What is Anemia?

Edited by Guy Slowik MD FRCS. Last updated on June 30th 2011

Anemia is a condition in which an abnormally low number of red blood cells circulate in the body. It is the most common disorder of the red blood cells, affecting about 3.5 million Americans. Anemia is not a disease. It is a condition that results from below-normal levels of hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the iron-containing pigment of the red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. There are many different kinds of anemia (SEE BELOW), each with its own cause. For example, a poor diet can cause anemia. The more severe types of this condition are often inherited.

Why Does Anemia Occur?

To understand why anemia occurs, it's important to understand the function of blood itself. Blood is a mixture of plasma (the fluid part of the blood) and cells. Its red color comes from the predominant cells found in the blood, called erythrocytes. A healthy person has about 5 million red cells in every cubic millimeter of blood. Each cell contains a protein (hemoglobin) that carries oxygen through the body. The process of creating and recycling red blood cells is exceptionally complex. Trouble can occur at any point in this process. If the red blood cells fail to effectively transport oxygen throughout the body, anemia can result. Facts About Anemia The word anemia is Greek for "without blood." Anemia is a common problem for menstruating women because their iron supplies are depleted monthly. In young children, marrow in all the bones produces red blood cells. As a person ages, red blood cells are eventually produced only in the marrow of the spine, ribs, and pelvis. The life span of a red blood cell is between 90 and 120 days.

 Old red blood cells are removed from the blood by the liver and spleen, and the iron is returned to the bone marrow to make new cells.

Symptoms of Anemia
A person with anemia will feel tired and weak because the body's tissues are being starved of oxygen. In fact, fatigue is the main symptom of most types of anemia. The severity of symptoms is in part related to the severity of anemia. Mild anemia can occur without symptoms and may be detected only during a medical exam that includes a blood test. Symptoms of anemia include: Fatigue Weakness Fainting Breathlessness Heart palpitations (rapid or irregular beating) Dizziness Headache Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) Difficulty sleeping Difficulty concentrating

Common signs include: Pale complexion The normally red lining of the mouth and eyelids fades in color Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) Abnormal menstruation (either absence of periods or increased bleeding) Other signs depend on the cause of the anemia. These can include spoon-shaped finger nails and toenails in iron-deficiency anemia, mild jaundice in hemolytic anemias, and leg ulcers in sickle cell anemia.