Blood is made up of many parts, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets (PLATE-lets), and plasma (the fluid portion of blood). Red blood cells are disc-shaped and look like doughnuts without holes in the center. They carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body. These cells are made in the bone marrow—a sponge-like tissue inside the bones. White blood cells and platelets (PLATE-lets) also are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells help fight infection. Platelets stick together to seal small cuts or breaks on the blood vessel walls and stop bleeding. With some types of anemia, you may have low numbers of all three types of blood cells.

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Fitango Education
Health Topics
Anemia

2. 1
Overview
Blood is made up of many parts, including red
blood cells, white blood cells, platelets (PLATE-
lets), and plasma (the fluid portion of blood).

3. 2
Overview
Red blood cells are disc-shaped and look like
doughnuts without holes in the center. They carry
oxygen and remove carbon dioxide (a waste
product) from your body. These cells are made in
the bone marrow—a sponge-like tissue inside the
bones.

4. 3
Overview
White blood cells and platelets (PLATE-lets) also
are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells
help fight infection. Platelets stick together to seal
small cuts or breaks on the blood vessel walls and
stop bleeding. With some types of anemia, you
may have low numbers of all three types of blood
cells.

5. 4
Symptoms
The most common symptom of anemia is fatigue
(feeling tired or weak). If you have anemia, you
may find it hard to find the energy to do normal
activities.
Other signs and symptoms of anemia include:
-- Shortness of breath

6. 5
Symptoms
-- Dizziness
-- Headache
-- Coldness in the hands and feet
-- Pale skin
-- Chest pain

7. 6
Symptoms
These signs and symptoms can occur because your
heart has to work harder to pump oxygen-rich
blood through your body.
Mild to moderate anemia may cause very mild
symptoms or none at all.

8. 7
Symptoms
**Complications of Anemia**
Some people who have anemia may have
arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). Arrhythmias are
problems with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat.
Over time, arrhythmias can damage your heart and
possibly lead to heart failure.
Anemia also can damage other organs in your
body because your blood can't get enough oxygen
to them.

9. 8
Symptoms
**Complications of Anemia**
Anemia can weaken people who have cancer or
HIV/AIDS. This can make their treatments not work
as well.
Anemia also can cause many other health
problems. People who have kidney disease and
anemia are more likely to have heart problems.
With some types of anemia, too little fluid intake
or too much loss of fluid in the blood and body can
occur. Severe loss of fluid can be life threatening.

10. 9
Diagnosis
Your doctor will diagnose anemia based on your
medical and family histories, a physical exam, and
results from tests and procedures.
Because anemia doesn't always cause
symptoms, your doctor may find out you have it
while checking for another condition.

11. 10
Treatment
Treatment for anemia depends on the
type, cause, and severity of the condition.
Treatments may include dietary changes or
supplements, medicines, procedures, or surgery to
treat blood loss.

12. 11
Causes
The three main causes of anemia are:
-- Blood loss
-- Lack of red blood cell production
-- High rates of red blood cell destruction

13. 12
Causes
-- For some people, the condition is caused by
more than one of these factors.
**Blood Loss**

14. 13
Risks
Anemia is a common condition. It occurs in all
age, racial, and ethnic groups. Both men and
women can have anemia. However, women of
childbearing age are at higher risk for the condition
because of blood loss from menstruation.

15. 14
Risks
Anemia can develop during pregnancy due to low
levels of iron and folic acid (folate) and changes in
the blood. During the first 6 months of pregnancy,
the fluid portion of a woman's blood (the plasma)
increases faster than the number of red blood
cells. This dilutes the blood and can lead to
anemia.

16. 15
Risks
During the first year of life, some babies are at risk
for anemia because of iron deficiency. At-risk
infants include those who are born too early and
infants who are fed breast milk only or formula
that isn't fortified with iron. These infants can
develop iron deficiency by 6 months of age.

17. 16
Prevention
You might be able to prevent repeat episodes of
some types of anemia, especially those caused by
lack of iron or vitamins. Dietary changes or
supplements can prevent these types of anemia
from occurring again.

18. 17
Prevention
Treating anemia's underlying cause may prevent
the condition (or prevent repeat episodes). For
example, if medicine is causing your anemia, your
doctor may prescribe another type of medicine.

19. 18
Prevention
To prevent anemia from getting worse, tell your
doctor about all of your signs and symptoms. Talk
with your doctor about the tests you may need
and follow your treatment plan.You can't prevent
some types of inherited anemia, such as sickle cell
anemia. If you have an inherited anemia, talk with
your doctor about treatment and ongoing care.

