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.
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.
As per medical findings, there are over 400 different types of anaemia. Healthcare professionals are divided into three main groups. They are:
Take a closer look at these three primary types of anaemia, explore symptoms and more.
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:
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:
Some usual causes of iron deficiency anaemia are described here:
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:
Considering the causes of sickle cell anaemia occurs when a person inherits genetic mutations that affect the HBB gene.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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:
Other well-known types of anaemia are:
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:
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:
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:
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.
As it is the primary component of red blood cells, doctors ask to do this test to detect anaemia.
It helps determine the percentage of red blood cells in your blood.
Reticulocytes refer to immature red blood cells. This test helps determine whether the bone marrow is developing sufficient healthy red blood cells.
Doctors ask to do this test to evaluate red blood cell size and shape.
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.
Doctors may prescribe medicines such as Erythropoietin, Immunosuppressants, Hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos), Voxelotor (Oxbryta), Crizanlizumab-tmca (Adakveo), L-glutamine oral powder (Endari), and more.
Your healthcare professional may recommend iron supplements, folic acid supplements, and Vitamin B12 and B9 supplements for treating anaemia:
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.
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.
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.
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