ANEMIA !

What is Anemia?

Maybe today you are so full with things to do that you do not have time to grab breakfast, let alone make sure you eat right the rest of the day. Maybe you stayed up late to get your homework done and loss of sleep you need. The fact is, many teens are tired. And with all the demands of school and other activities, it is easy to understand why.

For some people, though, there may be other explanations why they feel so exhausted: anemia.

To understand the anemia, helps to start with breathing. The oxygen we breathe does not just stop in our lungs. It's needed throughout our bodies to fuel the brain and all other organs and tissues that allow us to function. Oxygen to all parts of the body through the bloodstream - specifically in red blood cells.

red blood cells, or red blood cells, bone marrow was made in the body and act like a boat, transporting oxygen throughout the rivers of blood flow. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin (pronounced: hee-muh-glow-bin), proteins that hold the oxygen. To make enough hemoglobin, the body needs to have a lot of iron. We get this iron, along with other nutrients needed to make red blood cells, from the food.

Anemia occurs when a person has fewer red blood cells than normal. This can happen for three main reasons:

1. Red blood cells are missing.
2. The body produces red blood cells more slowly than it should.
3. Red blood cells have been destroyed by the body.

Each cause is associated with various types of anemia.

Blood Loss

When a small amount of blood lost, the bone can replace it without someone to anemia. But if a large amount of blood lost during short periods of time, which could happen if someone has a serious accident or injury, for example, bone marrow was not possible to replace red blood cells fast enough.

Little blood loss during the long period of time can also cause anemia. This can happen in girls who have heavy menstrual periods, especially if they are not getting enough iron in their diet.
Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in U.S. adolescents. This occurs when a person is a lack of dietary iron. Iron deficiency - when the body's iron stores is reduced - is the first step toward anemia. If the body's iron stores are not replenished at this time, continue to iron deficiency can cause the body's normal hemoglobin production to slow. When hemoglobin levels and red blood cells in the production is below normal, someone said to suffer from anemia. Someone with anemia may appear pale and may be tired all the time.

There are other reasons why a person's body nutrient can not make enough red blood cells. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are also needed to make red blood cells, so it's important to get enough nutrients in your diet. If bone marrow is not functioning properly because of infection, chronic disease, or certain medications like chemotherapy, anemia can occur.
Hemolytic anemia

In people with hemolytic (pronounced: hee-muh-Lih-tik) anemia, the normal lifespan of red blood cells is shorter than usual. When blood cells die quickly, bone marrow is unable to compete with the production. This can happen for various reasons. Someone may have a disorder such as sickle cell anemia or sphenocytosis. In other cases, the immune system can cause damage to red blood cells. Antibodies can be formed as a reaction to certain infections or drugs that attack the red blood cells because of an error.

Why Teens Get Anemia?

Because adolescents through rapid growth spurts, they may pose a risk for iron deficiency anemia. During a growth spurt, the body has a greater need for all types of nutrients, including iron, which we need to get into the food we eat.

After puberty, girls are more at risk of developing anemia due to iron deficiency than men. That's because women need more iron to compensate for blood lost during menstrual periods. Pregnancy can also cause a girl to develop anemia. And a teen on a diet to lose weight may get even less iron.

Vegetarians are at risk of developing anemia due to iron deficiency than those who eat meat. Red meat is the richest and best sources of iron absorbed. Although there is some iron in grains, vegetables and some fruits and nuts, there is less than that. And iron in food sources is not absorbed by the body as easily as the iron in meat.

What Are the Symptoms?

It's easy for people to ignore symptoms of anemia because it often occurs gradually over time. Looking pale can be a sign of anemia because of lack of red blood cells flowing through blood vessels. The heart will beat faster in an attempt to pump the same amount of blood and oxygen to the body, so that the toll could be much faster than usual.

As anemia progresses, a person may feel tired and shortness of breath, especially when climbing stairs or working out. They may develop headaches. Iron deficiency, which occurs before anemia develops, may affect one's ability to concentrate, learn and remember.

Anemia is not contagious, so you can not catch it from someone who has it.

How is Anemia Diagnosed?

If you visit a doctor for suspected anemia, he will probably give you a physical examination. The doctor also will ask questions about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family's health (eg if there are members of your family suffer anemia), any medications you're taking, allergies you may have, and other issues . This is called the medical history.

As part of the medical history, your doctor may ask specific questions about the foods you eat. If you're a girl, the doctor may ask questions about your future, like how heavy the flow is, when you get your first menstrual period, how often you menstruate, and for how many days.

If your doctor suspects you are anemic, he probably will take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis. This will determine, among others, number, size, and shape of red blood cells, the percentage of your blood that consists of red blood cells, and the amount of hemoglobin present in blood. With this information, doctors can determine whether a person is anemic and may order additional tests (like measuring iron levels), depending on the suspected cause of anemia.

How is Anemia Treated?

Treatment of anemia depends on what the cause. If the anemia caused by iron deficiency, your doctor may prescribe iron supplements to be taken several times a day. Your doctor may do blood tests once you are on iron supplements. Even if tests show that the anemia has improved, you may have to continue taking iron for several months to fill your body's total iron stores.

Because some people become nauseated if they take an iron supplement on an empty stomach, can help to take it with food. Vitamin C increases iron absorption, so drink a glass of orange or grapefruit juice when you take your iron. You can increase the likelihood that the iron you get from food will be absorbed by your body in other ways, too. For example, avoid drinking tea with food because a substance in tea called tannin reduces the body's ability to absorb iron found in foods or iron supplements. Milk can also interfere with iron absorption, so do not pair milk with iron-rich foods if you are concerned about getting enough iron.

Some people need more iron than others: Girls need more than men, for example. And a girl who has heavy periods has a greater need for iron than a girl who has a light flow.

To make sure you get enough iron, eat a balanced diet every day, starting with a breakfast that includes a source of iron, like iron-fortified cereal or bread. Lean meat, raisins, spinach, eggs, dried beans, and sugar syrup is also a good source of iron.

If anemia is caused by someone other medical conditions, doctors will work to treat the cause. People with some types of anemia need to see a specialist, called a hematologist, who can provide proper medical care for their needs.

The good news is that for most people anemia is easily treated. And in a few weeks, you will have your energy back!