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Anaemia - an overview

Published by Bupa's health information team, February 2010.

This factsheet is for people who have anaemia, or who would like information about it.

Anaemia is when there are too few red blood cells or not enough haemoglobin in the blood.

About anaemia

Your blood is made up of a watery fluid called plasma and cells and cell fragments, which are produced in your bone marrow.

If you don't have enough red blood cells, or enough of the oxygen-carrying substance haemoglobin, you have anaemia.

Types of anaemia

There are many types of anaemia, which are categorised according to their cause, including iron deficiency, vitamin B12-deficiency, folate-deficiency and sickle cell disease. For more information on specific types of anaemia please see Related topics.

Symptoms of anaemia

Symptoms depend on which type of anaemia you have, but those common to most types of anaemia include:

These symptoms aren't always caused by anaemia but if you have them, visit your GP.

Other symptoms may depend on the underlying cause of anaemia.

Complications of anaemia

If anaemia isn't treated, there are a range of possible complications. For example, it can increase your risk of heart problems. There are different complications related to different types of anaemia.

Causes of anaemia

There are many possible causes of anaemia but they fall into the following three groups.

Loss of blood

You may develop anaemia if you lose a lot of blood, for example as a result of an injury or operation. Women who have heavy bleeding during their period can develop anaemia.

Not making enough red blood cells and/or haemoglobin

You may get anaemia if your bone marrow can't make enough good-quality red blood cells. This can happen if:

Your kidneys produce a hormone called erythropoeitin, which tells your bone marrow to make red blood cells. If you have long-term kidney problems, you may have anaemia due to a lack of erythropoietin.

Red blood cells broken down too quickly

Red blood cells normally live for about 120 days before they are broken down and replaced.

Red blood cells can be broken down too soon if you have an inherited condition that affects your red blood cells or haemoglobin. These conditions are called haemolytic anaemias. Some medicines may be involved in causing haemolytic anaemia.

People with a condition called sickle cell anaemia have red blood cells that are broken down too soon. Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited condition where your red blood cells become crescent-shaped, rather than round, due to the presence of an abnormal type of haemoglobin called 'haemoglobin S'. These cells don't survive as well as normal red blood cells.

Diagnosis of anaemia

Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history.

Your GP may ask you to have a blood test. A sample of your blood will be sent to a laboratory for testing, including a full blood count (FBC), which will give information about your haemoglobin levels and how many of each of the different types of blood cell you have. A FBC will also give information about the size of your red blood cells and the amount of haemoglobin each one contains.

The normal amount - or concentration - of haemoglobin is:

If your haemoglobin level is lower than the levels above, you may have anaemia.

The values for children vary by age - ask your GP for more advice.

You may need to have further tests, to help identify what has caused your anaemia. Further tests may include the following.

Your GP may refer you to a haematologist - a doctor who specialises in treating blood disorders - for some of these tests.

Treatment of anaemia

Treatment of anaemia depends on its underlying cause. You may need to improve your diet or your doctor may recommend that you take supplements of iron, folic acid or vitamin B12.

If you're severely anaemic because of a serious underlying health condition, you may need a blood transfusion.

If you have a condition such as chronic kidney disease, you may need to have injections of the hormone erythropoietin.

Prevention of anaemia

You can lower your chance of developing anaemia by eating a healthy, balanced diet. For most people, this will provide enough essential nutrients without the need to take supplements.

The main nutrients you need to make healthy red blood cells are listed below.

If you follow a vegan diet and don't eat animal products, or have a condition that affects how well you can absorb nutrients (e.g. coeliac disease), you may need to take nutrient supplements. Ask your GP or a dietitian for advice.

If you're pregnant, you're more likely to develop iron-deficiency anaemia. You will have regular blood tests at your antenatal appointments to check your haemoglobin levels. Your doctor or midwife will prescribe iron supplements if you need them.

Related topics

Further information

Sources

This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.

Publication date: February 2010.