Spinning Out of Control: Uncovering the Hidden Dangers of Anemia and Finding the Right Treatment

Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the red blood cells is lower than normal and occurs more often in women than men. According to health insurance statistics, the total number of anemia patients in 2022 was 675,747, of which 487,758 were women, accounting for 72%.
There are various types of anemia depending on the cause and it can manifest itself with a variety of symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Source: Clip Art Korea
It can be taken lightly as a disease that menstruating women may experience at least once, but if you skip the treatment period, your tiredness will worsen, making daily life difficult and can even lead to serious illness, so you need to be careful. Let’s look at the various types, symptoms and management of anemia.

The most common iron deficiency anemia… accounts for more than 80%
More than 80% of all anemias are iron deficiency anemia, which occurs when there is not enough iron stored in the body. If there is not enough iron in the body, it cannot produce the hemoglobin needed for red blood cells, which causes iron deficiency anemia.

The hemoglobin concentration is 13 g/dL for male adults, 12 g/dL for adult females, 12 g/dL for adolescents between 6 and 16 years of age, 11 g/dL for children aged between 6 months and less than 6 years, and 11 g/dL for pregnant women. Anything lower corresponds to iron deficiency anemia.

In women, the cause is periodic loss of iron due to menstruation, while in men and the elderly, the cause is chronic bleeding due to inflammation, tumors, hemorrhoids, and diverticula in the stomach or intestines. Iron deficiency can also occur in cases of digestive and absorption disorders due to gastritis.

Classified by cause such as vitamin B-12 deficiency, chronic inflammation, etc.
In addition to iron deficiency anemia, there are anemias due to various causes. Megaloblastic anemia often occurs in people who are deficient in one or more vitamins B-12 (cobalamin) and folic acid, essential for the production of healthy red blood cells, or who have digestive problems. Chronic inflammation, such as cancer or rheumatoid arthritis, can also cause problems with iron metabolism, hindering the production of red blood cells and causing chronic anemia.

Aplastic anemia occurs when bone marrow function decreases and can be life-threatening. The cause is unclear, but it is believed to be a type of autoimmune disease. Diseases such as leukemia can also affect blood production in the bone marrow, causing anemia.

Hemolytic anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be made and replenished in the bone marrow. Drugs such as some antibiotics can increase the destruction of red blood cells. Additionally, there are rare forms of anemia such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.

The main symptoms are fatigue, pale skin and changes in the shape of the nails.
In most cases, the initial anemia is mild and often does not cause any particular symptoms, but as it worsens, various abnormal signs appear. Typical symptoms include fatigue, difficulty breathing, and pale skin, as well as lethargy, chest pain, and palpitations. Additionally, cold hands and feet, headaches, dizziness, lightheadedness, and memory loss may occur. In severe cases, the nails become concave and pica may appear, causing the person to want to eat dirt.

If left untreated, the incidence of heart disease may increase…active management is required.
If anemia is left untreated, the heart will feel burdened due to poor oxygen supply, and if this condition persists, the risk of developing heart disease may increase. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association in 2018, if hemoglobin levels remained outside the normal range for two years, the risk of death from acute myocardial infarction and cerebrovascular disease increased 10 years later.

Active prevention and testing are essential to prevent serious diseases such as those mentioned above. If tiredness persists for no reason, it’s a good idea to get tested for anemia in hospital and find out the cause. If anemia is suspected, the diagnosis is made through the patient’s medical history and blood tests, which measure red blood cell and hemoglobin levels.

Treatment varies depending on the cause… “A diet rich in protein and iron is helpful.”
If you have iron deficiency anemia, it is difficult to treat it by consuming only iron-rich foods, so you need to take iron supplements for at least 6 months. You can increase the rate of absorption of iron supplements by taking them with vitamin C before meals, but if you have an upset stomach, it is advisable to take them immediately after meals.

Vitamin deficiency anemia should be treated with vitamin B-12 injections, and folic acid deficiency should be treated with supplements. To treat anemia of chronic disease, treatment focuses on treating the underlying disease, so separate iron supplements are not helpful.

In the case of aplastic anemia, if the anemia is severe, a blood transfusion may be performed, and if problems arise due to bone marrow disease, a bone marrow transplant may be performed. Anemia related to bone marrow disease can vary from drug treatment to chemotherapy, so treatment is tailored to the patient’s condition. Hemolytic anemia is treated by avoiding drugs that cause anemia, treating related infections, and taking drugs that suppress the immune system.

Basically, it is important for anemic patients to eat a nutrient-rich diet. Nutritionist Lee Ji-hye of Hidoc Nutrition Counseling said, “To improve anemia, high-quality protein and iron-rich foods such as meat, fish, tofu, eggs and beans are helpful.”

Help = Nutrition Counseling Hidoc Lee Ji-hye (nutritionist)