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Anemia is characterized by decreased levels of hemoglobin in the blood, which is a protein that is inside red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen to the organs.
There are several causes for anemia, from poor vitamin intake to bleeding, bone marrow malfunction, autoimmune diseases or the existence of chronic diseases, for example.
Anemia can be mild or even profound, when the hemoglobin level is below 7%, and this depends not only on the cause, but also on the severity of the disease and the response of each person's body.
Some of the main causes of anemia include:
1. Vitamin deficiency
To properly produce red blood cells, the body needs essential nutrients. The lack of them causes the so-called deficiency anemias, which are;
- Anemia due to lack of iron in the body, called iron deficiency anemia, which can arise from a low iron diet, especially in childhood, or due to bleeding in the body, which may be imperceptible, such as a gastric ulcer or varicose veins in the intestine, for example. ;
- Anemia due to lack of vitamin B12 and folic acid, called megaloblastic anemia, happens due to malabsorption of vitamin B12 mainly in the stomach and the low consumption of folic acid in the diet. Vitamin B12 is consumed in meat or animal products, such as eggs, cheese and milk. Folic acid is found in meat, green vegetables, beans or grains, for example.
The absence of these nutrients is detected through blood tests ordered by the doctor. Usually, this type of anemia gradually gets worse, and as the body can adapt to the losses for some time, the symptoms may take time to appear.
Watch the video below and check out nutritionist Tatiana Zanin's guidelines on what to eat in case of anemia:
2. Bone marrow defects
The bone marrow is where blood cells are produced, so if it is affected by any disease, it can compromise the formation of red blood cells and cause anemia.
This type of anemia, also called Aplastic anemia or Spinal anemia, can have several causes, including genetic defects, intoxication by chemical agents such as solvents, bismuth, pesticides, tar, anticonvulsants, exposure to ionizing radiation, HIV infections, parvovirus B19 , Epstein-Barr virus or for diseases such as paroxysmal hemoglobinuria notura, for example. However, in some rare cases, the cause may not be identified.
Read more about what it is and what to do in case of aplastic anemia.
3. Hemorrhages
Hemorrhages are serious as blood loss represents the loss of red blood cells and, consequently, a decrease in the amount of oxygen and nutrients transported to the body's organs.
Some of the most common causes of bleeding can be caused by injuries to the body, trauma due to accidents, very heavy menstruation or diseases such as cancer, liver disease, varicose veins or ulcers, for example.
In some cases, hemorrhages are internal and, therefore, are not visible, requiring tests to identify them. Check out the main causes of internal bleeding.
4. Genetic diseases
Hereditary diseases, which are passed through DNA, can cause changes in the production of hemoglobin, either in its quantity or in its quality. These changes usually result in the destruction of red blood cells.
The carrier of these genetic defects will not always present a worrying anemia, however, in some cases it can be severe and significantly compromise health. The main anemias of genetic origin are those that affect the structure of hemoglobin, also called hemoglobinopathies:
- Sickle cell anemia: it is a genetic and hereditary disease in which the body produces hemoglobins with altered structure, therefore, it originates defective red blood cells, which can take the form of a sickle, hindering its ability to carry oxygen in the blood. Check out the symptoms and treatment of sickle cell anemia.
- Thalassemia: it is also a genetic disease that causes changes in the proteins that form hemoglobin, forming altered red blood cells that are destroyed in the bloodstream. There are different types of thalassemia, with varying severities, learn more on how to identify thalassemia.
Although these are the best known, there are hundreds of other defects in hemoglobin that can result in anemia, such as methaemoglobinemia, unstable hemoglobins or hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin, for example, which are identified by genetic tests indicated by the hematologist.
5. Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHAI) is a disease of immunological cause, which arises when the body produces antibodies that attack the red blood cells themselves.
Although its exact causes are not yet known, it is known that they can be precipitated by other health conditions, such as viral infections, the presence of other immune diseases or tumors, for example. This type of anemia is not usually hereditary and is not transmissible from one person to another.
Treatment consists mainly of using medications to regulate the immune system, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Learn more about how to identify and treat autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
6. Chronic diseases
Chronic diseases, those that can last for many months or years in activity, such as tuberculosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic fever, osteomyelitis, Crohn's disease or multiple myeloma, for example, cause an inflammatory reaction in the body that can result in anemia, due to premature death and changes in the production of red blood cells.
In addition, illnesses that cause changes in hormones that stimulate red blood cell production can also be the cause of anemia, including hypothyroidism, reduced androgens or falling levels of the hormone erythropoietin, which may be reduced in kidney diseases.
This type of change does not usually cause severe anemia, and can be resolved by treating the disease that caused the anemia.
7. Other causes
Anemia can also arise due to infections, as in viral or bacterial infections, as well as it can arise due to the use of certain medications, such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics or anticoagulants, or by the action of substances such as excess alcohol or benzene, for example. example.
Pregnancy can cause anemia, basically due to weight gain and increased fluid in the circulation, which dilutes the blood.
How to confirm if it is anemia
Anemia can usually be suspected when symptoms such as:
- Excessive tiredness;
- Too much sleep;
- Pale skin;
- Lack of strength;
- Feeling of shortness of breath;
- Cold hands and feet.
However, to confirm the diagnosis of anemia, it is necessary to go to the doctor and do a blood test to assess hemoglobin levels, which should be above 13% in men, 12% in women and 11% in pregnant women from the second quarter. Learn more about tests that confirm anemia.
If the hemoglobin values of the blood test are below normal, the person is considered to have anemia. However, other tests may be necessary to identify the cause and start treatment, especially if there is no apparent reason for the onset of anemia.