anemia during pregnancy 

what is anemia  during pregnancy

1. anemia during pregnancy

Some women may develop mild aplastic anemia during pregnancy. This anemia tends to go away after the baby is born. In some cases, aplastic anemia is associated with another blood disorder called paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). A genetic mutation causes PNH. The disorder develops when abnormal stem cells in the bone marrow make blood cells with a faulty outer membrane (outside layer). This destroys RBCs and prevents the body from making enough WBCs and platelets. Aplastic anemia may only last a short time if it’s due to a short-term condition, illness, or other factor. However, aplastic anemia can be a long-term condition if its cause is unknown or if an inherited condition or long-term illness or other factor causes it.

so Your doctor also will want to learn about your medical and family histories. He or she may ask you about your menstrual and pregnancy history and about illnesses or conditions you’ve had. Your doctor also may ask about a family history of anemia or anemiarelated conditions.

1. Anemia During Pregnancy

• Physical Exam

 Your doctor will give you a physical exam. This is done to confirm signs and symptoms and learn what organs or body systems may be involved. The findings will help your doctor determine your type of anemia and what condition may be causing it. The findings also will help your doctor decide how severe the anemia is. Your doctor may check the color of your skin, gums, and nail beds and look for signs of bleeding or infection. He or she may listen to your heart for a rapid or irregular heartbeat and your lungs for rapid or uneven breathing. Your doctor also may feel your abdomen for an enlarged liver or spleen, check for bone pain, or conduct a pelvic or rectal exam to check for internal bleeding. Your doctor also may conduct a neurological exam. This involves checking how well your muscles, senses, and reflexes work and testing to check your mental status, coordination, and ability to walk. 

• Tests and Procedures 

Your doctor will recommend tests to figure out the type of anemia you may have and its severity. Often, the first test is a complete blood count (CBC). A CBC is a broad-scale test that provides a count of all the RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets in a sample of your blood. It also includes other tests that provide useful information about your blood. Your doctor can use this information about your blood.

Your doctor can use this information to help determine whether you have anemia, what type you may have, and what underlying condition may be causing the anemia. Depending on the results of the CBC, your doctor may recommend further tests.

learn more about types of anemia 

signs of anemia

signs of anemia - What is anemia ?

1. Signs of anemia

• Fatigue
• Pale skin
• A fast or irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Cognitive problems
• Cold hands and feet
• Headache

anemia can be so mild it goes unnoticed. But signs and symptoms increase as anemia worsens.

What is anemia?

Anemia is a below-normal level of hemoglobin* or hematocrit*. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to all parts of the body. Anemia can be a temporary condition, a consequence of other health conditions, or it can be a chronic problem. People with mild anemia may not have any symptoms or may have only mild symptoms. People with severe anemia may have problems carrying out routine activities and can feel tired or experience shortness of breath with activity.

How do I know if I have anemia?

The best way to determine if you have anemia is to discuss your blood counts and changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit with the doctor who treats your cancer. Symptoms and signs usually develop when anemia is moderate to severe, and can include fatigue, weakness, pale skin, chest pain, dizziness, irritability, numbness or coldness in your hands and feet, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, and headache. People with cancer may have many different types of symptoms because of other things that change because of cancer or cancer treatment, so it can be difficult to sort out the cause.

What treatments are available to help me?

Several medications are approved to help correct anemia, including a man-made form of erythropoietin which stimulates red blood cell growth in the bone marrow. Noteworthy though are recent studies which suggest that it is best not to try to correct the anemia to normal levels.⁸ Sometimes people with cancer receive blood transfusions that are rich in red blood cells in order to raise hemoglobin levels. Close communication with your doctor will help him or her provide the treatment that is best for you based on what is causing the anemia.

this is all signs of anemia you can see below more informations about anemia by clicking on each link :)

• more about anemia

1. What is anemia ? 
2. symptoms of anemia
3. signs of anemia
4. aplastic anemia treatment
5. What causes anemia?
6. Types of Anemia and causes
7. Sickle Cell Anemia

anemia blood

What is anemia ? anemia blood

Anemia is a signal that your body has a shortage of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells which delivers oxygen to tissues and organs. Anemia can be a temporary condition, a consequence of other health conditions, or it can be a chronic problem. If allowed to persist, this condition can have serious consequences, affecting both quality and length of life. But when anemia is identified, appropriate treatments can help correct and manage it.

Common types of anemia: "anemia blood"

Anemia of chronic disease develops as the result of a long-term infection or illness such as cancer or diabetes. Normally, the kidneys make the hormone erythropoietin which signals the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Chronic diseases can disrupt this process by slowing erythropoietin production or by not allowing the body to use stored iron. With fewer red blood cells there is less hemoglobin to carry oxygen throughout your body, resulting in anemia. Information handouts for patients explain the causes, symptoms and treatments for anemia caused by specific chronic diseases.

