• is a decrease in number of red blood cells (RBCs) or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood.^[1][2] However, it can include decreased oxygen-binding ability of each hemoglobin molecule due to deformity or lack in numerical development as in some other types of hemoglobin deficiency.
• Because hemoglobin (found inside RBCs) normally carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, anemia leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in organs. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences.
• the most common disorder of the blood.
• classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical spectra, to mention a few. The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis).
• There are two major approaches: the "kinetic" approach which involves evaluating production, destruction and loss,^[3] and the "morphologic" approach which groups anemia by red blood cell size.
• The morphologic approach uses a quickly available and low cost lab test as its starting point (the MCV).
• Most commonly, people with anemia report non-specific symptoms of a feeling of weakness, or fatigue, general malaise and sometimes poor concentration.
• They may also report dyspnea (shortness of breath) on exertion.
• In very severe anemia, the body may compensate for the lack of oxygen-carrying capability of the blood by increasing cardiac output.
• The patient may have symptoms related to this, such as palpitations, angina (if preexisting heart disease is present), intermittent claudication of the legs, and symptoms of heart failure.
• exhibited may include pallor (pale skin, mucosal linings and nail beds) but this is not a reliable sign.

• specific causes of anemia, e.g., koilonychia (in iron deficiency), jaundice (when anemia results from abnormal break down of red blood cells — in hemolytic anemia), bone deformities (found in thalassemia major) or leg ulcers (seen in sickle-cell disease).

   
• In severe anemia, there may be signs of a hyperdynamic circulation: tachycardia (a fast heart rate), bounding pulse, flow murmurs, and cardiac ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement). There may be signs of heart failure.
• Chronic anemia may result in behavioral disturbances in children as a direct result of impaired neurological development in infants, and reduced scholastic performance in children of school age.
• Restless legs syndrome is more common in those with iron-deficiency anemia.
• Less common symptoms may include swelling of the legs or arms, chronic heartburn, vague bruises, vomiting, increased sweating, and blood in stool.
• Anemia is typically diagnosed on a complete blood count.
• Apart from reporting the number of red blood cells and the hemoglobin level, the automatic counters also measure the size of the red blood cells by flow cytometry, which is an important tool in distinguishing between the causes of anemia.
• Examination of a stained blood smear using a microscope can also be helpful, and is sometimes a necessity in regions of the world where automated analysis is less accessible.
• Mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia is treated by oral iron supplementation with ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, or ferrous gluconate.
• When taking iron supplements, it is very common to experience stomach upset and/or darkening of the feces. The stomach upset can be alleviated by taking the iron with food; however, this decreases the amount of iron absorbed. Vitamin C aids in the body's ability to absorb iron, so taking oral iron supplements with orange juice is of benefit.
• Vitamin supplements given orally (folic acid) or intramuscularly (vitamin B-12) will replace specific deficiencies
• In severe cases of anemia, or with ongoing blood loss, a blood transfusion may be necessary

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• Treating Anemia

   

  2 billion people suffer from anemia

   

  It's the most common reason why doctors give patient

• 2 billion people suffer from anemia

   

  It's the most common reason why doctors give patients blood transfusions
• Folate-deficiency anemia (also called megaloblastic anemia) is a deficiency in red blood cells (anemia) due to a lack of folate (vitamin B9).

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• The severity of anemia is measured by a person’s hemoglobin level or hematocrit level.
• A patient’s hemoglobin level can drop for several reasons, including nutritional problems, infections, chronic diseases, menstruation, blood loss, or surgery, to name a few.
• Anemia is common in patients who have experienced major blood loss from physical trauma, those who are chronically ill, or those who have recently undergone major surgery.¹ Blood transfusions are common in these settings and may save lives by quickly increasing a patient’s blood volume and raising the hemoglobin level.

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   Chronic anemia may result in behavioral disturbances in children as a direct result of impaired neurological development in infants, and reduced scholastic performance in children of school age. Behavioral disturbances may even surface as an attention deficit disorder.
• Anemia affects 20% of all females of childbearing age in the United States.
• anemia will make you very tired and slugess all the time especially sleepy, i take a b-12 shot every week from my doctor to help me, you also may get dizzy from it, when you get up fast.
• the term "side effect" does not apply to anemia. the effects of anemia are weakness, low energy, getting tired real fast

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