Anaemia Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Effective Treatments

General Symptoms of Anaemia, its Diagnosis, and Effective Treatments

According to the National Family Health Survey, 5 (2019-21),  25% of men (15-49 years) and 57% of women (15-49 years) are anaemic in India. Anaemia is more than just feeling tired. According to doctors, it is a silent condition that can impact the entire body, affecting the organs' ability to function properly. 

From mild anaemia symptoms like dizziness to severe complications, anaemia can take many forms, each caused by unique causes and needing specific treatments. This blog uncovers everything—from severe anaemia symptoms to diagnosis and treatments—so you can control the condition before it is too late. 

What is Anaemia?

Anaemia is a common health condition characterised by a deficiency of red blood cells. A person with low haemoglobin or hematocrit levels after a standard blood test is considered anaemic.

When considering haemoglobin as the primary protein in red blood cells, it is responsible for circulating sufficient oxygen throughout the body. When anaemia is reported, haemoglobin levels drop. It means your body is now limiting the oxygen supply to tissues and organs. However, if the haemoglobin deficiency is severe, organs may not function properly. At this time, people experience symptoms like fatigue and shortness of breath.

Different Types of Anaemia

As per medical findings, there are over 400 different types of anaemia. Healthcare professionals are divided into three main groups. They are:

• Microcytic: People with microcytic anaemia experience fewer red blood cells than usual. Remember, different types of anaemia can be considered microcytic.
• Normocytic: The body can not produce enough red cells to meet its needs in normocytic anaemia. Certain persistent illnesses tend to be linked to normocytic anaemia. 
• Macrocytic: An individual suffers from macrocytic anaemia when bone marrow makes large red blood cells and insufficient red blood cells of standard size.

Take a closer look at these three primary types of anaemia, explore symptoms and more.

Microcytic Anaemias

People suffer from Microcytic anaemia when red blood cells are smaller than normal. This condition arises due to a lack of haemoglobin in the blood. Let us look at the causes and microcytic anaemia symptoms to get a comprehensive idea.

As per medical findings, microcytic anaemia is also divided into different subgroups. They are:

1. Iron-deficiency Anaemia Symptoms

Individuals suffering from mild to moderate iron-deficiency anaemia may not deal with noticeable symptoms. However, when considering severe cases, one may experience common anaemia symptoms. They are tired, have difficulty breathing, and have chest discomfort. Additional symptoms may also occur, such as:

• Fatigue
• Dizziness 
• Hands and feet get cold
• Pale skin

Some usual causes of iron deficiency anaemia are described here:

• Blood levels reduction in the body due to internal bleeding
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Lack of iron in your diet
• Facing difficulty consuming iron

2. Sickle Cell Anaemia Symptoms

It is a serious type of anaemia, an inherited blood disorder called sickle cell disease. It results from genetic mutations that cause red blood cells to become abnormal. So, it leads to anaemia. Some other symptoms are:

• Frequent infections
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Painful swelling in hands and feet
• Yellow-coloured eyes and skin

Considering the causes of sickle cell anaemia occurs when a person inherits genetic mutations that affect the HBB gene.

Normocytic Anaemias

In normocytic anaemia, the body witnesses normal-sized red blood cells but lacks quantity. The overall number is too low to adequately meet the body’s needs.

Normocytic anaemia is also divided into different subgroups. They are:

1.Anaemia of Chronic Disease (ACD) Symptoms

When someone's body lacks enough red blood cells, they suffer from anaemia. A chronic disease can sometimes interfere with red blood cell production. It leads to a condition known as anaemia of chronic disease (ACD). Here are the chronic anaemia symptoms:

• Feel dizziness
• Tiredness and weakness
• Heart pounding or feel short of breath
• Difficulty in focusing and thinking clearly

2. Hemolytic Anaemia Symptoms

This type of anaemia occurs when the red blood cells of a body are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. However, this blood condition can develop in one's body quickly or slowly, and the results can be mild or severe. The symptoms are:

• Tiredness
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Spleen or liver that is larger than normal
• Abdominal pain
• Dark urine
  1.Aplastic Anaemia Symptoms
  Aplastic anaemia, or bone marrow failure, is a rare but severe blood condition. It happens when your bone marrow cannot produce enough new blood cells to function normally. The notable point is that there is no prevention for aplastic anaemia. Symptoms of aplastic anaemia include:
  ●Fatigue
  ●Persistent infections that last a long time
  ●Easy bleeding or bruising
  ●Skin rashes

3. Vitamin B12–Deficiency Anaemia Symptoms

People suffering from anaemia due to a deficiency of vitamin B12 may initially experience common symptoms, including tiredness, pale skin, breathlessness, headaches, or lightheadedness. Some severe Pernicious anaemia symptoms are:

• Pain or tingling feelings 
• Facing trouble when walking
• Depression or irritability
• Issues with smell or taste
• Diarrhea and weight loss
• Glossitis, which is a painful, smooth, red tongue
• Intolerable muscle movements

