Anemia is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen.



Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a shortage of iron in your body. Your bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin. Without adequate iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. Without iron supplementation, this type of anemia occurs in many pregnant women.

Here is a simple illustration on the subject


A woman in her late 40s once presented herself in the hospital with features of extreme weakness, tiredness, headache and abdominal pain.
She said she had not enjoyed her life for a single day in the two years she had had them, due to lethargy.
She had been treating malaria and typhoid fever via self-medication, and given intravenous fluids (drips) but all symptoms persisted.
She had also taken several iron injections, blood transfusions and self-administered medications.

A comprehensive test done suggested that she had a fibroid which made her to see her menstrual period occur earlier than expected every month.
This was the cause of her low blood level. She was encouraged to have the fibroid removed surgically since it was affecting her day-to-day activities.
She initially refused on account of fear and likely poor outcome of the surgery, but after much counselling and support she had the surgery done.
Her blood level is stable now, she no longer visits the hospitals; neither does she have to take blood capsules, iron injections and blood transfusions.

The import of this woman’s story is that patients who develop low blood levels need to have a comprehensive test done to find out why the blood level is low and should not be ingesting blood supplements.
Anaemia is a medical condition in which a person’s red blood cell count is below normal, causing a range of health concerns and risks.
Human blood is made up of both red and white cells. While white blood cells fight infection, red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen throughout the body.
When red blood cell levels drop too low, the body feels tired due to lack of oxygen, which is why people with anaemia are sometimes said to have “tired blood.”
Those who take the risk of anaemia include vegetarians, teenage girls and women with heavy menstrual cycles, children especially during rapid growth, premature babies, pregnancy, cancer, immunosupression, elderly, sickle cell disease.


Causes of anaemia


There are many causes of anaemia, including:



blood loss
stomach or colon bleeding or heavy periods
poor dietary intake or illness
worm infestations
malaria
infections like HIV, side effects of medication and cancers.



Signs and symptoms


The symptoms are
paleness,
tiring quickly or easily
dizziness,
pain in the chest,
cold hands and feet,
confusion
fatigue
headaches,
increased heartbeat,
the desire to eat or chew ice.
Most of these symptoms are relatively harmless at first, but can lead to serious problems if left untreated.
In worst-case scenarios, anaemia can create a serious oxygen deficiency in bodily organs. And this can lead to heart attack.


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http://pridedaily..com/2017/05/signs-symptoms-and-control-of-anamia.html