Is it possible to prevent anemia?

Anemia

What is blood?

Blood is the fundamental fluid that sustains life in humans and animals. It circulates through the heart and blood vessels (arteries and veins), transporting to all body tissues the elements they need to perform their functions: nutrients, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen.

Human blood is composed primarily of plasma and blood cells. Plasma represents 55% of the total volume and is made up of water, proteins, and inorganic salts.

The remaining 45% is made up of red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), which defend the body against bacterial and viral infections, and platelets, which prevent bleeding, favoring blood clotting.

The amount of blood in a person's body depends on their sex, age, weight, and height. But in general terms, an adult has between 4.5 and 6 liters of blood, 7% of its weight.

What are red blood cells and hemoglobin?

Red blood cells, or red blood cells, are blood cells that are produced in the bone marrow. Its function is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, as well as to remove carbon dioxide from peripheral tissues and expel it through the lungs. Both oxygen and carbon dioxide circulates through the blood attached to hemoglobin, a protein present in red blood cells.

What is anemia?

The term anemia refers to a set of symptoms and signs that occur due to a decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood or a decrease in hemoglobin levels. When the body produces fewer red blood cells or the hemoglobin level drops, it does not receive enough oxygen and the symptoms of anemia appear.

What types of anemia are there?

There are many kinds of anemia, as it can be the manifestation of a hematological disease or a symptom of many other pathologies. Many of these signs are mild, short-lived, and easily treated, while others are severe, last longer, and if left untreated, can be fatal. Some of the types of anemia are:

· Iron deficiency anemia: occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce healthy red blood cells and enough hemoglobin. In this case, the body begins to use its iron reserves, which are depleted in a short time. As a consequence, the body produces fewer red blood cells and, in addition, these are smaller, so they contain less hemoglobin than necessary.

· Aplastic anemia: it is a pathology that can be hereditary or acquired after birth and that prevents the production of enough red blood cells. Babies and children who suffer from it frequently require blood transfusions.

· Those types of anemia in which, due to acquired or hereditary factors, the body destroys red blood cells with excessive speed. These include sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemolytic anemia.

· Folic acid deficiency anemia: Folic acid is necessary for the formation and growth of red blood cells, although the body is not able to store it in large quantities. This type of anemia is more common in pregnant women, but it can also be due to other causes (alcoholism, not eating fresh fruits and vegetables, or overcooking vegetables). During pregnancy, the baby uses the mother's meager stores of folate to grow properly. If the pregnant mother is not given a folic acid supplement, she may suffer from anemia and the child may suffer significant growth problems.

· Pernicious anemia: Red blood cells decrease because the intestine cannot adequately absorb vitamin B12, necessary for its production, growth, and function. This type of anemia appears when there are significant problems in the stomach or because our immune system affects the cells that produce intrinsic factors (essential to be able to absorb vitamin B12).

· Sickle cell anemia: It is an anemia with a significant hereditary component. Hemoglobin is different and this causes it to change the shape of the red blood cells, which in turn causes them to be destroyed sooner and have their transport function altered.

· Fanconi anemia: this is a rare disease, characteristic of childhood due to the appearance of anemia, infectious and hemorrhagic episodes that are usually persistent and severe. This is because all three sets of blood cells decrease at the same time: red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Who does anemia affect?

Anemia is a very frequent pathology that can occur at any age. It is estimated that it affects 24.8% of the world population, according to WHO data.

Both men and women can suffer from it, but iron deficiency anemia is the most frequent, and it occurs more in women of childbearing age. According to the World Digestive System Foundation, approximately one in five women of childbearing age suffer from a deficiency in iron stores and up to 7% suffer from iron deficiency anemia related to blood loss during menstruation.

What causes anemia?

There are three main causes of anemia: blood loss, the lack or insufficient production of red blood cells, and the increased rate at which red blood cells are destroyed or lost:

· Blood loss. It is the most common cause, especially in the case of iron deficiency anemia. This blood loss may be due to menstrual periods; regular intake of medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen; bleeding from the digestive or urinary systems; Surgery; trauma; and cancer.

· Lack of production of red blood cells. It can be caused by acquired situations such as a poor diet, abnormal concentrations of certain hormones (such as erythropoietin), pregnancy, and some diseases such as kidney failure, cancer, or AIDS. It can also occur in hereditary diseases such as aplastic anemia.

