Anemia is a common condition that can happen to anyone, not only those who have the disease. The level of severity varies from case to case. To understand more, we are going to examine the symptoms and causes, including what to eat and what not to eat to avoid having to deal with it.

What is anemia?

Anemia is a condition where the body has less red blood cells than normal. Red blood cells are responsible for carrying oxygen to cells and tissues in organs throughout the body. When the volume of red blood cells decreases, abnormal symptoms such as feeling tired easily, fatigue, pale or yellow skin, and others ensue. The main factors that cause anemia are excessive blood loss, decreased red blood cell production and destruction of red blood cells.

The main component of red blood cells is hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen around the body. In a healthy individual, adult erythropoiesis is produced in sufficient quantities in the bone marrow to carry oxygen to different tissues. Red blood cells are produced from progenitor red blood cells before maturing into embryonic erythrocytes and developing into complete red blood cells, a process that takes a few days. The complete red blood cells are then released into the blood vessels. Red blood cells that remain in these vessels live for around 120 days before being eliminated by the spleen, liver and bone marrow. The process of red blood cell formation to replace the old ones that have been eliminated then begins again.

Abnormality in the erythropoiesis process or red blood cells result in insufficient oxygen in the tissues of the body which impairs the functioning of organs.  

Anemia symptoms

Anemia symptoms vary according to the cause, ranging from mild to severe. Some people may not show any abnormal symptoms until the anemia becomes severe. The abnormal symptoms result from the heart working harder so the body receives more oxygen from the blood. The main symptoms are as follows:

·       Feeling tired easily and more tired than usual and less refreshed

·       Having pale yellow eyes and yellow skin

·       Anorexia

·       Easily irritable, mood swings

·       Feeling dizzy, headache

·       Fainting, losing consciousness

·       Having cold hands and feet

·       Chest pain, palpitations, and difficulty breathing when exerted

·       If severe, the condition can lead to heart failure

·       Those with chronic symptoms may experience stomatitis, weak nails, flat nails or spoon-shaped nails

How does anemia occur?

Factors causing anemia are classified according to the mechanism of occurrence as follows:

1.        Less red blood cell production due to:

·       Malnutrition – Due to choosing food that doesn’t provide necessary nutrients, especially iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid, which are essential in the formation of red blood cells. Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia.

·       Hormones – A hormone in the blood called Erythropoietin that is produced in the kidneys stimulates bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Anemia is caused by the body producing less of this hormone than usual.

·       Chronic disease conditions – Certain chronic diseases and treatments of them can cause bone marrow dysfunction or damage. This affects the body's red blood cell production. These chronic conditions include some types of cancer, HIV infection, chronic kidney failure and rheumatoid arthritis.

·       Pregnancy – Pregnant women deficient in iron and folic acid nutrients may develop anemia, especially during the first 6 months of pregnancy.

·       Bone marrow diseases – As mentioned, bone marrow is the source of red blood cell production. So, when bone marrow is unable to make red blood cells, there are fewer of them. Therefore, those who have bone marrow-related conditions such as bone marrow atrophy, bone marrow cancer and bone marrow infections, may develop anemia.

2.        Excessive destruction of red blood cells in the body is caused by other diseases that cause red blood cells to break easily. Patients often have jaundice and yellow eyes.

·       Thalassemia – Thalassemia is a common genetic disease. Symptoms range from not showing any to fever and rapid emergence of anemia. Some cases may show jaundice. Such patients may have had an enlarged liver and spleen since childhood.

·       Hemolytic disease

o   Hemolytic disease is being sickened by one’s own immunity. It often manifests in conjunction with other immune system diseases and is most common in females of childbearing age.

o   This disease results from G-6PD enzyme deficiency, an inherited condition most often found in men. In normal conditions, there are no symptoms. However, anemia develops quickly in the event of an infection or certain triggers. Patients may have jaundice and dark brown urine.

·       Infections such as malaria, clostridium, mycoplasma, and others.

3.        Sudden blood loss such as due to an accident, hemorrhage or postpartum hemorrhage, or gradual chronic bleeding such as menstrual bleeding in women of childbearing age. It may also be due to prolonged bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract due to colon cancer, stomach ulcers, and others.

