Can anemia turn into leukemia?

Anemia does not turn into leukemia, but it can be dangerous in pregnancy and in some cases can lead to death. In addition, it can be so severe that it is called profound and in some cases can lead to weight loss.

Anemia causes symptoms such as tiredness, pallor, hair loss and weak nails, and is diagnosed in a blood test that assesses the values ​​of red blood cells. This disease is common in Brazil and has several types that may be related to poor diet, with low iron consumption, or due to genetic changes that can be discovered through tests.

Some common questions about anemia are answered here.

1. Can anemia become leukemia?

No. Anemia cannot become leukemia because these are very different diseases. What happens is that anemia is one of the symptoms of leukemia and sometimes you need to have tests to make sure that it is just anemia, or if it is really leukemia.

The blood test that shows hemoglobin, which is the red blood cell, low indicates anemia, but in case of leukemia, in addition, the leukocytes, which are the white blood cells, are high but are defective. This indicates that the diseases have different causes and that is why no anemia can become leukemia, even in case of deep or long-lasting anemia. Check the symptoms of leukemia.

2. Is anemia in pregnancy dangerous?

Yes. Anemia is a common situation in pregnancy but it is dangerous because it can make it difficult for the baby to gain weight, preterm birth, neonatal anemia, developmental failure due to anemia and poor intellectual development. In addition, the woman is very tired and may experience dizziness when she has anemia. These dizziness can favor falling, which can harm the baby's life.

Anemia arises in pregnancy because there is a greater need for blood to supply the body, both for the mother and the baby, so it is important to consume enough iron-rich foods at this stage. When anemia is diagnosed in pregnancy, depending on the values ​​found, the obstetrician may recommend taking iron supplements. See also: How to treat anemia in pregnancy.

3. Does anemia get fat or lose weight?

The lack of hemoglobin in the blood is not directly linked to weight gain or loss. But anemia has as a symptom the lack of appetite and in this case, with the treatment there is a normalization of the appetite, being possible to ingest a greater amount of calories, which can lead to weight gain. In addition, iron supplements usually cause constipation, and this can make the belly more bloated, but to combat this, just consume enough fiber and drink more water to soften the stool.

4. What is profound anemia?

The person has anemia when hemoglobin values ​​are below 12 g / dl in women and below 13 g / dl in men. When these values ​​are really low, below 7 g / dl it is said that the person has profound anemia, who has the same symptoms as, discouragement, frequent tiredness, pallor and weak nails, but much more present and easy to be observed. Treatment for deep anemia should be done with an iron-rich diet and taking iron-based medicines. Check out the tests that confirm anemia.

5. Can anemia lead to death?

Iron deficiency anemia, which is the most common, does not lead to death or leukemia, but there is another type of anemia called aplastic anemia, which is a genetic disease, which, if not properly treated, can lead to death in less than 1 year due to the presence of recurrent infections. That is why it is important to go to the doctor and perform tests whenever any unpleasant symptoms appear and perform the necessary treatment.