How to Identify the Symptoms of Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin content of the blood is below normal. Hemoglobin is the vital component of red blood cells (RBC). Red blood cells are responsible in the transport of oxygen, a vital substance for red cells’ survival. Without hemoglobin therefore, the biochemical and physiologic processes in the body would not be able to occur. This would result to cell death, tissue death and then eventually organ death.
There are several causes of anemia. This may be due to chronic or acute blood loss, blood dyscrasia, or as a secondary result of another condition like in hookworm anemia, which is the result of parasitism with Ancylostoma doudenale and Necatur americanus.
There are also several types of anemia, hemolytic anemia, pernicious anemia, iron-deficiency anemia to name some. The following are the general overview of anemia.
What are the physical symptoms of Anemia?
1. Pallor of the skin, mucosal lining of the eyes and palms are some physical indication that a person is anemic.
2. Dyspnea or difficulty of breathing. There is also shortness of breath.
3. Headache or light-headedness, because of the lack of oxygen in the brain.
4. Easy fatigability. The person gets exhausted very easily even upon light, physical exertion.
5. Nausea and dizziness. The person feels dizzy very often.
6. Amenorrhea/absence or scanty menstruation.
What are the laboratory diagnostic symptoms of anemia?
1. Hemoglobin values are below normal. Normal values for female = 12- 16 gm/dL (120 g/L- 160 g/L), male = 12.5 – 18 mg/dL (125 g/L – 180 g/L)
2. Hematocrit values are below normal. Normal values for female = 42 ± 5 %, male = 45 ± 5 %.
3. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is increased. Normal value is 0-10 mm/hr.
4. The red blood cell count (RCC) is below normal. Normal value for female = 4.5 M/cumm – 5.5 M/cumm. Male = 5 M/cumm – 7 M/cumm.
5. The mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) is abnormal. Normal value for adults = 32 % – 62 % hemoglobin/cell.
These are the basic symptoms of an anemic person. To determine the root cause of the condition, additional testing should be performed. The health history of the patient should be recorded too. If you have the above-mentioned symptoms, then consult a specialist who could give you treatment for your condition. The early detection of a disease leads to a better prognosis.