Package “ANEMIA”

Anaemia is a deficiency of red blood cells and/or haemoglobin in the blood. This causes a reduced ability of the blood to carry oxygen to the tissues, thus causing tissue hypoxia.

How does anemia affect the human body?

Without healthy red blood cells, the human body suffers from oxygen deficiency, which is why it doesn’t get the energy it needs to function properly.

While some types of anemia are short-lived and mild, others can last a lifetime. If left untreated, the condition can become life-threatening.

It may be mild in the beginning and no symptomatology is seen, however as the condition worsens the following signs are seen:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Breathless

There are several main types of anemias – nutritional, anemias that are caused by other diseases and genetic anemia.

Nutritional anaemias

In nutritional anemia, the hemoglobin content of the blood is lower than normal due to a deficiency of one or more essential nutrients. And it, in turn, can be the result of inadequate dietary intake, increased nutrient losses, impaired metabolism, etc.

Sometimes recurrent infections and acute or chronic inflammation, such as celiac disease, can also reduce nutrient absorption and contribute to nutritional anaemia.

Some of the most important nutrient deficiencies include:

• Iron deficiency
• Vitamin A deficiency
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Folic acid deficiency (vitamin B9)

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form (approximately 60% of all cases). An imbalance in iron intake, stores, or retention prevents the body from maintaining red blood cell levels.

Genetic anemia

A genetic structural variation or reduced production of globin chains of hemoglobin can lead to anemia. Some of the genetic disorders commonly associated with the onset of the disease include:

• Various cellular disorders
• Thalassemia (also called Mediterranean)
• G6PD deficiency – occurs in the absence of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), due to which red blood cells break down.
• Other haemoglobinopathies

Anaemia following intense haemorrhage (mainly in women)

Women of reproductive age and pregnant women are at higher risk of bleeding, which can lead to anemia. As blood is lost, red blood cells and nutrients take some time to recover. In addition, pregnancy increases the risk of developing the disease, first because of the body’s increased need for red blood cells at this time and second because of the risk of hemorrhage during childbirth. Women with gynaecological diseases or heavy menstrual flow are also at higher risk.

Anemia is formally diagnosed based on the concentration of hemoglobin in a blood sample . Several other additional tests can help determine the diagnosis, such as tests of biomarkers like serum ferritin or determination of hematocrit – showing how much of the blood is made up of erythrocytes.

How to prevent the development of the disease?

People can be born with certain types of anemia or develop the disease as a result of others. However, poor diet causes the most common form of the disease. Some types of anemia, such as sickle cell, hemolytic, or aplastic anemia, cannot be prevented. Nutritional anemias, however, can be avoided by eating foods rich in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.

Additionally we recommend:

• Drinking enough water;
• Regular workouts;
• Avoiding long-term exposure to harmful drugs and chemicals that destroy red blood cells;
• Good personal hygiene;
• Regular screening for genetic diseases such as thalassemia and sickle cell anemia;
• Avoiding a reckless lifestyle to avoid trauma and blood loss.

Anemia package

• PCC/ c DCC/
• Morphology of erythrocytes
• Reticulocytes
• SUE
• Iron
• HOA
• FERRITIN
• Folic acid
• Vitamin B12