· Increased speed of destruction of red blood cells. An enlarged spleen or inherited diseases such as sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and hemolytic anemia are some of the possible causes. In the specific case of iron deficiency anemia, the cause of the disease is iron deficiency which, in turn, can be caused by blood loss, pregnancy, a diet poor in this mineral, or diseases that prevent iron absorption. like celiac disease.

What factors increase the risk of suffering from it?

As we have described previously, there are many types of anemia and each one has risk factors that increase the possibility of developing it. In general, we can say that the general causes of anemia are problems of malnutrition/malnutrition, pregnancy, hereditary factors, chronic, autoimmune diseases, or treatment with certain drugs.

Factors such as following a diet low in iron, vitamins, or minerals increase the risk of suffering from anemia; blood loss caused by surgery or injury; and prolonged or serious pathologies such as kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or AIDS; inflammatory bowel conditions (including Crohn's disease); liver disease; heart failure; and thyroid pathologies.

Likewise, prolonged infections and genetic factors such as a family history of hereditary anemia increase the chances of developing the disease. Pregnant women or women with heavy menstrual periods, premature babies or those born with low birth weight, and children between 1 and 2 years of age who do not follow a healthy diet and do not supplement it with iron supplements are also more likely to suffer from anemia.

Also, people who have excluded meat from their diet and do not eat other iron-rich foods, as well as frequent blood donors, are at higher risk. Finally, older people and adults who suffer from internal bleeding from conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, or cancer are more likely to suffer from this condition.

What are the symptoms of anemia?

The symptoms of anemia vary depending on the speed with which the disease appears, the severity of the disease, and the body's response capacity, especially at the cardiovascular level. The main ones are:

· Paleness: it is one of the most characteristic signs and it occurs as a consequence of the closure of the blood vessels in the skin, hands, and feet,... and due to the decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.

· Asthenia: feeling very tired is another symptom closely linked to this disease.

· Dyspnea: the subjective sensation of lack of air.

· Muscle fatigue: appears when making even small efforts.

· Tachycardia and palpitations: they are constant in cases of moderate or intense anemia, while in slow-onset chronic anemia, the only appreciable sign may be light murmurs (noise made by blood leaving the heart). If the anemia is very intense, very rapid breathing and even loss of consciousness are added.

· Neurological disorders: refer to vision disturbances or headaches. When the anemia is very severe, signs of cerebral hypoxia (drowsiness), dizziness, and even a coma may appear.

· Neuromuscular manifestations: consist of changes in behavior, headaches, dizziness, visual disturbances, insomnia, inability to concentrate, and sometimes disorientation.

· Alterations of the menstrual rhythm: the existence of abundant rules is the most frequent cause of anemia in young women, although it is usually moderate anemia. However, when the anemia is more intense, a decrease in the menstrual rhythm is usually appreciated. What happens is that faced with the decrease in hemoglobin, the body reacts by decreasing, or even canceling, blood loss.

· Renal alterations: retention occurs that can cause the appearance of edema or swelling in the legs.

· Digestive disorders: consist of lack of appetite, nausea, and sometimes constipation.

What complications can it cause?

Severe or prolonged anemia can cause damage to the heart, brain, and other body organs because the blood is unable to carry enough oxygen to the tissues. For example, this disease can cause arrhythmias that, over time, can damage the heart and eventually lead to heart failure.

Anemia can also debilitate people with cancer or HIV infection and make it difficult to treat them. And in extreme cases, it can be lethal.

If left untreated, severe iron deficiency anemias can also lead to infections and growth problems in children and babies. During pregnancy, iron deficiency anemia is associated with premature births and low birth weight babies, as long as they are not treated.

How is anemia diagnosed and treated?

Anemia is normally diagnosed with a medical examination and a blood test that includes complete blood counts, to determine, among other values, the levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells, as well as their color and average size. The patient's medical and family history is also taken into account. Other additional tests can be endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ultrasound.

Once the disease is diagnosed, the doctor will prescribe the appropriate treatment, the objective of which will be to increase the number of red blood cells or the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.

In the case of anemia due to vitamin or mineral deficiency, the doctor will prescribe oral intake of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid supplements. When it is due to significant blood loss, a transfusion will be performed. And in more specific cases (such as hereditary syndromes) bone marrow transplantation can be considered. In any case, it is necessary to consult with the primary care doctor or specialist (hematology specialist) so that they can indicate the most appropriate anemia treatment for your case.

