How to identify and treat the different types of anemia

Anemia is a disease characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin in the bloodstream, which can have several causes, from a genetic alteration to poor diet. They usually produce similar symptoms such as dizziness, pallor, headache, weakness, dry skin and mucous membranes.

To identify and confirm the diagnosis of anemia, the doctor usually orders a blood test to assess the amount of hemoglobin, being considered anemia when the value is less than 12 g / dL in women or 13 g / dL in men. Then, it may be necessary to do other tests, such as hemoglobin electrophoresis, reticulocyte count or stool test, to identify the correct type of anemia, and to start the appropriate treatment.

Whatever anemia the individual has, it needs treatment. This is because when left untreated, they can develop complications that result in irreversible brain damage, such as dementia, stroke and cardiovascular problems, for example. Thalassemia is also a type of anemia, but it is genetic and has no cure. See how to identify thalassemia.

1. Macrocytic anemias

Macrocytic anemias are those in which the erythrocytes are larger than normal, normally seen in the VCM (Average Corpuscular Volume) test above the reference value, which is between 80 and 100 fl. The main types of macrocytic anemias are:

Megaloblastic anemia

It is a type of anemia characterized by the abnormal size of red blood cells and a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, caused by the low intake of vitamin B12, more common in vegetarians. In addition to classic symptoms, there may be pain in the belly, hair loss, tiredness and mouth sores, for example.

How to treat: increased intake of foods with vitamin B12, such as oysters, salmon and liver steak or use of vitamin B12 supplements, bought at the pharmacy. Better understand how the treatment is done.

Fanconi anemia

It is another type of genetic anemia characterized by the abnormal size of red blood cells and a decrease in white blood cells and platelets, caused by vitamin B12 deficiency. Symptoms include pain in the belly, hair loss, tiredness and mouth sores, for example.

How to treat: treatment is usually started with the use of corticosteroids, but it may be necessary to perform blood transfusions and even bone marrow transplantation, in the most severe cases. Learn more about the types of treatment.

Pernicious anemia

This is a type of megaloblastic anemia that occurs when the person ingests vitamin B12, but the body is unable to absorb it, which can result in severe neurological damage if there is no adequate treatment.

How to treat: due to the difficulty in absorbing vitamin B12, treatment should be done with injections of the vitamin directly into the vein throughout the year. Find out how to identify and treat pernicious anemia.

Learn more about pernicious anemia in the following video:

2. Microcytic anemias

Microcytic anemias are those in which the erythrocytes are smaller than normal, with a decrease in CMV and hemoglobin concentration within the erythrocytes. The main microcytic anemias are:

Iron deficiency anemia

It is one of the most common types of anemia, which is caused by low consumption of foods with iron, such as red meat, egg or spinach. However, this type of anemia can also arise after bleeding or severe menstruation, due to the loss of iron in the blood.

How to treat: it is usually treated with a diet rich in foods with iron and iron supplementation. Only in the most severe cases is it necessary to have a blood transfusion. Learn more about this type of anemia and how to treat it.

Thalassemia

Thalassemia is a type of microcytic anemia caused by genetic changes that result in defects in the hemoglobin synthesis process, which can cause fatigue, irritability, delayed growth, poor appetite and weakened immune system, for example.

Thalassemia can be classified into some types according to the hemoglobin chain that had its development impaired, which can cause the symptoms presented by the person to be less or more severe. Learn how to identify each type of thalassemia.

How to treat: it is important to identify what type of thalassemia is for treatment to start and thus prevent disease progression. In addition, it is important that an adequate diet is made to improve the quality of life and ensure the feeling of well-being. See how to feed for thalassemia.

3. Normocytic anemias

Normocytic anemias are those in which the size of red blood cells is normal, the result of VCM and HCM being close to the normal limit or showing little variation in relation to normal values. The main types of normocytic anemia are:

Hemolytic anemia

This type of anemia produces antibodies that destroy blood cells. It is more common in women than in men and causes symptoms such as pallor, dizziness, purple marks on the skin, dry skin and eyes and others. See other symptoms of this type of anemia.

How to treat: luckily, this anemia is curable and can be achieved with the use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs. In some cases, it may be necessary to have surgery to remove a part of the spleen.

Sickle cell anemia

It is a genetic anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells which causes symptoms such as jaundice, swelling in the hands and feet and pain throughout the body.

How to treat: treatment is done with drugs to relieve the symptoms of each person, since there is no treatment capable of curing this type of anemia. Learn more about sickle cell anemia and the different treatments used.

Aplastic anemia

It is an autoimmune disease where the bone marrow decreases the production of blood cells, causing symptoms such as bruises on the skin, frequent bruising and bleeding that take too long to stop. Better understand this type of anemia, diagnosis and treatment.

How to treat: its treatment is done with bone marrow transplantation and blood transfusion, when it is not properly treated, it can lead to death in less than 1 year.