Anemia

Abstract

This paper will be about the common disease of anemia. In this paper I will cover what is anemia, symptoms, testing and screenings, treatments, and facts. It will stay focused on the different types of anemia.

What is anemia

Anemia is a blood condition; it occurs when blood has a lower than normal number of blood cells. Anemia also occurs when the red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a red protein that transports oxygen in the blood of vertebrates. When these two things of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin are present, a person’s body will not receive enough oxygen. Anemia is the most common blood disease. There are many different types of anemia, over hundreds of them. The most common types of anemia are, caused by, blood loss, decrease in red blood cell production, Iron-deficiency, vitamin-deficiency, bone marrow and stem cell problems, and destruction of red blood cells. Anemia caused by blood loss is when red blood cells begin to bleed, over a long period of time. The bleeding commonly comes from gastrointestinal conditions, using too many anti-inflammatory drugs, and in some women, from excessive menstruation or childbirth. With a decreased amount of blood cells, the body stops producing as many blood cells as needed, because it is lacking some things, such as vitamins/minerals. Iron-deficiency anemia occurs when a diet lacks iron, such as in vegetarians and vegans, donating blood too frequently, having digestive conditions, and also while women are breastfeeding. Vitamin-deficiency anemia is when the body is missing the vitamin B12 and folate. Those two vitamins are very important while the body is making new red blood cells. In bone marrow and stem problems, the main types of anemia are aplastic, thalassemia, and lead exposure. When the destruction of red blood cells is the issue, the red blood cells become very weak any cannot endure everyday routines.

Symptoms

Anemia has many different...