Another goal of treatment may be to palliate the underlying disease or cause of the anemia. For example, the specialist may prescribe medications such as oral contraceptives to lighten menstrual flow, antibiotics to treat ulcers or surgery to remove polyps or tumors.

Why is iron important for health?

Iron is an essential trace mineral for the body, as it is involved in the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells, as well as certain enzymes. Our body accumulates iron stores in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.

Nutrition experts recommend consuming at least 8 milligrams of iron per day for men and postmenopausal women, and 18 milligrams of iron per day for premenopausal women. Vegetarian men and women should practically double these amounts since the body absorbs iron from plants to a lesser extent than that present in animal tissues.

10 tips to prevent and deal with anemia

Hereditary anemias cannot be prevented, but those produced by a deficiency of iron or vitamins can be avoided if a series of simple recommendations are followed:

1. Follow a varied diet with a little of everything.

A balanced diet from all food groups ensures that we have a sufficient amount of iron because not all the iron present in food is absorbed in the same way. In fact, it is estimated that only 10-15% of the iron in the diet is absorbed by the intestine. Thus, approximately 30% of the iron in foods of animal origin (pork, chicken and turkey, red meat, shellfish and mollusks, eggs, and liver) is absorbed, while that of plant foods (spinach, chard, and peas) is absorbed with more difficulty. In addition, there are some foods that it is preferable not to take after we have eaten others that are rich in iron: milk, egg yolk, certain legumes or whole grains, coffee, tea, cocoa, or soy protein. A) Yes,

2. Eat foods with iron daily.

Iron is found in many foods, such as lean red meats (veal, beef); shellfish (cockles, clams, and mussels); dried fruits (walnuts, pistachios, toasted almonds); liver; sesame, green leafy vegetables (cress, chard, spinach); legumes (lentils, chickpeas, peas, lentil sprouts); or whole grain products: wheat, bread, rice, oat bread).

3. Incorporate citrus foods into your diet.

A good option is orange or tangerine juices, and also broccoli, kiwi, and melon, which are appropriate not so much for vitamin C but for citric acid. These foods improve iron absorption.

4. Don't forget vitamin B12.

The deficiency of this vitamin can cause pernicious anemia, so we must also ensure that it is present in our diet. We can find it in beef, poultry and fish, eggs and dairy, and any food enriched with it, such as vegetarian burgers.

5. Redouble your efforts if you don't eat meat.

Vegetarians should keep in mind that iron from plant sources is not as easily absorbed by the body as iron from meat. Therefore, they must consume almost twice as much iron in their day-to-day and incorporate foods such as whole grains, green leafy vegetables, beans and lentils, tofu, and nuts.

6. Take precautions if you are pregnant and bet on breast milk.

Iron nutritional needs double during pregnancy, so women in this state should follow a diet rich in iron, vitamin C, and folic acid. In these cases, the doctor usually prescribes prenatal vitamins that include, above all, iron and folic acid. After giving birth, it is advisable to feed the baby exclusively with breast milk during the first six months of life, since her iron is better absorbed by children than that cow's milk. If this is not possible, an alternative to prevent anemia in babies is iron-fortified milk.

7. Sport yes, but without lowering your guard.

Physical exercise is always recommended, but if you practice it intensely, you should follow a balanced diet rich in iron more than ever. Above all, long-distance runners, who sometimes suffer from so-called runner's anemia, should be alert.

8. Avoid self-diagnosis and go to the doctor.

Even if we feel weak and think we have anemia, we should go to the doctor instead of starting to take food supplements or vitamins for anemia or on our own, because we risk iron poisoning and because, if anemia exists, it may be caused for some serious problem that requires a different treatment.

9. Caution with the consumption of anti-inflammatories.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen should not be abused as they can irritate the stomach lining and cause a bleeding ulcer. Remember that internal bleeding decreases the concentration of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood.

10. Follow medical recommendations when taking nutritional supplements.

When the specialist prescribes iron or vitamin supplements, we must carefully respect the administration and dosage guidelines indicated. Even if we start to feel better, we should not abandon the treatment halfway. Only 8% of the iron taken orally is absorbed into the bloodstream, so the body needs at least 3-6 months to build up its stores.