Anemia

Anemia

Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues.

Other types of anemia include:

* Anemia due to B12 deficiency : low in red blood cell due to the lack of vitamin B12.

* Anemia due to folate deficiency : decrease due to the lack of folate (type of vitamin B).

* Anemia due to iron deficiency : does not have enough healthy red blood due to the lack of iron.

* Anemia of chronic disease : does not have enough healthy red blood due to long-term chronic medical condition.

* Hemolytic anemia : does not have enough healthy red blood due to the destroying of the blood cells earlier than normal.

* Idiopathic a plastic anemia : is a condition in which the bone marrow fails to properly make blood cells.

* Megaloblastic anemia : is results from inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell production.

* Pernicious anemia : decrease in red blood cells that the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12.

* Sickle cell anemia : is passed down through families in which the blood cells form an abnormal sickle or crescent.

* Thalassemia : is passed down through families in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin.

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Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Although many parts of the body help make red blood cells, most of the work is done in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of bones that helps form blood cells.

Healthy red blood cells last between 90 and 120 days. Parts of your body then remove old blood cells. A hormone called erythropoietin made in your kidneys signals your bone marrow to make more red blood cells.

Hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells. It gives red blood cells their red color. People with anemia do not have enough hemoglobin.

The body needs certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to make enough red blood...