What is anemia? What causes anemia? What are the signs of anemia?

Answer 1

also spelled Anaemia, condition in which the red cellsof the blood (erythrocytes) are reduced in number or volume or are deficient in hemoglobin, their oxygen-carrying pigment. There are close to 100 differentvarieties of anemia, distinguished by the cause, the size and hemoglobin content of the abnormal cells, and the symptoms. Causally, anemia may result from any of the following:

(1) Chronic or acute blood loss.

(2) Increased destruction of the red cells ( hemolysis). This may be caused by hereditary cell defects, as in sickle-cell anemia, hereditary spherocytosis, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. It may be caused by exposure to hemolytic chemicals (substances causing the release of hemoglobin from the red cells) such as sulfanilamide, primaquine, or naphthalene (mothballs). Or it may be caused by development of antibodies against the red blood cells, as in erythroblastosis fetalis.

(3) Reduced production of red cells. This may be caused by disorders of the bone marrow, as in leukemia and aplastic anemia. It may be caused bydeficiency of one or more of the nutrients, notably vitamin B1 2, folic acid, and iron, that are necessaryfor the synthesis of red blood cells. It may be caused by deficiency of certain hormones. Or it may be caused by inhibition of the red-cell-formingprocesses by certain drugs or by toxins produced by disease, particularly chronic infection, widespread cancer, and kidney failure.

Structurally, the anemias generally fall into the following types: (1) macrocytic anemia, characterized by larger-than-normal red cells (e.g., pernicious anemia); (2) normocytic anemia, characterized by a decrease in the number of red cells, which are otherwise relatively normal (e.g., anemia caused by sudden blood loss, as in bleeding peptic ulcer, most cases of hemophilia, and purpura); (3) simple microcytic anemia, characterized by smaller-than-normal red cells (encountered in cases of chronic inflammatory conditions and in renal disease); and (4) microcytichypochromic anemia, characterized by a reductionin red-cell size and hemoglobin concentration (frequently associated with iron-deficiency anemia but also seen in thalassemia).

The most noticeable outward symptom of anemia is usually pallor of the skin, mucous membranes, and nail beds. Symptoms of tissue oxygen deficiency include pulsating noises in the ear, dizziness, fainting, and shortness of breath. Compensatory action of the heart may lead to its enlargement and to a rapid pulse rate.

The treatment of anemia varies greatly, dependingon the diagnosis. It includes supplying the missingnutrients in the deficiency anemias, detecting andremoving toxic factors, improving the underlying disorder with drugs and other forms of therapy, decreasing the extent of blood destruction by methods that include surgery (e.g., splenectomy), or restoring blood volume with transfusion. See also aplastic anemia; equine infectious anemia; pernicious anemia; sickle-cell anemia.

Answer 2

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RE:
What is anemia? What causes anemia? What are the signs of anemia?

Answer 3

Anemia is a decrease in the red blood cell content in your blood.
It is most often caused by not enough Iron in your body, or by blood loss. The most common signs are fatigue and sometimes shortness of breath.
Iron deficiency anemia can be treated by increased iron intake in the diet or to a lesser degree by taking iron tablets.

Answer 4

The previous two answers are good, but you need a doctor's evalulation and a blood test to rule out other problems and occasionally to categorize the anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia is common, but it is not the ONLY kind.

Answer 5

Aneamia is when your cells are starved of energy for one reason or another. It might be caused by not eating and thus not having sugars / fat to process or by having globin disorders that affect the amount of oxigen carried in your blood (such as sickle cell anemia).
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For sings... I would guess general weakness and lack of energy. Lazyness etc. In more severe situations it may have other effects, even death.
Look at the site below for more details:

Answer 6

I Think such a person should refer to a BLOOD SPECIALIST PHYSICIAN, as soon as possible, for a complete blood check up. It's a matter very serious and you should not ask it from some usual people.
Cheers and Take care.

Answer 7

no enough iron in the blood,, signs usally are very tired all the time lazy, just not feeling yourself i'm sure theres otheres i just don;t know them

Answer 8

lack of iron in your blood. you can take supplements to increase your blood iron. or eat foods rich in iron like red meat.

Answer 9

Lack of iron. You feel sluggish and can barely function.

Answer 10

having low red blood cells.stress or genetic can cause anemia.sign is frequent fatigue