Team members

Names / Roles:

• [Jia Yee]      (Leader)

• [Brian]      (Editor)
• [Matthew]      (Researcher)
• [Karthik]      (Researcher)

Meaning / Definition

Anemia is a condition in which you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your tissues. Having anemia may make you feel tired and weak.

There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Loss of blood is the most common cause of anemia. Anemia can be temporary or long term, and it can range from mild to severe.

Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements to undergoing medical procedures. You may be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet.

See your doctor if you suspect you have anemia because anemia can be a sign of serious illnesses.

Causes and Effects

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1) include a description of the condition(s)  or situation(s) causing the disorder or disease;

2) include a description of the effect(s), outcome(s) or impact(s) on the patients' lives as a result of having the disorder or disease. 

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The three main causes of anemia are:

• Blood loss
• Lack of red blood cell production
• High rates of red blood cell destruction

Blood Loss

Blood loss is the most common cause of anemia, especially iron-deficiency anemia. Blood loss can be short term or persist over time.

Heavy menstrual periods or bleeding in the digestive or urinary tract can cause blood loss. Surgery, trauma, or cancer also can cause blood loss.

If a lot of blood is lost, the body may lose enough red blood cells to cause anemia.

Lack of Red Blood Cell Production

Both acquired and inherited conditions and factors can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells. "Acquired" means you aren't born with the condition, but you develop it. "Inherited" means your parents passed the gene for the condition on to you.

Acquired conditions and factors that can lead to anemia include poor diet, abnormal hormone levels, some chronic (ongoing) diseases, and pregnancy.

Aplastic anemia also can prevent your body from making enough red blood cells. This condition can be acquired or inherited

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/anemia/causes

Signs and Symptoms

<span style="color: #3366ff;" _mce_style="color: #3366ff;">Many cases of anemia are considered mild, but even mild anemia can cause symptoms and may require treatment. More severe forms are less common but can lead to a host of complications, some of them quite serious, such as organ damage or heart failure. </span>
<span style="color: #3366ff;" _mce_style="color: #3366ff;">Symptoms of anemia include:</span>

• Fatigue(Fatigue or tiredness should be distinguished from words like sleepiness or drowsiness. Fatigue is a perceived lack of energy. It may represent mental or physical exhaustion.)

• Dizziness or lightheadedness                                                                 

Prevention and Treatment

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1) include a description of the steps to prevent getting the disorder or disease (if it cannot be prevented, do explain why);

2) include a description of the treatment of the disorder or disease (if it cannot be treated, do explain why) or the steps to lessen its signs or symptoms. 

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Choose a vitamin-rich diet

Many types of anemia can't be prevented. However, you can help avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by choosing a diet that includes a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including:

• Iron. Iron-rich foods include beef and other meats, beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables, and dried fruit.
• Folate. This nutrient, and its synthetic form folic acid, can be found in citrus fruits and juices, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables, legumes, and fortified breads, cereals and pasta.
• Vitamin B-12. This vitamin is found naturally in meat and dairy products. It's also added to some cereals and soy products, such as soy milk.
• Vitamin C. Foods containing vitamin C — such as citrus fruits, melons and berries — help increase iron absorption.

Consider genetic counseling if you have a family history of anemia

If you have a family history of an inherited anemia, such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, talk to your doctor and possibly a genetic counselor about your risk and what risks you may pass on to your children.

Anemia treatment depends on the cause.

• Iron deficiency anemia.This form of anemia is treated with changes in your diet and iron supplements.

  If the underlying cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood — other than from menstruation — the source of the bleeding must be located and stopped. This may involve surgery.

• Vitamin deficiency anemias. Folic acid and vitamin C deficiency anemias are treated with dietary supplements and increasing these nutrients in your diet. If your digestive system has trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 from the food you eat, you may receive vitamin B-12 injections.
• Anemia of chronic disease. There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of synthetic erythropoietin, a hormone normally produced by your kidneys, may help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.
• Aplastic anemia. Treatment for this anemia may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You may need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow is diseased and can't make healthy blood cells.
• Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of these various diseases can include simple medication, chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.

• Hemolytic anemias. Managing hemolytic anemias includes avoiding suspect medications, treating related infections and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which may be attacking your red blood cells.

  Depending on the severity of your anemia, a blood transfusion or plasmapheresis may be necessary. Plasmapheresis is a type of blood-filtering procedure. In certain cases, removal of the spleen can be helpful.

• Sickle cell anemia. Treatment for this anemia may include the administration of oxygen, pain-relieving drugs, and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors also may recommend blood transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics.

  A bone marrow transplant may be an effective treatment in some circumstances. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia.

• Thalassemia. This anemia may be treated with blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, removal of the spleen (splenectomy), a bone marrow transplant or a another drug.

Link to Other Illnesses or Diseases

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References

Plagiarism is a strongly discouraged.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/basics/definition/con-20026209

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/basics/treatment/con-20026209

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/basics/prevention/con-20026209