Summary: Anemia is a diminished number of red cells in the blood. Red cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit also measure anemia. Lowered blood levels means you can’t deliver oxygen as well to the tissues of your body. Anemia is quite common; the common causes are iron deficiency, thalassemia, infections and/or inflammation, blood loss, poor functioning of the bone marrow (myelodysplasia), sickle cell anemia and pregnancy. Blood loss can cause chronic or very acute anemia. Some of these problems --- thalassemia and sickle cell disease which inherited forms of anemia. There are numerous other causes. The degree to which you feel poorly depends upon the rapidity that the anemia occurs and the extent of the anemia. People who are are sick from the anemia may have a high pulse rate, a lowered blood pressure, shortness of breath and anxiety among other problems. Each of the causes of anemia may also have special symptoms specific to that cause of anemia. If you lose blood fast, you can get sick quickly. If blood loss occurs slowly, symptoms can be quite subtle for a long period of time. Therapy depends upon what’s causing the anemia. For example, people can be iron deficient or folate or B12 deficient. Replacement with the specific vitamin is a first step, but each of these problems then need to be addressed at a second level: why are you lacking the vitamin? Erythropoietin is used when the marrow is not working as well as it should. The FDA is limiting the use of this drug for good reason. It should be used in an individual, understanding its potential benefits and what the risks are in you. Transfusion of red cells also has its proper uses and can be quite helpful if blood loss is significant. The reason to transfuse blood should be understood by you, including its risks and benefits, before it is given. For both blood transfusion and erythropoietin use, your physician or another appointed health care professional should give that explanation since it needs to address the issues in you.
