Anemia

Do You Know What is Anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of reb blood cells. Anemia also can occur if your red blood cells don't contain enough heamoglobin. Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. This protein helps red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.

       If you have anemia, your body doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood. As a result, you may feel tired or weak. You also may have other symptoms, such as shortenss of breath, dizziness, or headaches. Severe or long-lasting anemia can damage you heart, brain and other organs in your body. Very severe anemia may even cause death. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)

For You information

Blood is made up of many parts, including red blood  cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma (fluid portion of blood). 

      Red blood cells are dics-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 also are made in the bone marrow. White blood cells helps 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.

   Anemia has three main causes: blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, or high rates of red blood cell destruction. These causes might be the result of disease, conditions or other factors.