What You Should Know About Anaemia

What is anaemia?

Anaemia occurs when you have too few red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all your organs and tissues, providing energy for your daily living.

What causes anaemia?

Possible causes include:

• Too little iron in your body
• Loss of blood due to accidents, surgery, stomach ulcers, kidney or bladder tumours, cancer or polyps in the intestines and other causes
• When your body does not make enough red blood cells, for example, in diseases like kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, systemic lupus and cancer
• Too little vitamin B12 or folic acid in your body
• Infection or inflammation in your body
• Poor diet
• Diseases that harm or destroy your blood cells, such as sickle cell disease.

What are the symptoms of anaemia?

You may have:

• Tiredness
• Little energy for your daily activities
• Poor appetite
• Trouble sleeping or thinking clearly
• Dizziness or headaches
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Depression

How is anaemia tested?

• The best way is to check your haemoglobin (Hgb) level
• Haemoglobin:
  • Is the part of red blood cell that carries oxygen throughout your body
  • Normal levels are: 12.5 to 15 for women and 14 to 16 for men
• Another way is to check your hematocrit (Hct) level
• Hematocrit:
  • Tells how much of your blood is made up of red blood cells
  • Normal levels are: 38 to 47 for women and 42 to 50 for men

How is anaemia treated?

Depending on the cause, anaemia can be treated with:

• Dietary changes to include an increased intake of foods rich in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12
• Supplements of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid
• Injections of a man-made hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) to help your body make enough red blood cells. EPO is most effective when given under the skin (subcutaneous or SC), but it can also be given by injection into a vein (intravenous or IV)
• Rarely, blood transfusions.

What if I have more questions about anaemia?

• Speak to your doctor
• Call AFREKID.

See also in this A-Z guide:

• EPO: Treating Anaemia in Chronic Renal Failure
• How Your Kidneys Work
• Your Kidneys: Master Chemists of the Body
• What You Need to Know About Anaemia and Chronic Kidney Disease