Do you know what anemia means? Well, it is a blood disorder that is marked by an insufficient amount of the Hemoglobin in blood. Hemoglobin is a protein in RBCs that carries which are responsible for transporting oxygen through the body.
Individuals suffering from anemia used to exhibit some of the prominent symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, etc. These can be due to some the factors like nutritional deficiencies, inherited conditions, chronic diseases, and much more, leading to anemia. Lots of blood loss, disruption of RBCs, or failure of a generation of enough blood cells can also lead to Anemia.
In this article, we will uncover the possible signs and symptoms that you must look at to book an appointment and understand how an anemia profile test can disclose crucial information regarding our health.
Signs of Anemia
There are a few symptoms of anemia that one must look for. However, these signs often do varies according to the severity of this condition. Moreover, there are several internal factors associated to trigger this condition in an individual. A few common indications of this disorder include,
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue and weakness
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Pale skin
- Colder hands and feet
- Constant headaches
- Chest pain
Therefore, in case you are also experiencing any of these symptoms that are mentioned here, it’s time to consult with a healthcare professional immediately. This will help you to evaluate your concerns further based on the anemia blood test and get them diagnosed on the basis of an anemia blood test or other necessary tests that need to be performed according to the situation.
Causes of Anemia
There are several factors that tend to develop this condition such as inherited conditions, deficiencies, etc. Some of them show their effects in a shorter time frame whereas some factors take a long time to express. Some of the prominent causes of anemia are described here;
Deficiency of Iron:
It can be a major cause behind this disorder, usually prevalent amongst menstruating or pregnant females. Iron is an essential component for hemoglobin production that ultimately helps in oxygen transport. Low-iron rich diet, menstruation, & pregnancy can lead to iron deficiency.
Deficiency of Vitamins:
Considering some vitamin deficiencies like Vit B12 or some folate deficiencies also leads to anemia. It can be because pernicious anemia (An auto-immune condition, several medications, and loe diet of animal products can lead to this.
Chronic Diseases:
Long-term health conditions can negatively affect RBC production, for example, HIV or cancer. These can affect RBC production and sometimes cause loss of blood as well.
Inherited Conditions:
There are a few individuals that are actually born with genetic conditions such as Sickle Cell Anemia & Thalassemia, which can seriously affect hemoglobin production, or can lead to a decrease in the number of RBCs in the body.
Anemia Profile Test Results Interpretation
The anemia profile test is used to evaluate the shape, size and size, shape, and quantity of the RBCs. This help to determine the amount of iron, Vitamin B12, and folate in the blood. Along with this, various other important information is also uncovered by carrying out these tests such as;
The Anemia Type:
Based on the evaluation of the iron and the vitamin deficiency this test helps to determine what type of anemia is persisting in your body.
Anemia Severity:
By checking your blood’s internal attributes the test can determine the severity of anemia.
Cause of Anemia:
With the evaluation of the iron, Vitamin B12, and folate levels to evaluate the root cause of anemia.
Options for Treatment:
For choosing the appropriate test for the patient the test is very helpful.
In a Nutshell
As 5.6% of the US population fall under the anemics according to a study, hence, it is an important concern to consider it as a rapidly increasing health hazard. An anemia blood test can reveal numerous factors and causes and also discloses crucial information about the health of an individual like the type or the severity of anemia and the cause behind it.
This information collected through the anemia blood test plays a crucial role in identifying the best suitable course of diagnosis for the patient or the therapy as per the medical concerns. However, it is always necessary to get crucial medical advice from a healthcare professional once there are any noticeable symptoms of anemia. It will ease the process of diagnosis and decreases the severness that can occur due to delays.
