Anemia: Causes, Forms and Symptoms - Essay Sample

Introduction

Anemia gets construed as a condition where a person has fewer red blood cells compared to the usual standard in the body. In men, one is said to be anemic if their hemoglobin count is less than 13g/L, while 12g/L for women. Anemia is caused by many factors, including a person's sex, age, and geography. Being anemic makes one feel very weak and tired. There are different forms of anemia, and each has a different cause (Williams, 21-48). Some occur due to iron and vitamin deficiency, inflammation disorders, and hemolytic. Anemia can also be temporary, while in some it is long term. Anemia can be prevented by taking foods rich in iron, folate, and vitamins. This helps to reduce complications like severe fatigue, pregnancy complication in women, heart problems, and even death.

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Macrocytic Normochromic-Pernicious, Folate Deficiency

Macrocytic normochromic is caused by too much intake of alcohol, folate deficiency, liver diseases, and a primary dysfunction of the marrow. In this type of anemia, the red blood cells are more extensive than usual. Causes of macrocytic anemia can be megaloblastic or non-megaloblastic. Megaloblastic anemia is largely attributed to the deficiency of folate; vitamin B12. Folate acid is in animal products and green vegetables. The deficiency of folate acid leads to congenital neural tube stenosis in pregnant women. The deficiency is caused by malnutrition, malabsorption, medication, and pregnancy. Patients who have a deficiency in folate can be treated by administering the folic acid in situations where the deficiency is nutrition-based. It is useful for the patient to consider increasing nutritional intake. According to a study conducted in Japan, pernicious anemia is the common cause of megaloblastic anemia (61%), lack of vitamin B12 follows it closely at (34%), and other reasons take the remaining 5%. Signs of megaloblastic anemia include fatigue, palpitations, headaches, hypoesthesia, and dysesthesia. In adults, the causes of anemia are complicated due to the multiple comorbidities.

In some cases, vibratory sensation and proprioception that is decreased are experienced. Non-megaloblastic anemia is caused by a variety of factors, including liver dysfunction, too much alcohol intake, or hypothyroidism. It is notable that the causes of microcytic anemia vary depending on the region and also the setting (Nagao & Hirokawa, 200-204). In New York, 37% of the cases diagnosed to patients who were hospitalized were medical-related, while in Finland, macrocytic anemia was caused by alcohol (65%), folate deficiency (28%) in outpatients that were above 75 years.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a result of inadequate and poor diet leading to malnutrition. It is essential to take vitamin B12. It is found in animal foods. When vitamin B12 is deficient, the effect extends to folic acid. Folate deficiency impairs the synthesis of DNA. Changes occur to the bone marrow due to the lack of vitamin B12; this is due to impaired nuclear differentiation. The deficiency of the vitamin can be treated by administering the patient with the vitamin, and in a month, their hematological levels go back to a healthy range. The patients who have a permanent inability to take in vitamin B12 should be administered to lifelong treatment.

Pernicious Anemia is associated with autoimmune gastric. It leads to the destruction of gastric parietal cells, and the lack of the intrinsic factor. It is caused by metaplastic atrophic gastric that is autoimmune; they manifest in the fundus and stomach body. Destruction of parietal cells enhances low levels of acid that are produced and secretion of intrinsic factor. The autoantibodies inhibit the absorption of vitamin B12. The clinical manifestation is similar to that of deficiency in vitamin B12. The treatment for this is an administration of vitamin B12 for a lifelong. It is essential for patients with pernicious anemia to have a regular examination of their stomachs.

Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

Microcytosis is the state where there are smaller red blood cells than usual. Microcytic anemia is a result of conditions that prevent one's body from producing the required amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a component that helps in giving red blood cells their color and also transporting oxygen to tissues. Insufficient iron is also a common cause of microcytic anemia. (Weatherspoon) . For the body to produce hemoglobin, it needs iron. It is a result of inadequate iron intake, inability to absorb iron due to celiac disease, an infection of Helicobacter pylori. Chronic blood loss caused by heavy periods and pregnancy in women also leads to iron deficiency. Symptoms of microcytic anemia include fatigue, dizziness, and shortness of breath, pale skin, and loss of stamina. Sideroblastic anemia can be inherited and can also be a result of the body not being in a position to integrate iron. Thalassemia is caused by an abnormality that is inherited. In this case, genes needed for producing normal hemoglobin become mutated. There are two types of thalassemia alpha and beta. Alpha thalassemia anemia occurs in people from the Middle East, China, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It happens when genes have changed or when the alpha-globin protein is missing. Beta thalassemia anemia occurs mostly in people in the Mediterranean region. It occurs in scenarios where the production of beta-globin protein is affected by defects of similar genes.

