Are you tired of feeling tired?
Are you easily fatigued? Do you have an unusually rapid heartbeat that is especially noticeable when you exercise?
Do you have dizziness, leg cramps, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath or a headache that are prevalent when you exercise?
If so, these symptoms may be caused by anemia, a condition that develops when the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells.
“It’s simply defined as a fall in hemoglobin below the typically accepted value for any given individual,” said Dr. John Adamson, clinical professor of medicine, hematology/oncology at the University of California, San Diego. “It’s a fall of 1 or 2 grams of hemoglobin below that person’s set point.”
Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.
More than 400 types of anemia exist, which are broken down into three main categories: anemia caused by blood loss; anemia caused by a decline in the production of red blood cells or problems in producing them; and anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells.
Anemia is most commonly caused by an iron deficiency, said Adamson.
“There are many causes, but anemia is most common in pregnant women, rapidly growing children — that is, those going through a big growth spurt — and the elderly,” he said. In fact, “15 to 20 percent of people over age 80 have anemia due to iron deficiency.”
Conditions associated with anemia that is caused by the decline in red blood cell production include bone marrow and stem cell problems, vitamin deficiency and more.
Anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells can be genetic or caused by infections, drugs, snake or spider venom, advanced liver disease, kidney disease, vascular grafts, chemical exposure, clotting disorders, severe hypertension and prosthetic heart valves.
Sickle cell anemia, for instance, is a disease passed down through families, usually those of African-American descent, according to the National Institutes of Health. The red blood cells which are normally shaped like a disc take on a sickle or crescent shape.
Almost all people with sickle cell anemia have painful episodes called crises. These can last from hours to days. Crises can cause pain in the lower back, leg, joints, and chest. Some people have one episode every few years. Others have many episodes each year. The crises can be severe enough to require a hospital stay.
Adamson said a formal anemia diagnosis is determined by lab tests on blood iron levels, a complete blood count (CBC), levels of B12 and folic acid, and specialized tests for more specific diagnoses or the detection of rare causes.
Adamson said he sees many anemic patients weekly, adding that the condition is treatable. Treatments can include oral iron supplements or intravenous iron treatments, which vary based on the type of anemia diagnosed.
He added that some forms of anemia are preventable with lifestyle changes or behavior modifications, such as avoiding chronic aspirin use, decreasing alcohol intake, taking iron supplements when needed and stopping smoking.