Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have sufficient circulating red blood cells that are necessary in transporting oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Although there are many different types of anemia, the most common cause of anemia is due to excessive blood loss, leading to a medical condition commonly called iron-deficiency anemia (IDA).
Individuals affected by anemia frequently complain of non-specific symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and inability to concentrate.
They may also complain of shortness of breath, rapid pulse (palpitation), and symptoms of angina (a heart condition) such as chest pressure and tightness.
Some patients with anemia, if the condition is severe, may appear pale, and found to have a rapid heart rate.
Anemia is typically diagnosed with blood test called complete blood count or CBC.
This test can reveal if there is a drop in the number of red blood cells in the blood and a reduction in hemoglobin that is needed to carry oxygen.
Other tests that are frequently used in diagnosing anemia may include serum iron, ferritin, and iron binding capacity.
Although there are many causes of anemia, the most common type of anemia is called iron-deficiency anemia, is caused by loss of blood.
The most frequent cause of iron-deficiency anemia is due to blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract.
Of course, for young women of child-bearing age, menstruation can explain a mild degree of iron-deficiency anemia.
In iron-deficiency anemia, particularly in patients who are older than the age of 50, a full evaluation of gastrointintestinal tract is often recommended.
This usually involves examinations such as a colonoscopy and upper endoscopy.
This is because most cases of blood loss, particularly in elderly, originate from the gastrointestinal tract.
Conditions that are often associated with chronic blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract include esophagitis, esophageal cancer, gastritis, gastric cancer, stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, angiodysplasia, colon polyp, colon cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, and even hemorrhoids.
In iron-deficiency anemia, it is important that iron is adequately supplemented so that body can replace the blood that has been lost.
Foods that are abundant in iron include clams, liver, beef, shrimp, turkey, beans, spinach, potatoes, raisin, apricot, sunflower seed, and almonds.
Iron can also be supplemented by taking iron pills that are usually obtainable over-the-counter.
In severe cases of iron-deficiency anemia, transfusion of blood may be sometimes necessary and injectable medicine that increases the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
Anemia is a common medical condition that is frequently due to an occult bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
In individuals found to have an unexplained anemia, a full evaluation including endoscopy and hematology consultation is often indicated.