines, such as antacids or prescriptions to reduce acid in your stomach, can affect it as well.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding can get anemia. When you’re pregnant, you need more blood (up to 30% more) to share with the baby. If your body lacks iron or vitamin B12, it can’t produce enough red blood cells.
The following factors may increase your risk of anemia during pregnancy:
- Vomiting a lot from morning sickness
- Having a diet low in nutrients
- Having heavy periods before pregnancy
- Having 2 pregnancies close together
- Being pregnant with multiple babies at once
- Becoming pregnant as a teenager
- Losing a lot of blood from an injury or surgery
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