Anemia Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Red blood cells, sickle cell Red blood cells, elliptocytosis Show all 9 photos Anemia Definition Anemia is a condition where there is a lower than normal number of red blood cells in the blood, usually measured by a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying part of red blood cells. It gives these blood cells their red color. There are many types and potential causes of anemia. For information about a specific type of anemia, see one of the following articles: Anemia due to B12 deficiency Anemia due to folate deficiency Anemia due to iron deficiency Hemolytic anemia Hemolytic anemia due to G-6-PD deficiency Idiopathic aplastic anemia Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia Immune hemolytic anemia Megaloblastic anemia Pernicious anemia Secondary aplastic anemia Sickle cell anemia Causes, incidence, and risk factors The cause varies with the type of anemia. Potential causes include blood loss, poor diet, many diseases, medication reactions, and various problems with the bone marrow, where blood cells are made. Iron deficiency anemia is most common in women who have heavy menstrual periods. Risk factors include heavy periods, pregnancy, older age, and diseases that cause anemia. Symptoms Possible symptoms include: Fatigue Chest pain Shortness of breath Signs and tests The doctor will perform a physical examination, and will look for the presence of a pale complexion and rapid heart rate. Anemia can be confirmed by a red blood count or hemoglobin level. Other tests depend on the type of anemia. Treatment Treatment should be directed at the cause of the anemia. In some cases, blood transfusions and the medication erythropoietin will correct anemia. Expectations (prognosis) The outlook depends on the cause. Complications Severe anemia can cause low oxygen levels in vital organs such as the heart, and can lead to a heart attack. Continue reading this article

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Iron deficiency anemia (2 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Anemia is a condition where red blood cells are not providing adequate oxygen to body tissues. There are many types and causes of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red cells in the blood caused by too little iron. (See also Iron-deficiency anemia - children) Reviewer: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: Greg Juhn, M.T.P.W., David R. Eltz, Kelli A. Stacy. Previously reviewed by Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, FRCP(C), Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (9/11/2006).Date: 08/28/2007
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Iron deficiency anemia - children (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red blood cells, caused by a lack of iron. This article focuses on iron deficiency anemia in children. Reviewer: Rachel A. Lewis, MD, FAAP, Columbia University Pediatric Faculty Practice, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/15/2007
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Folate-deficiency anemia (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Folate-deficiency anemia is a decrease in red blood cells (anemia) caused by folate deficiency. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Pernicious anemia (1 Image) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Pernicious anemia is a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the body cannot properly absorb vitamin B12 from the gastrointestinal tract. Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells. Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia. See also: Anemia Reviewer: Stephen Grund, M.D. Ph.D., Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 08/27/2007
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Anemia - B12 deficiency (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
B12 deficiency anemia is a drop in the number of red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/14/2007
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Megaloblastic anemia (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Megaloblastic anemia is a blood disorder characterized by anemia, with red blood cells that are larger than normal. This condition usually results from a deficiency of folic acid or of vitamin B-12. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Hemolytic anemia (5 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hemolytic anemia is a condition where there are not enough red blood cells in the blood. It is caused by premature destruction of red blood cells. There are a number of specific types of hemolytic anemia, which are described individually. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Immune hemolytic anemia (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Immune hemolytic anemia is a disorder characterized by anemia due to premature destruction of red blood cells by the immune system. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/02/2006
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Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Idiopathic autoimmune hemolytic anemia is a drop in the number of red blood cells due to a problem with the body's defense (immune) system. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/06/2007
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Fanconi's anemia (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Fanconi's anemia is an inherited disease that mainly affects the bone marrow. It results in decreased production of all types of blood cells. Fanconi's anemia is different from Fanconi's syndrome, a rare kidney disorder in which a person loses nutrients through the urine. Reviewer: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/27/2007
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Anemia of chronic disease (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Anemia of chronic disease is a blood disorder that results from a medical condition that affects the production and lifespan of red blood cells. See also: Anemia Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/06/2007
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Idiopathic aplastic anemia (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Idiopathic aplastic anemia is a failure of the bone marrow to properly make all types of blood cells. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Secondary aplastic anemia (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Secondary aplastic anemia is a failure of the bone marrow to make enough blood cells. All blood cell types are affected. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Thalassemia (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thalassemias are inherited disorders characterized by abnormal production of hemoglobin. They result in low hemoglobin production, and excessive destruction of red blood cells. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 10/30/2006
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Congenital spherocytic anemia (3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Congenital spherocytic anemia is a disorder of the surface layer (membrane) of red blood cells. It leads to red blood cells that are shaped like spheres, and premature breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia. Reviewer: Rita Nanda, M.D., Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/27/2007
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Sickle cell anemia (7 Images) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Sickle cell anemia is a disease passed down through families in which red blood cells are an abnormal crescent shape. (Red blood cells are normally shaped like a disc) Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/26/2007
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Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Drug-induced immune hemolytic anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when a medicine tells the body's defensive (immune) system to attack red blood cells. It causes red blood cells to break down earlier than normal. See also: Hemolytic anemia Reviewer: Mark Levin, MD, Hematologist and Oncologist, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 04/01/2007
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Hemolytic anemia caused by chemicals and toxins (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Hemolytic anemia or destruction of red blood cells can be caused by factors other than disease. Possible chemical or physical causes may include: Anti-malaria drugs (quinolone compounds; Sulfones; Sulfonamides (sulfasalazine; Nitrofurantoin; Phenazopyridine; Pyridium; Intravenous water (not half-normal saline or normal saline; Arsenic; Metals (chromium/chromates, platinum salts, nickel compounds, copper, lead, cis-platinum; Snake bite (some snake venom contains hemolytic toxins. Reviewer: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 02/06/2007
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Aplastic Anemia & MDS: Treatment Options. in Health Observances - 1 year 242 days ago

In severe aplastic anemia, the bone marrow has not produced enough white blood cells (WBC) to protect against infection, so you will be advised to avoid cr... Email  |  Save

The Controversy Over Anemia Drugs (ESAs). in Tech Medicine - 1 year 103 days ago

In light of new information from recent studies, the FDA and major medical societies are reviewing their guidelines and are expected to issue revised guide... Email  |  Save

Aplastic Anemia and MDS: I of IV. in Health Observances - 1 year 246 days ago

Aplastic anemia means the bone marrow is empty of all cells and is an. and MDS( myelodysplastic syndromes. This involves rigorous treatment before and afte... Email  |  Save