Anaemia is a condition in which a person\'s blood is unable to transport enough oxygen to all the places it is needed around the body. This can happen for one of two reasons: first, that a person doesn\'t have enough red blood cells; and second, that their blood is low in the oxygen-carrying protein called haemoglobin. People with anaemia suffer from symptoms such as fatigue and shortness of breath, and may also have heart palpitations.
The most common cause of anaemia is deficiency in iron or other vitamins and minerals that are essential for the production of haemoglobin. This kind of anaemia is diagnosed with blood tests to check for haemoglobin levels, blood cell counts, and blood levels of iron, folate, and vitamin B12. When the condition is the result of iron deficiency, the typical anaemia treatment is dietary changes to include more iron-rich foods, or a dietary supplement to increase blood levels of iron. For people with a kind of anaemia called pernicious anaemia, treatment includes injections of vitamin B12.
Anaemia can have more serious causes, such as autoimmune disease, imbalanced hormone levels, infection, and certain types of cancer. For example, gastric and colon cancer and other cancers of the digestive system can cause internal bleeding which may lead to anaemia. In all of these cases, anaemia treatment can vary depending on the cause. In the short term, treatment may include dietary changes, and supplemental iron and other nutrients. In the long term, however, reversing the anaemia may require treating its underlying cause.