5 warning signs of anemia

When the body begins to show the following abnormal symptoms, it's a good idea to wonder if you might be experiencing symptoms of anemia and get a diagnosis from a doctor for early treatment.

1.        Feeling bored by food and tiring easily

2.        Pale yellow body and clearly yellow eyes

3.        Difficulty breathing during exertion

4.        Chest pain, heart palpitations

5.        Easily irritated, mood swings

Anemia treatments

Treatment for anemia requires ascertaining the cause of the condition through a thorough physical examination. This is because consideration of the condition and duration of treatment differ in detail. Treatment can be as follows:

·       Take drugs or hormones

Drugs or hormones may be taken to help the body produce more red blood cells or treat hemorrhagic conditions from causes such as:

o   Taking antibiotics to treat infections

o   Receiving certain hormones to balance hormones in those experiencing irregular menstruation

o   Erythropoietin injection to stimulate formation of red blood cells in bone marrow

o   Chelation therapy to remove excess iron from the body

·       Blood transfusion

When the patient has severe anemia or a hemoglobin level less than 8 g/dL, the doctor will often recommend blood transfusions to increase hemoglobin levels

·       Stem cell transplants from blood and bone marrow

This involves bringing intact stem cells to replace abnormal cells to help increase red blood cell production

·       Surgery

Surgery may be necessary to treat severe blood loss in organs caused by certain chronic diseases. If there is no bleeding from other organs but a severe pallor and enlarged spleen, the doctor may consider removing the spleen.

How can anemia be prevented?

·       Choose foods that contain nutrients that are essential to the formation of red blood cells, including iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.

·       Those who do not get enough nutrients should consult a specialist who may recommend a supplement.

·       Elderly people and those who eat vegetarian food regularly may not be getting enough protein so to prevent malnutrition they should have regular medical checkups.

·       If someone in your family has a history of anemia, consult a doctor to prevent genetic transmission.

·       Pregnant women can prevent anemia by eating a healthy diet rich in important nutrients and may take vitamin supplements to help maintain normal red blood cell levels.

Food and anemia

Anemia is mainly caused by insufficient iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. To prevent onset of anemia and treat symptoms, you need to know which foods to consume and which to avoid because they inhibit absorption of said nutrients.

·       Foods that should be consumed

o   Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, broccoli

o   Fruits high in vitamin C such as oranges, lemons, grapes, strawberries to help absorb iron

o   Dried fruits such as raisins, prunes

o   Meat, both poultry and red meat

o   Liver

o   Seafood, especially shrimp, oysters, clams

o   Whole grains such as red beans, peas, peanuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, macadamias, almonds, sesame, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews

o   Eggs

o   Dark chocolate

·       Foods that should be avoided

o   Milk, cheese and dairy products

o   Cassia

o   Acacia

o   Soybeans, millet, oats, corn, unpolished rice

o   Turmeric and herbs

Eating all 5 food groups is the key to having a healthy body. At the same time, eating only one diet for a long period of time will have a direct effect on health and can cause various diseases and other medical conditions.

Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers requiring treatment for anemia can get additional advice from Krungthai-AXA service. For more information to help you with your treatment decision, you can find more details at https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/care-coordination.

References

·       Siriraj Piyamaharajkarun Hospital
https://www.siphhospital.com/th/news/article/share/936/Anemia

·       Phyathai Hospital
https://bit.ly/3SNa3qB
https://bit.ly/3zovyqM

·       Sukhumvit Hospital
https://bit.ly/3fmgKSG

·       Petcharavej Hospital
https://www.petcharavejhospital.com/th/Article/article_detail/Anemia-how-to-eat

·       Sikarin Hospital
https://bit.ly/3Nh89NR

·       Pobpad website
https://bit.ly/3sDJBoJ
https://bit.ly/3sBzzob
https://bit.ly/3sGgLE4

·       Medical News Today
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322336

·       Healthline
https://www.healthline.com/health/best-diet-plan-for-anemia