20. 19
Living and Coping
Often, you can treat and control anemia. If
you have signs or symptoms of anemia, seek
prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment may increase your energy and activity
levels, improve your quality of

21. 20
Living and Coping
life, and help you live longer.
With proper treatment, many types of anemia
are mild and short term. However, anemia can be
severe, long lasting, or even
fatal when it's caused by an inherited or chronic
disease or trauma.

22. 21
Living and Coping
**Anemia
and Children/Teens**
Infants and young children have a greater
need for iron because of their rapid growth. Not
enough iron can lead to

23. 22
Living and Coping
**Anemia
anemia. Premature and low-birth-weight babies
often are watched closely for
anemia.
Talk with your child's doctor if you're
feeding your infant breast milk only or formula that
isn't fortified with iron,

24. 23
Living and Coping
**Anemia
especially after the child is 6 months old. Your
child's doctor may recommend
iron supplements.
Children who drink a lot of cow's milk also
are at risk for anemia. Cow's milk is low in the iron
needed for growth.

25. 24
Living and Coping
**Anemia
Most of the iron your child needs comes
from food. Talk with your child's doctor about a
healthy diet and good sources
of iron, vitamins B12 and C, and folic acid (folate).
Only give your child iron

26. 25
Living and Coping
**Anemia
supplements if the doctor prescribes them. You
should carefully follow instructions
on how to give your child these supplements.
If your child has anemia, his or her doctor
may ask whether the child has been exposed to
lead. Lead poisoning in children

27. 26
Living and Coping
**Anemia
has been linked to iron-deficiency anemia.
Teenagers also are at risk for anemia,
especially iron-deficiency anemia, because of their
growth spurts. Routine
screenings for anemia often are started in the teen
years.

28. 27
Living and Coping
**Anemia
Older children and teens who have certain
types of severe anemia might be at higher risk for
injuries or infections. Talk
with your child's doctor about whether your child
needs to avoid high-risk
activities, such as contact sports.

29. 28
Living and Coping
**Anemia
Girls begin to menstruate and lose iron
with each monthly period. Some girls and women
are at higher risk for anemia
due to excessive blood loss from menstruation or
other causes, low iron intake,
or a history of anemia. These girls and women may
need regular screenings and

30. 29
Living and Coping
**Anemia
followup for anemia.
**Anemia and Pregnant/Postchildbirth Women**
Anemia can occur during pregnancy due to a
lack of iron and folic acid and changes in the blood.
During the first 6 months

31. 30
Living and Coping
**Anemia
of pregnancy, the fluid portion of a woman's blood
(the plasma) increases
faster than the number of red blood cells. This
dilutes the blood and can lead
to anemia.
Severe anemia raises the risk of having a

32. 31
Living and Coping
**Anemia
premature or low-birth-weight baby. Thus,
pregnant women should be screened for
anemia during their first prenatal visits. They also
need routine followup as
part of prenatal care.
-- Women often are tested for anemia after

33. 32
Living and Coping
**Anemia
delivery (postpartum), especially if they had:
-- Anemia that continued during the last 3
months (third trimester) of pregnancy
-- A lot of blood loss during pregnancy,
childbirth, or after childbirth

34. 33
Living and Coping
**Anemia
-- Multiple births
-- Anemia and Older Adults
Chronic diseases, lack of iron, and/or
generally poor nutrition often cause anemia in
older adults. Also, in older

35. 34
Living and Coping
**Anemia
adults, anemia often occurs with other medical
problems. Thus, the signs and
symptoms of anemia might not be as clear or they
might be overlooked.
Contact your doctor if you have any signs
or symptoms of anemia. If you're diagnosed with
anemia, your doctor may:

36. 35
Living and Coping
**Anemia
-- Ask about your diet to find out whether
you're getting enough vitamins. He or she may
recommend vitamins or iron or
folic acid supplements.
-- Prescribe a man-made version of

37. 36
Living and Coping
**Anemia
erythropoietin if your anemia is the result of
cancer, kidney disease, or
treatments for these diseases. Erythropoietin is a
hormone that stimulates the
bone marrow to make red blood cells.
-- Recommend a blood transfusion if your

38. 37
Living and Coping
**Anemia
anemia is severe.

39. 38
Additional Resources
Medline Plus
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute