Symptoms of Anemia




I) Symptoms common to many types of anemia include the following:
  • Easy fatigue and loss of energy
  • Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
  • Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Dizziness
  • Pale skin
  • Leg cramps
  • Insomnia
  II) Other symptoms are associated with specific forms of anemia.

Anemia Caused by Iron Deficiency

People with an iron deficiency may experience :
  • A hunger for strange substances such as paper, ice, or dirt (a condition called pica)
  • Upward curvature of the nails, referred to as koilonychias
  • Soreness of the mouth with cracks at the corners

Anemia Caused by Vitamin B12 Deficiency

People whose anemia is caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B12 may have these symptoms:
  • A tingling, "pins and needles" sensation in the hands or feet
  • Lost sense of touch
  • A wobbly gait and difficulty walking
  • Clumsiness and stiffness of the arms and legs
  • Dementia

Anemia Caused by Chronic Lead Poisoning

Chronic lead poisoning may lead to these symptoms:
  • A blue-black line on the gums referred to as a lead line
  • Abdominal pain
  • Constipation
  • Vomiting

Anemia Caused by Chronic Red Blood Cell Destruction

Anemia caused by chronic red blood cell destruction may experiencing:
  • Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
  • Brown or red urine
  • Leg ulcers
  • Failure to thrive in infancy
  • Symptoms of gallstones

Sickle Cell Anemia

Symptoms of sickle cell anemia may include:
  • Fatigue
  • Susceptibility to infection
  • Delayed growth and development in children
  • Episodes of severe pain, especially in the joints, abdomen, and limbs

Anemia Caused by Sudden Red Blood Cell Destruction

Symptoms of anemia caused by sudden red blood cell destruction may include:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Brown or red urine
  • Jaundice (yellow skin)
  • Small bruises under the skin
  • Seizures
  • Symptoms of kidney failure

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Role of Red Blood Cells in Anemia

Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues throughout the body. Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly. It is diagnosed when a  blood test  shows a hemoglobin value of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or less than 12.0 gm/dl in a woman. Normal values for children vary with age. When you have anemia, your body lacks oxygen, so you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Weakness Shortness of breath Dizziness Fast or irregular heartbeat Pounding or "whooshing" in your ears Headache Cold hands or feet Pale or yellow skin Chest pain
Read more