Anemias associated with bone marrow disease, such as leukemia and myelodysplasia, can cause anemia by affecting blood production in the bone marrow.
Hemolytic anemias develop when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them. Examples include sickle thalassemia and aplastic anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It can be caused by a low-iron diet, not enough iron being absorbed by your body, or bleeding from the digestive tract. Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin and without enough of either, your body will not get the right amount of oxygen.
Vitamin deficiency anemia is often caused by not eating enough foods that contain essential vitamins or when your body is not able to absorb certain vitamins. Your body needs folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and vitamin C to produce healthy red blood cells. Not having enough of one or more of these vitamins may cause anemia.

Symptoms and signs of anemia: 

• Fatigue is the main symptom of most types of anemia 

• Weakness

• Pale skin

• A rapid heartbeat

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Dizziness

• Irritability

• Numbness or coldness in your hands and feet

• Headache

Factors which can put you at risk for anemia: 

• Chronic blood loss
• Chronic disease
• Intestinal disorders
• Ethnicity
• Family history
• Menstruation
• Pregnancy
• Poor diet
• Age

• more about anemia

1. What is anemia ? 
2. symptoms of anemia
3. aplastic anemia treatment
4. What causes anemia?
5. Types of Anemia and causes
6. Sickle Cell Anemia

symptoms of anemia

what is anemia - symptoms of anemia 

What are the symptoms of 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.  

At what point are people considered anemic? 

This varies with gender and age. Both hemoglobin and hematocrit values are used to define anemia. These laboratory values are obtained from a CBC (complete blood count) test, performed at a doctor's office. The normal range of hemoglobin values is 14.0 g/dL to 17.4 g/dL for adult men and 12.3 g/dL to 15.3 g/dL for nonpregnant women. The World Health Organization defines anemia as less than 12 g/dL for nonpregnant women and less than 13 g/dL for men. The normal average hematocrit for adult males is 46%, and the range is 40% to 52%. For adult females, the normal average hematocrit is 41%, and the range is 35% to 47%. Values that fall below the lower limits can indicate anemia and deserve medical thought and further testing.

symtoms of anemia are readily evident at hemoglobin levels of less than 10g/dl. iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia.
in the absence of nutritional deficiency or an obvious source of blood loss, gastrointestinal tract pathology should be investigated as a cause of iron deficiency anemia.
other causes of anemia include chronic diseaserenal failure,hemolysis, bone marrow disorders,and vitamin deficiecies.
laboratory evaluation is importatn in diffrentiating underlyng causes of anemia .

• more about anemia

1. What is anemia ? 
2. symptoms of anemia
3. aplastic anemia treatment
4. What causes anemia?
5. Types of Anemia and causes
6. Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle Cell Anemia - what is anemia -

Red blood cells with normal hemoglobin                  Red blood cells with sickle cell hemoglobin

1. Charged Objects Like to be Surrounded by Water

A piece of charged Saran Wrap is attracted to          … but not to olive oil

water …

1. A piece of charged Saran Wrap is attracted to water …

Sickle Cell Patient 

•  36 year old black male diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at age 2

•  Formerly had 1 painful crisis each year, but recently has had 3 - 4 per year 

• Last October, acute chest syndrome Æ coumadin anticoagulation 

•  Bone infarcts in arms, legs, and hip.  Rods placed in both arms and legs 

Treatment

• Hydration

• O2

• Hydroxyurea Æ Induces fetal hemoglobin

• Folate Æ Prevent aplastic crisis due to folate deficiency

• Pain medication

• Exchange transfusion

1. more about anemia

   1. What is anemia ? 
   2. aplastic anemia treatment
   3. What causes anemia?
   4. Types of Anemia and causes
   5. Sickle Cell Anemia

what is aplastic anemia

Aplastic Anemia - What is anemia ?

 The term “anemia” usually refers to a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal number of red blood cells (RBCs). However, some types of anemia, such as aplastic anemia, cause lower than normal numbers of other blood cells, too. Your bone marrow makes stem cells, which develop into the three types of blood cells—RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. (These stem cells are different from embryonic stem cells, which can develop into any type of cell in the body. Embryonic stem cells aren’t found in bone marrow.) RBCs carry oxygen to all parts of your body. They also remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body’s cells and carry it to the lungs to be exhaled. WBCs help your body fight infections. Platelets are blood cell fragments that help your blood clot. They stick together to seal small cuts or breaks on blood vessel walls and stop bleeding. Blood cells have defined lifespans. RBCs live about 120 days, and platelets live about 6 days. There are different types of WBCs with different lifespans. As a result, your body has a constant need for new blood cells, and your bone marrow is always hard at work to meet that demand.

Certain conditions and factors can disrupt your bone marrow’s ability to make healthy new blood cells. 

1. What Is Aplastic Anemia and What Causes It?

 Aplastic anemia is a condition in which your bone marrow is damaged. As a result, your stem cells are destroyed or don’t develop normally. Your body can’t make enough RBCs, WBCs, or platelets. This type of anemia is rare, but it can be fatal. Aplastic anemia can be acquired or inherited. Many times, the cause of the aplastic anemia or the condition that triggers it is unknown.

