Complications of anemia

What is anemia in children? Anemia is a common problem in children. About 20% of children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with anemia at some point. A child who has anemia does not have enough red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a type of protein that allows red blood cells to carry oxygen to other cells in the body. There are many types of anemia. Your child may have 1 of these: • Iron deficiency anemia.This is not enough iron in the blood. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin. This is the most common cause of anemia. • Megaloblastic anemia.This is when red blood cells are too large from a lack of folic acid or vitamin B-12. One type of megaloblastic anemia is pernicious anemia. In this type, there is a problem absorbing vitamin B-12, important to making red blood cells. • Hemolytic anemia.This is when red blood cells are destroyed. There are many different causes, such as serious infections or certain medicines. • Sickle cell anemia.This is a type of hemoglobinopathy, an inherited type of anemia with abnormally-shaped red blood cells. • Cooley's anemia (thalassemia). This is another inherited type of anemia with abnormal red blood cells. • Aplastic anemia.This is failure of the bone marrow to make blood cells. What causes anemia in a child? Anemia has 3 main causes: • Loss of red blood cells • Inability to make enough red blood cells • Destruction of red blood cells Decreased red blood cells or hemoglobin levels may be due to: • Inherited red blood cell defects • Inf...

Overview Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia. With menorrhagia, you can't maintain your usual activities when you have your period because you have so much blood loss and cramping. If you dread your period because you have such heavy menstrual bleeding, talk with your doctor. There are many effective treatments for menorrhagia. Symptoms Signs and symptoms of menorrhagia may include: • Soaking through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours • Needing to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow • Needing to wake up to change sanitary protection during the night • Bleeding for longer than a week • Passing blood clots larger than a quarter • Restricting daily activities due to heavy menstrual flow • Symptoms of anemia, such as tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath When to see a doctor Seek medical help before your next scheduled exam if you experience: • Vaginal bleeding so heavy it soaks at least one pad or tampon an hour for more than two hours • Bleeding between periods or irregular vaginal bleeding • Any vaginal bleeding after menopause Fibroid locations There are three major types of uterine fibroids. Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity. Subs...