How Anemia is Diagnosed
Diagnosing anemia involves visiting your doctor; once you get there, you will be questioned about your family history, a physical test will be done, and a test will be performed:
Anemia Test
(CBC) Complete blood count. This test uses a sample of your blood and examines the number of blood cells present.
To diagnose anemia, your doctor will look for levels of the red blood cells in your blood as well as values of hemoglobin.
Typical hematocrit values in adults vary between 40% to 52% for men and 35% to 47$ for women.
Anemia Blood Test
Hemoglobin values considered normal in adults are 14 to 18 grams per deciliter for men and 12 to 16 for women.
Some of your blood cells can also undergo tests for size and shape, and also color.
If You are diagnosed with anemia, you might undergo additional testing.
Eventually, it may be required to examine a sample of your bone marrow to diagnose anemia fully.
What Anemia Means
Anemia is a medical term referring to a reduced number of circulating red blood cells in the blood.
This means that one has less blood or less than 10 percent of your circulating red blood cells.
Anemia associated with kidney disease-related anemia (e.g., kidney failure) is called hemolysis, a condition in which the size and a small number of red blood cells are below normal.
Anemia Low Iron
If you have iron-deficiency anemia, you will have higher transferrin levels, which do not contain iron, and your doctor will be more concerned about the number of red blood cells in your blood.
The first parameter to be evaluated for anemia is the level of ferritin in the blood – a measure of the ratio of iron to iron-rich in vitamins and minerals to the rest of the body’s iron content.
In people with iron deficiency or anemia, their red blood cells look smaller and paler than average.
Your doctor will probably make you take iron supplements or tablets or eat iron-rich foods to treat your anemia.
How Anemia Is Treated
It is essential for people with thalassemia to use iron supplements as these can lead to hemochromatosis.
If you have iron-deficiency anemia, talk to your doctor about taking an iron supplement or tablet and getting enough iron from your diet.
They should be educated about iron-rich foods, such as iron-rich fruits and vegetables and whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
Taking iron supplements and tablets or taking enough iron in your diet daily will correct most cases of iron deficiency and anemia
Anemia Causes
Anemia occurs once your blood doesn’t have a normal level of red blood cells.
This may happen if:
- Your body is not making enough red blood cells
- Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more rapidly than they can be replenished
- Your body for some reason destroys red blood cells
References
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/iron-deficiency-anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355034
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3929-anemia
https://medlineplus.gov/anemia.html
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