1. Known causes of acquired aplastic anemia include:

• High-dose radiation or chemotherapy. These cancer treatments kill cancer cells, but they also may damage other cells, such as stem cells. When stem cells are damaged, they can’t develop into healthy RBCs, WBCs, and platelets. Aplastic anemia may go away after these cancer treatments are stopped.
• Environmental toxins. Substances such as pesticides, arsenic, and benzene can damage your bone marrow, causing aplastic anemia.
• Certain medicines. Medicines used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and some antibiotics, such as chloramphenicol (which is rarely used in the United States), can damage the bone marrow and cause aplastic anemia.
• Viral infections. Hepatitis, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B-19, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), mononucleosis, and cytomegalovirus can damage the bone marrow and lead to aplastic anemia.
• Autoimmune diseases. These diseases, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, may cause your immune system to attack its own cells. This can damage bone marrow cells and prevent them from making enough healthy, new blood cells.

Some inherited conditions can damage your stem cells, leading to aplastic anemia. These conditions include Fanconi anemia, Shwachman-Diamond syndrome, dyskeratosis congenita, DiamondBlackfan anemia, and amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia. Some women may develop mild aplastic anemia during pregnancy. This anemia tends to go away after the baby is born.

• more about anemia

1. What is anemia ? 

1. What causes anemia?

1. Types of Anemia and causes

Treat Anemia the best ways

Treat Anemia the best ways - what is anemia ?

Best Ways to Treat Anemia

A successful treatment of anemia is to identify and treating the above cause: blood loss, a nutritional deficiency, cancer, bone marrow infiltration, chronic illness, inflammation, or decreased response to erythropoietin. Laboratory test results and a physical examination, a physician can determine the cause of you.There are many compromises that are necessary when one has symptomatic anemia. This can affect the tolerability of therapy. Anemia is also associated with a poorer prognosis and increased mortality. Anemia is a common blood disorder. 

Women and people with chronic diseases are at increased risk of the condition. If you suspect you have anemia, see your doctor. Ayurvedic treatment of this condition is primarily aimed at treating the root cause of the disease and preventing serious complications. Medicines acting on the bone marrow are given in an attempt to minimize the production of defective cells. Guduchi (Tinosporia cordifolia), Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Laxadi Guggulu, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Heerak Bhasma and Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu are used for this purpose. 

Medicines like Arogya Vardhini, Punarnavadi Mandur, Panch-Tikta-Ghrut-Guggulu, Laxadi Guggulu, Laghu- Malini-Vasant, Madhu-Malini-Vasant, Suvarna-Malini-Vasant, Heerak Bhasma and Abhrak Bhasma are used to stimulate the bone marrow function. In addition, medicines which act on the "Rakta" and "Majja" dhatus (tissues) of the body are also used, as these again act on the metabolism regulating bone marrow production. These medicines include Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia), Patol (Tricosanthe dioica), Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Patha (Cissampelos pareira), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Kutki (Picrorrhiza kurroa), Guduchi and Amalaki (Emblica officinalis).

 Additional treatment needs to be given for associated symptoms. Triphala Guggulu and Mandukparni (Centella asiatica) are used for leg ulcers. Arjuna (Terminalia arjuna) and Laxmi Vilas Ras are used for angina and heart disease.

Cold water bath is known to have beneficial effects in anemia. A person with anemia must have at least two cold water baths a day.
Flushing out the bodily toxins is necessary. This can be achieved by massages from professionals.
Anemic people must not lead a lazy lifestyle even though anemia tends to make people lethargic. They must indulge in light exercises to keep the circulation healthy.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to improve the immune system fighting against the invasion of bacteria and virus. Because of poor reproduction and circulation of blood for people with anemia, strengthening the immune system becomes vital. Vitamin C also helps to improve the absorption of iron otherwise most iron intake may be wasted. Anemic people must not lead a lazy lifestyle even though anemia tends to make people lethargic. 

They must indulge in light exercises to keep the circulation healthy. Yoga has positive effects in anemia. The preferable asanas are paschimottasana and shavasana. These bring the body into a relaxed state of equilibrium and facilitate circulation of blood. 

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root or leaf, burdock (Arctium lappa), and yellowdock are herbs that have historically been used to strengthen and cleanse the blood. These herbs are helpful in bringing hemoglobin levels back to their normal range, for mild cases of anemia. Standard dosage is 1 tbs. per cup of water, and simmer roots for 20. An individual may utilize a single herb, or use a combination of these four herbs. 

Parsley is an herb which can be used dried or fresh. It is used as a home remedy and also very good for cooking, and as a breath refreshment. The parsley has vitamins and minerals and is very good for digestion, gas and more. 

Leafy vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, turnip greens, spinach, collards), legumes (beans, green peas, peas), walnuts, cashew nuts, raisins, peanut, egg and seafood like sardines, shrimp, etc are rich sources of iron and especially beneficial in healing iron deficient anemia.

• more about anemia
  1. What is anemia ? 
  2. symptoms of anemia
  3. aplastic anemia treatment
  4. What causes anemia?
  5. Types of Anemia and causes
  6. Sickle Cell Anemia