Anaemia Flashcards
When does anaemia occur?
When a person has an insufficient number of red blood cells or when a persons red blood cells aren’t functioning properly
What levels of haemoglobin indicate anaemia (for men, women, and children)?
Less then 13gm/dl for men
Less then 12gm/dl for women
The normal values for children vary with age
What are the common symptoms of anaemia?
What causes these?
Weakness Shortness of breath Dizziness Fast/irregular heartbeat Headache Cold peripheries Pallor Jaundice (in haemolytic anaemias) Chest pain Pica (craving for ice or dirt)
A lack of oxygen
What factors increase the risk of developing anaemia?
Menstruating
Pregnancy
Chronic medical conditions including autoimmune diseases, kidney disease, cancer, liver disease, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease
Risk increases with increasing age
What is iron deficient anaemia?
Due to iron deficiency, either due to blood loss or poor absorption of iron
What is the most common type of anaemia?
Iron deficient anaemia
Why does pregnancy increase your risk of anaemia?
Pregnancy and childbirth consume a lot of iron and so can lead to pregnancy-related anaemia
What causes vitamin deficiency anaemia?
Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate - usually due to poor dietary intake
What is pernicious anaemia?
A condition in which vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract
What is aplastic anaemia ?
A rare bone marrow failure disorder - the bone marrow stops making blood cells
What is haemolytic anaemia?
Haemolytic anaemia occurs when red blood cells are broken up in the bloodstream or the spleen
What things can cause haemolytic anaemia?
Mechanical causes e.g. leaky heart valves or aneurysms
Infections
Autoimmune disorders
Congenital abnormalities of the red blood cell either affecting the red blood cell structure, or function, or the haemoglobin
What is sickle cell anaemia?
Sickle cell anaemia is an inherited haemolytic anaemia in which the haemoglobin molecule is abnormal. This causes rigidity of the red blood cells and can lead to them blocking small blood vessels
How can cancer treatment cause anaemias?
Chemotherapy often unpairs the ability of the body to create red blood cells and so anaemia can result
How can kidney disease lead to anaemia?
Some kidney diseases mean that the kidneys are not producing enough erythropoietin which is a hormone that signals to the bone marrow to make new blood cells and so not enough cells are created