Macrocytic Anaemia

People suffer from macrocytic anaemia when the bone marrow produces red blood cells that are larger than usual. This health condition arises when the body experiences a deficiency of specific essential nutrients.
However, there are two types of macrocytic anaemia. Explore their name, macrocytic anaemia symptoms and causes in the following lines:

1.Megaloblastic Anaemia 

Megaloblastic anaemia is a blood disorder in which the bone marrow develops unusually large red blood cells. According to healthcare professionals, it is also a type of anaemia caused by vitamin deficiency. 
However, megaloblastic anaemia symptoms are similar to other kinds of anaemia. They are:

• Fatigue
• Pallor
• Weakness
• Dyspnea or Shortness of Breath
• Light-headed feeling

The cause of megaloblastic anaemia is a deficiency of vitamin B12 or vitamin B9 in the blood, which is necessary to produce sufficient healthy red blood cells to circulate oxygen across the body.

2. Non-Megaloblastic Anaemia

In non-megaloblastic anaemia, specific health conditions can interfere with the body's ability to absorb vital nutrients required to promote red blood cell production. The most common causes of non-megaloblastic anaemia include:

• Underactive thyroid
• Liver issues
• Alcohol use disorder
• Myelodysplastic syndrome is a collective health condition that influences your body's ability to produce healthy blood cells.
• Hereditary spherocytosis is an illness in which red blood cells take shapes like spheres instead of flattened discs.

Other well-known types of anaemia are:

Folate Deficiency Anaemia 

People suffer from folate deficiency anaemia when their bodies develop fewer red blood cells than usual and larger than normal. This causes less oxygen to circulate in the body, which can lead to fatigue, weakness, or feeling cold over time. Generally, this condition is caused by a deficiency of folate (vitamin B9) in the body.
Here are the folate deficiency anaemia symptoms mentioned:

• Fatigue or tiredness
• Feeling weakness while performing your daily activities.
• Feeling like you might faint, which is called lightheadedness
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• Pale skin (pallor)

Folic Acid Deficiency Anaemia 

This type of anaemia occurs when the body lacks enough red blood cells to deliver oxygen to its tissues. Research suggests that one possible cause is insufficient haemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that smooths oxygen circulation. 

Another reason for anaemia is a lack of folate (vitamin B9), the naturally occurring form of folic acid in food. Take a look at the following to explore folic acid deficiency anaemia symptoms:

• Feeling shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Lack of energy
• Weight loss or not feeling hungry
• Ringing in your ears
• Pale skin
• Racing heart
   

Anaemia Diagnosis and Tests

When you visit a doctor’s chamber, they ask questions about your symptoms. In most cases, they ask you to do some blood tests, including:

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC) 

Doctors use this test to assess all types of blood cells, paying special attention to red blood cells. After taking the blood sample, they analyse it to determine the red blood cell count, size, and shape. In addition, doctors can evaluate vitamin B12 and B9 levels in the body with this CBC report. 

2. Haemoglobin Test

As it is the primary component of red blood cells, doctors ask to do this test to detect anaemia.

3. Hematocrit Test

It helps determine the percentage of red blood cells in your blood.

4. Reticulocyte Count 

Reticulocytes refer to immature red blood cells. This test helps determine whether the bone marrow is developing sufficient healthy red blood cells.

5. Peripheral Blood Smear

Doctors ask to do this test to evaluate red blood cell size and shape.

Anaemia Treatment

The treatment of anaemia depends on the underlying causes of this health condition. If it stems from another condition, your doctor will focus on managing that issue first. However, they may recommend specific treatments for anaemia, including medications, dietary supplements, and some advanced procedures.

Medications

Doctors may prescribe medicines such as Erythropoietin, Immunosuppressants, Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos), Voxelotor (Oxbryta), Crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo), L-glutamine oral powder (Endari), and more.

Dietary Supplements

Your healthcare professional may recommend iron supplements, folic acid supplements, and Vitamin B12 and B9 supplements for treating anaemia:

Procedures

In rare cases, doctors may recommend treatment options like blood transfusion, stem cell (bone marrow) transplant, oxygen therapy and surgery to treat internal bleeding that is causing anaemia.

Prevention

Some common types of anaemia, including iron-deficiency anaemia and vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia, are preventable by consuming iron-rich and vitamin B-rich foods. However, some forms of anaemia, such as sideroblastic anaemia or inherited disorders, you can not prevent. In these cases, it is better to visit a doctor. 

Final Thought

Anaemia, though common in India, can create severe consequences if you overlook this health condition. From weakness and body pain to more severe complications, its impact on daily life is undeniable. Understanding the anaemia symptoms, underlying causes, and available treatments is crucial to managing and even preventing this health condition. 

Whether through consuming a proper diet, taking supplements, or considering medical interventions, solutions exist. So, do not ignore the warning signs. Early diagnosis can make all the difference.