- Anemia is major public health concern, mainly affecting young children, pregnant and postpartum women, and menstruating adolescent girls and women.
- Low- and lower-middle income countries bear the greatest burden of anaemia, particularly affecting populations living in rural settings, in poorer households and who have received no formal education.
- Globally, it is estimated that 40% of all children aged 6–59 months, 37% of pregnant women and 30% of women 15–49 years of age are affected by anaemia.
- Anaemia caused 50 million years of healthy life lost due to disability in 2019. The largest causes were dietary iron deficiency, thalassaemia and sickle cell trait, and malaria
Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal. It mainly affects women and children.
Anaemia occurs when there isn’t enough haemoglobin in the body to carry oxygen to the organs and tissues.
In severe cases, anaemia can cause poor cognitive and motor development in children. It can also cause problems for pregnant women and their babies.
Anaemia can be caused by poor nutrition, infections, chronic diseases, heavy menstruation, pregnancy issues and family history. It is often caused by a lack of iron in the blood.
Anaemia is preventable and treatable.
Possible causes of anemia include:
- Iron deficiency
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Folate deficiency
- Certain medicines
- Destruction of red blood cells earlier than normal (which may be caused by immune system problems)
- Long-term (chronic) diseases such as chronic kidney disease, cancer, ulcerative colitis, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Some forms of anemia, such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia, which can be inherited
- Pregnancy
- Problems with bone marrow such as lymphoma, leukemia, myelodysplasia, multiple myeloma, or aplastic anemia
- Slow blood loss (for example, from heavy menstrual periods or stomach ulcers)
- Sudden heavy blood loss
Symptoms
You may have no symptoms if the anemia is mild or if the problem develops slowly. Symptoms that may occur first include:
- Feeling weak or tired more often than usual, or with exercise
- Headaches
- Problems concentrating or thinking
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Numbness and tingling of hands and feet
If the anemia gets worse, symptoms may include:
- Blue color to the whites of the eyes
- Brittle nails
- Desire to eat ice or other non-food things (pica syndrome)
- Lightheadedness when you stand up
- Pale skin color
- Shortness of breath with mild activity or even at rest
- Sore or inflamed tongue
- Mouth ulcers
- Abnormal or increased menstrual bleeding in females
- Loss of sexual desire in men
Treatment and prevention
The treatment and prevention of anaemia depend on the underlying cause of the condition. There are many effective ways to treat and prevent anaemia.
Changes in diet can help reduce anaemia in some cases, including:
- eating foods that are rich in iron, folate, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and other nutrients
- eating a healthy diet with a variety of foods
- taking supplements if a qualified health-care provider recommends them.
Other health conditions can cause anaemia. Actions include:
- Supplements for Iron and B12, Folate deficiency.
- manage chronic diseases like obesity and digestive problems
- wait at least 24 months between pregnancies and use birth control to prevent unintended pregnancies
- prevent and treat heavy menstrual bleeding and haemorrhage before or after birth
- treat inherited red blood cell disorders like sickle-cell disease and thalassemia.
Self-care
There are several ways to help prevent and manage anaemia in daily life, including eating a healthy and diverse diet and speaking to a health-care provider early if you have symptoms of anaemia.
To keep a healthy and diverse diet:
- eat iron-rich foods, including lean red meats, fish and poultry, legumes (e.g. lentils and beans), fortified cereals and dark green leafy vegetables;
- eat foods rich in vitamin C (such as fruits and vegetables) which help the body absorb iron; and
- If you take calcium and iron supplements, take them at different times during the day.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you have any symptoms of anemia or unusual bleeding.
For further information about Anemia: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/NHLBI_OSPEEC_YourGuidetoAnemia_Booklet_RELEASE_508.pdf