people say i have anemia..will i die???

Answer 1

Anemia is a condition where there is a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the blood, usually measured by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells. It gives these blood cells their red color.

The cause varies with the type of anemia. Potential causes include blood loss, poor diet, many diseases, medication reactions, and various problems with the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. Iron deficiency anemia is most common in women who have heavy menstrual periods.

Risk factors include heavy periods, pregnancy, older age, and diseases that cause anemia.

B12 deficiency anemia is a drop in the number of red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is essential for normal nervous system function and blood cell production. The main sources of vitamin B12 include meat, eggs, and dairy products. For vitamin B12 to be absorbed by the body, it must bind to intrinsic factor, a protein secreted by cells in the stomach.

Folate-deficiency anemia is a decrease in red blood cells (anemia) caused by folate deficiency.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Folate, also called folic acid, is necessary for red blood cell formation and growth. You can get folate by eating from green leafy vegetables and liver. Some medications, such as phenytoin (Dilantin), interfere with the absorption of this vitamin. Because folate is not stored in the body in large amounts, a continual dietary supply of this vitamin is needed.

In folate-deficiency anemia, the red cells are abnormally large and are called megalocytes, or megaloblasts in the bone marrow. Subsequently, this anemia may be referred to as megaloblastic anemia

Causes of this anemia are poor dietary intake of folic acid, malabsorption diseases such as celiac disease (sprue), and certain medications. A relative deficiency due to increased need for folic acid may occur in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Risk factors include poor diet (seen frequently in the poor, the elderly, and in people who do not eat fresh fruits or vegetables), eating overcooked food, alcoholism (which interferes with the absorption of folate), history of malabsorption diseases, and pregnancy. The disease occurs in about 4 out of 100,000 people.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. Approximately 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men are iron deficient. Iron is an essential component of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment in the blood. Iron is normally obtained through the food in your diet and by recycling iron from old red blood cells. Without it, the blood cannot carry oxygen effectively -- and oxygen is needed for the normal functioning of every cell in the body.

The causes of iron deficiency are too little iron in the diet, poor absorption of iron by the body, and loss of blood (including from heavy menstrual bleeding). It can also be related to lead poisoning in children.

Anemia develops slowly after the normal stores of iron have been depleted in the body and in the bone marrow. Women, in general, have smaller stores of iron than men and have increased loss through menstruation, placing them at higher risk for anemia than men.

In men and postmenopausal women, anemia is usually caused by gastrointestinal blood loss associated with ulcers, the use of aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), or certain types of cancer (esophagus, stomach, colon).

Answer 2

Hey! Anemia is just low nutrients in the blood. For a young otherwise healthy person I dont thinks its deadly. Just take a daily vitamin that has iron in it. Although, you can really know untill you get a blood test. I've had two of them already.. Now like if you have cancer or some other blood infection, then anemia would be really bad and you might even get blood transufsions (get blood) but I think that your just fine. If you anemic maybe its because your vegan which I totally dont have problem with.. I've tried it myself. But you seriously might want to look into a daily vitamin which will help you out and maybe even give you more energy. Take care!
~Tyanna Lynae~

Answer 3

anemia is a deficiancy of the red blood cells. This results in a reduced ability of blood to transfer oxygen to the tissues, causing tissue hypoxia. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Anemia goes undetected in many people, and symptoms can be vague. Most commonly, people with anemia report a feeling of weakness or fatigue, general malaise and sometimes a poor concentration. People with more severe anemia often report dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion. Very severe anemia prompts the body to compensate by increasing cardiac output, leading to palpitations and sweatiness, and to heart failure. You won't die, but life might be tougher for you.
If you aren't sure if you have it, ask your doctor to have a detailed blood test. Sorry about your condition. I'm not a medical doctor, but my Dad is a pharmacist and knows some medical things. I hope you are OK.

Answer 4

I'm guessing that the "people" who said this aren't doctors, because they seem to be uninformed about anemia. Anemia is caused by not having the proper amount of iron in your blood. Taking iron pills should correct the problem. I do myself. Ask your doctor if you're concerned about it, and a simple blood test can be done. I've never heard of anemia being fatal if taken care of. You're listening to the wrong people.

Answer 5

Anemia is defined as a decrease in low red blood cells. There are different kinds of anemia.

Some forms are genetic: sickle cell disease, thalassemia, Fanconi syndrome. They tend to be discovered in childhood because children don't always make it to adulthood.

On the other hand, iron-deficient anemia can occur at anytime as a result of many things: vegans not consuming enough meat, which is one of the best ways to absorb iron. This is uncommon in the US. Other ways to lose red blood cells are heavy menstruations, stomach and/or intestinal bleeding as a result of medications or polyps, cancer, or in Crohn's disease or Ulcerative colitis . Cancer treatment can cause anemia as well.

Blood may be lost in urine and it can be visible or invisible. If the blood loss is slow, then you may not notice that you are anemic. Blood loss may or may not show up in your stools. If in your stools, then you might notice black tarry stools or bright red blood.

If anemia is due to one of the genetic causes (and not all thalassemias are discovered in childhood), then it may not show up at all until a routine CBC (complete blood cell count) is done.

A third kind of anemia is called pernicious anemia or B-12 deficiency. If you have that, diagnosis is obtained via a CBC, and looking at your symptoms as in the other anemias. Treatment is B-12 shots for the rest of your life.

If you are vegan, then you MIGHT be iron-deficient anemic due to your diet. However, anemia should ONLY be diagnosed by a licensed medical practitioner. There is a real danger in taking iron supplements without a medical need. Iron overload can cause liver cirrhosis.

There is a range of anemia from severe anemia to mild anemia. As I said before, it is based on the red blood cell mass. If it gets too low, then there is a danger of stroke or heart attack. These don't tend to occur in younger people. At the point of severe anemia, sometimes treatment is a blood transfusion and other treatments as well. It depends on many factors which are determined by a medical professional.

So, if you want to know if you are anemic, go see a doctor or licensed nurse practitioner. They might order a CBC which is not real expensive. He/she may counsel some dietary adjustments IF NECESSARY and prescribe an iron supplement which can be purchased over the counter IF NECESSARY.

I hope I didn't overload you with difficult technical information. Good luck!

Answer 6

there are several types of anemia but the most common is iron deficiency anemia. u said that people say u have anemia. who is that people? are they doctors? if u really have anemia, ask ur doctor what type of anemia it is so that u'll be able to 'fix' it back. take the prescribed medicines. dont worry. be happy. everyone of us will die one day. even without anemia.

Answer 7

everyone will die eventually,but not from anemia! a simple iron pill a day will make u feel better,or if u have another certain type of anemia,u may need vitamin b12 shots.that type of anemia is rare if u are under age 50,so u most likely need a daily iron pill.ps-anemia is common in girls/women in their childbearing years,it is from monthly blood loss.

Answer 8

No. I've had anemia since I was a little girl and I'm still here. You just need an iron supplement probably.

Make an appointment with your dr. and have your blood checked.

Answer 9

Anemia just usually means you are low in iron. Take your iron supplements and you will be fine. I had anemia back in 1983.

Answer 10

People say this or your doctor told you this? anemia means your red cells are low, start taking iron supplements if he recommends it and eat food rich in iron like red meat.

Answer 11

Firstly you have to confirm through a clinical test i.e. E.S.R., TC, DC, including H.B. content with with the help of a doctor. After that, if you will find, you have anemia proper treatment is there & you will be cured. WHY YOU WILL DIE ?