Term:
Anemia
Description:
Condition in which the hemoglobin content of the blood is below normal limits. It may be hereditary, congenital, or acquired. Basically, anemia results from a defect in the production of hemoglobin and its carrier, the red blood (e.g. production of abnormal hemoglobin, misshapen red blood cells, or blood loss (e.g., in hemorrhage after injury or in excessive menstrual flow). The most common cause is a defiency in iron, an element necessary for the formation of hemoglobin.
There are several types of anemia, including aplastic anemia, pernicious anemia, sickle-cell anemia, and thalassemia.
Symptoms:
Vary with the severity and cause of the anemia but may include fatigue, weakness, pallor, headache, dizziness, and anorexia.
Treatment:
Depends on the cause and severity and may include an iron-rich diet, iron supplements, blood transfusions, and the correction or elimination of any pathological conditions causing the anemia.
*You should always seek a professional physician's
advice before trying to administer any type of treatment.
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Please contact our Physician Referral Service
at (702) 383-1904.
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only. Consult your own physician, or visit a UMC Primary
Care, regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations
with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.
