What is Anaemia?
There are four types of anaemia:
Iron deficiency anaemia is when there is not enough iron in your body to make haemoglobin (the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen). People are more at risk of having low iron levels during growth spurts in childhood or adolescence, during pregnancy or during blood loss. Certain diseases such a celiac disease, Crohn’s disease or kidney failure increase the risk of having low iron levels. People who do not get enough iron from the foods they eat will also be higher risk for iron deficiency anaemia.
The treatment for this is iron supplements and dietary changes.
Pernicious anaemia is when the body cannot make enough red blood cells because the not enough vitamin B12 is being absorbed from food. The body needs both vitamin B12 and folate to make healthy red blood cells so when these levels are low, the amount of red blood cells that can be made is lessened.
People at most risk are those who have conditions which prevent them from absorbing their B12 or those who do not get enough vitamin B12 from their diet.
The treatment for this is B12/folate supplements and dietary changes.
Aplastic anaemia is when there are lower levels of other blood cells such as platelets and white blood cells as well as red blood cells. This can occur when the bone marrow is damaged and therefore enough blood cells cannot be made.
People at higher risk are those under going chemotherapy / radiotherapy, those exposed to toxins on certain medications as well as people who have diseases which damage the bone marrow.
The treatment for this can be a blood transfusion, blood and marrow stem cell transplants and life style changes.
Haemolytic anaemia is when red blood cells are destroyed before the end of their normal life span. Red blood cells usually live for around 120 days, but if they are destroying early, sometimes the body is unable to make enough the red blood cells in order to replace those lose. This can be acquired which is when the body gets a signal to destroy the blood cells even though they are normal. It can also be inherited which is when there is a problem with the genes that control the red blood cells. The group of people at risk can vary depending on the cause of this anaemia. The treatment can also vary depending on the cause but in some cases the person can have a blood transfusion, medicine, surgery and lifestyle changes.
Possible signs and symptoms of anaemia:
Tiredness/ fatigue
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Dizziness/ lightheadedness
Pale skin
Increased thirst
Abnormal sweating
If you feel you have any of the symptoms of anaemia or if you’re at higher risk of having anaemia then our Anaemia Profile blood test is available for you!
This blood test will look at the levels of vitamins (B12 and folate), the levels of blood cells and iron.
