Severe anemia range

There are many forms of anemia. Each has its own cause. Anemia can be short term or long term. It can range from mild to severe. Anemia can be a warning sign of serious illness. Treatments for anemia might involve taking supplements or having medical procedures. Eating a healthy diet might prevent some forms of anemia. Symptoms Anemia symptoms depend on the cause and how bad the anemia is. Anemia can be so mild that it causes no symptoms at first. But symptoms usually then occur and get worse as the anemia gets worse. If another disease causes the anemia, the disease can mask the anemia symptoms. Then a test for another condition might find the anemia. Certain types of anemia have symptoms that point to the cause. Possible symptoms of anemia include: • Tiredness. • Weakness. • Shortness of breath. • Pale or yellowish skin, which might be more obvious on white skin than on Black or brown skin. • Irregular heartbeat. • Dizziness or lightheadedness. • Chest pain. • Cold hands and feet. • Headaches. When to see a doctor Make an appointment with your health care provider if you're tired or short of breath and don't know why. Low levels of the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen, called hemoglobin, is the main sign of anemia. Some people learn they have low hemoglobin when they donate blood. If you're told that you can't donate because of low hemoglobin, make a medical appointment. Causes Anemia occurs when the blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin or red blood cells. Th...

Share on Pinterest Getty Images/mixetto Anemia happens when the level of red blood cells in your body is too low. Red blood cells are needed to carry oxygen to all the cells in your body. In most cases, anemia can be easily diagnosed with specific blood tests. These tests look at factors such as how many red blood cells you have and the health of your blood cells. This information is then used to confirm a diagnosis of anemia. This article takes a closer look at the types of tests that can be used to diagnose anemia and what the results mean. There are a few common blood tests that can be used to diagnose Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common blood tests that are used to diagnose anemia. Complete blood count A A CBC measures the following levels in your blood: • • • • platelets When it’s used for anemia, doctors pay particularly close attention to your red blood cell and hemoglobin levels. Another value that’s usually shown on a CBC, which may help diagnose anemia, is mean corpuscular volume. If this value is low, it may indicate a Iron panel Sometimes anemia is caused by an An iron panel typically includes several lab values, including: • • serum iron • transferrin saturation • These values may help determine whether the cause of anemia is iron deficiency or chronic inflammation. Reticulocyte count A For instance, if your CBC results show you have a low red blood cell count, but your reticulocyte count shows you have a high immature red blood cell count, it ...

Ferritin is a blood protein that stores iron. A ferritin blood test can indicate if iron levels are high or low. Low levels can indicate anemia, while high levels may be a sign of hemochromatosis or another health condition. Low ferritin levels may indicate an iron deficiency. While not every case of High ferritin levels can occur with an Treatment options will depend on why the ferritin levels are too high or too low. Treating the underlying condition may improve the ferritin levels. This article looks at ferritin blood tests, what the different ferritin blood levels may mean, and how to increase or decrease ferritin levels. Share on Pinterest Reza Estakhrian/Getty Images The ferritin blood test Ferritin is a protein that stores iron inside cells. Iron plays a critical role in several metabolic processes including carrying oxygen throughout the body and moving electrons within cells. When a person shows signs of having too much or too little iron, a ferritin blood test can help diagnose or rule out certain medical conditions. These conditions • iron-deficiency • • certain • • Additionally, doctors may order ferritin blood tests to monitor chronic health conditions, such as Other tests relating to iron • Complete blood count (CBC): Tests the levels of all parts of the blood, as well as the size of cells. • Hemoglobin: Test levels of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. • Hematocrit: Measures the proportion of ...

Anemia of chronic disease happens when you have an autoimmune disease or other illness lasts longer than three months and that causes inflammation. Chronic inflammation can affect your body’s ability to use iron needed to make enough red blood cells. Anemia happens when you don’t have enough red blood cells. Overview What is anemia of chronic disease? Who is affected by anemia of chronic disease? Like its name, anemia of chronic disease may affect anyone who has a chronic illness. Anyone who has a chronic illness may develop anemia of chronic disease. That said, most of the people who have this condition are age 65 and older. Studies indicate about 1 million people in the United States age 65 and older have anemia of chronic disease. Diseases that may cause anemia of chronic disease include: • • • • What autoimmune diseases cause anemia of chronic disease? The following autoimmune diseases may cause anemia of chronic disease: • • • • • Inflammatory bowel disease ( • • Any type of infection. What conditions may cause anemia of chronic disease? Anemia of chronic disease is linked to: • Any type of infection. • How common is this condition? It's the second most common type of anemia, after iron-deficiency anemia. Symptoms and Causes What are the symptoms of anemia of chronic disease? Anemia of chronic disease symptoms are like symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia. Not everyone who has anemia of chronic disease will notice symptoms. Some people may only notice symptoms when they...

Your RBCs contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein that carries oxygen throughout your body. When you don’t have enough of these cells, or when they’re not functioning as they should, you can feel low in energy, and you may also have other symptoms, such as feeling cold all the time, headaches, and dizziness. • Malnutrition due to a diet low in vitamin B12, iron, or protein • Gastrointestinal (GI) disease that leads to impaired absorption of dietary nutrients • Rapid bleeding after an injury • Surgical blood loss • Slow, chronic blood loss due to gastrointestinal bleeding, bladder disease, or • Congenital (present at birth) RBC disorders, such as • • Chronic liver or kidney disease • Lead exposure, such as from lead paint or contaminated water • Infections, such as Some of these conditions, like traumatic blood loss, cause sudden and severe anemia. For example, some types of cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, may worsen rapidly, leading to an abrupt onset of anemia. In contrast, lead toxicity or liver disease can progress slowly, leading to a gradual progression of anemia. It is never safe to leave anemia untreated. If you develop any signs of anemia, such as pale skin, headaches, dizziness, or fatigue, you should make an appointment to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible. Blood tests can help Blood tests for anemia include: • • • Further tests may be done to look for the underlying cause. Signs of Severe Anemia Anemia can range in severity. Even mild anemi...