To treat microcytic anemia, first, the doctor has to diagnose the cause. The doctor has to do a blood smear. It helps to know the early stages of microcytic changes that have been caused to one's red blood cells. The doctor then may refer the patient to a hematologist. The hematologist is better placed to know and treat the microcytic anemia and also find out its root cause. They also test the blood for bacterial infections and diseases. The doctor then proceeds to give treatment. They may advise on using vitamin C and iron supplements. The iron is meant to treat anemia and vitamin C to help boost the body's ability to absorb iron.

Normocytic Normochromic Types

Normochromic is a situation where the red blood cells have the right amount of hemoglobin, and the color is not deep or pale. There are various examples of normochromic microcytic. The examples include the anemia of chronic diseases and inflammation.

Sickle cell hemolytic is as a result of a particular gene mutation. It is very chronic and is characterized by vaso-occlusion, vasculopathy, and organ failure. People with sickle cell have a shortened life span. It is essential to ensure quick measures are put in place to counter more problems that may arise. It can be mitigated when discovered at an early stage. Hydroxyurea is a treatment that helps to reduce the pains caused by sickle cell anemia. It decreases inflammation, improves the status of red blood cells, and also the production of the red blood cells. Chelating agents can treat organ failure of iron. Bone marrow transplant is the only curative treatment of sickle cell anemia. However, the shortage of donors and morbidity associated with the transplant makes it less performed.

Aplastic anemia occurs when the body stops producing the new red blood cells. It makes one prone to diseases, fatigues, and uncontrolled bleeding. Its symptoms are fatigue, pale skin, headaches, and bleeding gums, among others. It is caused when stem cells are injured; hence the bone marrow becomes empty is hypoplastic. Others cause Autoimmune disorders, chemicals, pregnancy, and radiation. Treatment of aplastic anemia is through medications, blood transfusions, and bone marrow transplants. Post hemorrhagic is when one loses a lot of blood quickly. It can be through a traumatic incident or a bad injury. It can also occur during a surgical procedure or later on. It is a condition that is progressive and causes dilation of the ventricular system. It can be diagnosed by having blood tests to check on a number of both red and white blood cells and platelets. An endoscopy is done to check for bleeding. It is treated by blood transfusion, surgery, fluid, and iron supplements, and also extra oxygen. It is essential to take enough rest, eat healthy foods, and drink a lot of fluids.

Anemia of chronic inflammation is caused by inflammatory disease. It is as a result of low serum iron concentrations. Treatment is focused on causal conditions. If it does not improve as desired, then the doctor can hence proceed to combine erythropoiesis and intravenous iron. It is important to note that it should only be undertaken when treating the inflammatory disease proves to be hectic. Hemolytic anemia is a disorder where red blood cells are destroyed at a faster rate than that which they are made. It can be inherited or acquired. Inherited hemolytic occurs when parents pass the genes of the hemolysis to their children. The two leading causes of inherited hemolytic anemia are thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. With the condition, the red blood cells produced cannot last as long as the healthy red blood cells. Acquired hemolytic, one is not born with it. One acquires it as they grow. This is as a result of infections, medicines, blood cancers, and tumors. It is diagnosed by having a complete blood count test, urine test, and bone marrow aspiration. The treatment plan varies depending on the nature of sickness, age, and one's preference. Treatment includes blood transfusion, rituximab, and treatment to strengthen one's immune system. In severe cases, surgery to remove the spleen can be done and also have an immunosuppressive therapy.

Conclusion

In summary, to analyze the type of anemia, it is essential to take into consideration the size and shape of the red cell. The kinetic grouping of anemia can be decrease production, delivery, blood loss, and increased destruction. Once one has been diagnosed with anemia, it is essential to maintain healthy diets, take supplementary food, and medications as directed by the doctors to avoid more health problems.

Works Cited

Nagao, Takayo, and Makoto Hirokawa. "Diagnosis and treatment of macrocytic anemias in adults ." Journal of General medicine and Family medicine (2017): 200-204. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Weatherspoon, Deborah. "Everything You Need to Know About Microcytic Anemia." Healthline (2018). www.healthline.com.

Williams, Elliot C. Integrated Hematology System. University of Wisconsin, 2014. 1-285.