ldquo;Anemia” (uh-NEE-me-uh) occurs when you have less than the normal number of red blood cells in your blood or when the red blood cells in your blood don't have enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin is a protein. It gives the red color to your blood. Its main job is to carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. If you have anemia, your blood does not carry enough oxygen to all the parts of your body.

Anemia takes some time to develop. In the beginning, you may not have any signs or they may be mild. But as it gets worse, you may have these symptoms: All of these signs and symptoms can occur because your heart has to work harder to pump more oxygen-rich blood through the body.

to get red blood cell counts or hemoglobin levels back to normal so that your organs and tissues can get enough oxygen The treatment your doctor prescribes for you will depend on the cause of the anemia. For example, treatment for sickle cell anemia is different than treatment for a diet low in iron or folic acid.

Eat and drink foods that help your body absorb iron, like orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, or other fruits and vegetables with vitamin C. Calcium can hurt your absorption of iron. If you have a hard time getting enough iron, talk to your doctor about the best way to also get enough calcium. Eat a balanced diet. Most people who eat a balanced diet get the iron and vitamins their bodies need from the foods they eat. Food fads and dieting can lead to anemia.

The symptoms of anemia can include headache, fatigue, weakness, difficulty in thinking. With severe anemia, other symptoms, such as shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat, may be experienced.

IDA is the most common type of anemia. IDA happens when you don't have enough iron in your body. You need iron to make hemoglobin. People with this type of anemia are sometimes said to have “iron-poor blood” or “tired blood.” A person can have a low iron level because of blood loss. In women, iron and red blood cells are lost when bleeding occurs from very heavy and long periods, as well as from childbirth.

Some types of anemia may be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated. Too little oxygen in the body can damage organs. With anemia, the heart must work harder to make up for the lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. This extra work can harm the heart and even lead to heart failure.

The root cause of anemia is generally deficiency of iron in the diet. However, there are many other ways in which loss of blood can take place from the body. The following are some of them:- People with hemorrhoids (i.e. piles) often lose great amounts of blood if there are open sores. If the loss is beyond acceptable limit, then the person would suffer from anemia. Hemolysis is a condition in which a breakdown of the red blood corpuscles takes place.

A healthy diet, rich in iron, must be consumed. Whole grain cereals, legumes and pulses are good sources of iron. Nuts and dry dates also contain iron. Among the meats, organs such as kidney and liver contain iron in them. Anemia that is caused due to deficiency of vitamins can be avoided by a proper intake of vitamins in the diet. The food must be properly balanced and contain the proper amount of nutrients. Consult a diet chart for better guidance.

children going through a rapid growth spurt, during which the iron available cannot keep up with the demands for a growing red cell mass women in childbearing years who have an excessive need for iron because of blood loss during menstruation People with ongoing gastrointestinal blood loss are at risk of developing iron deficiency, as are individuals with leukemia or cancer who must receive chemotherapy or radiation to treat their disease.