Types of Anemia

• Blood loss, especially from bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract

• Rapid loss occurs in bleeding ulcers or slow loss in colon cancer.

• Decreased bone marrow production due to problems with manufacturing cells in the bone marrow

• Cancers such as Lymphoma

• Aplastic Anemia

• Myeloplastic anemia

• Bone marrow damaged by toxins and radiation, or invasion by cancers, fibrosis, and other tumors

• Decreased bone marrow production due to deficiencies

• Vitamin B12 Deficiency

• Folic Acid Deficiency

• Iron deficiency

• Thalassemias -- genetic problems with the hemoglobin molecule structure

• Hypothyroidism

• Kidney disease -- because of decreased level of hormone erythropoietin

• Hemolytic anemias -- cells are destroyed

• Red blood cells are also destroyed in Sickle Cell Anemia, hereditary diseases, spherocytosis, thrombocyopenic purpura, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and G6PD deficiency

• Drug induced hemolytic anemia

     The main symptom of most types of anemia is fatigue. Other anemia symptoms include:

• Weakness

• Pale skin

• A fast or irregular heartbeat

• Shortness of breath

• Chest pain

• Dizziness

• Cognitive problems

• Numbness or coldness in your extremities

• Headache

     Initially, anemia can be so mild it goes unnoticed. But signs and symptoms increase as the condition worsens.

Screening and Diagnostics

Treatment

     Anemia treatment depends on the cause:

• Iron deficiency anemia. This form of anemia is treated with iron supplements, which you may need to take for several months or longer. If the underlying cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood — other than from menstruation — the source of the bleeding must be located and stopped. This may involve surgery.

• Vitamin deficiency anemias. Pernicious anemia is treated with injections — often lifetime injections — of vitamin B-12. Folic acid deficiency anemia is treated with folic acid supplements.

• Anemia of chronic disease. There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. Iron supplements and vitamins generally don't help this type of anemia. However, if symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of synthetic erythropoietin, a hormone normally produced by the kidneys, may help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.

• Aplastic anemia. Treatment for this serious anemia may include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You may need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow is diseased and can't make healthy blood cells. You may need immune-suppressing medications to lessen your immune system's response and give the transplanted bone marrow a chance to start functioning again.

• Anemias associated with bone marrow disease. Treatment of these various diseases can range from simple medication to chemotherapy to bone marrow transplantation. Treatment of these types of anemia usually involves a consultation from a blood specialist (hematologist).

• Hemolytic anemias. Managing hemolytic anemias includes avoiding suspect medications, treating related infections and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which may be attacking your red blood cells. Short courses of treatment with steroids or gamma globulin can help suppress your immune system's attack on your red blood cells. If the condition has caused an enlarged spleen, you may need to have your spleen removed. The spleen — a small organ below your rib cage on the left side — filters out and stores defective red blood cells. Certain hemolytic anemias can cause the spleen to become enlarged with damaged red blood cells.

• Sickle cell anemia. Treatment for this incurable anemia may include the administration of oxygen, pain-relieving drugs, and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors also commonly use blood transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. A bone marrow transplant may be an effective treatment in some circumstances. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia in adults.