what causes anemia
Causes of Anemia
Bone marrow is the soft tissue in the center of the bones that helps form all the blood cells in the body. Healthy red blood cells have a life span of 90 to 120 days. After that, old red blood cells will be replaced with new red blood cells that are healthier, and this process will take place continuously alias continuously.
In order to make more red blood cells in the body, there is a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) which is made in the kidneys. Meanwhile, hemoglobin is a protein that serves as an oxygen carrier in red blood cells. This type of protein is what gives red blood cells their red color. For people with anemia, they do not have enough hemoglobin.
Possible causes of anemia include:
Consumption of certain drugs.
The presence of elimination that occurs earlier than usual in red blood cells caused by immune problems.
Have a history of chronic disease, such as cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or ulcerative colitis.
Have some forms of anemia, such as thalassemia or sickle cell anemia that can be inherited.
Is pregnant.
Have health problems with the bone marrow, such as lymphoma, leukemia, aplastic anemia or myelodysplasia, and multiple myeloma.
Meanwhile, factors that can increase a person's risk of developing anemia include:
Insufficient stimulation of red blood cell production is influenced by hormones.
Hypothyroidism.
Several health disorders can increase the breakdown of red blood cells.
Lack of vitamins and nutrients, such as low iron, vitamin B12, and folate.
Health problems in the intestines, so the ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins is reduced.
Have a chronic disease.
Hereditary disease or inherited from parents.
Other factors, such as exposure to toxic substances, immune conditions, and so on.
Symptoms of Anemia
The most common symptom of anemia is that the body quickly feels tired and looks pale and often complains of being cold. Some other symptoms that may occur, among others:
Always feel irritable.
Having trouble concentrating or thinking.
Constipation.
Furthermore, conditions such as the following will appear when the disease progresses more and more:
Blue to white in the eyes.
Nails become brittle.
There is a desire to eat ice cubes, dirt, or other things that are not food (this condition is also known as “pica”).
Dizziness when standing.
Pale skin color.
Hard to breathe.
Tongue hurts.
Then, there are several types of anemia that can cause specific symptoms, including:
Aplastic anemia: This disease can cause fever, frequent infections, and skin rashes.
Folic acid deficiency anemia: This disorder can cause irritability, diarrhea, and discomfort in the tongue.
Hemolytic anemia: This type of anemia can cause jaundice, dark urine, fever, and abdominal pain.
Sickle cell anemia: This disease can cause painful swelling in the feet and hands, from fatigue to jaundice.