How do treat anemia

What are the Symptoms of Iron Deficiency? How is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Diagnosed? How is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Treated? What Causes Pernicious Anemia? What are the Risk Factors for Pernicious Anemia? What Causes Polycythemia Vera? How is Polycythemia Vera Treated? How is Pulmonary Embolism Treated?

What Causes Sickle Cell Disease? Who is at Risk for Sickle Cell Disease? How Is Anemia Treated? Goals of Treatment The goal of treatment is to increase the amount of oxygen that your blood can carry.

Another goal is to treat the underlying cause of the anemia. Dietary Changes and Supplements Low levels of vitamins or iron in the body can cause some types of anemia. Iron Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Nonmeat foods that are good sources of iron include: Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables Tofu Peas; lentils; white, red, and baked beans; soybeans; and chickpeas Dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and apricots Prune juice Iron-fortified cereals and breads You can look at the Nutrition Facts label on packaged foods to find out how much iron the items contain.

Large amounts of iron can be harmful, so take iron supplements only as your doctor prescribes. Vitamin B12 Low levels of vitamin B12 can lead to pernicious anemia. Good food sources of vitamin B12 include: Breakfast cereals with added vitamin B12 Meats such as beef, liver, poultry, and fish Eggs and dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and cheese Foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as soy-based beverages and vegetarian burgers Folic Acid Folic acid folate is a form of vitamin B that's found in foods.

Good sources of folic acid include: Bread, pasta, and rice with added folic acid Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables Black-eyed peas and dried beans Beef liver Eggs Bananas, oranges, orange juice, and some other fruits and juices Vitamin C Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.

Other fruits rich in vitamin C include kiwi fruit, strawberries, and cantaloupes. Medicines Your doctor may prescribe medicines to help your body make more red blood cells or to treat an underlying cause of anemia. Some of these medicines include: Antibiotics to treat infections.

Hormones to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in teenaged and adult women. A man-made version of erythropoietin to stimulate your body to make more red blood cells. This hormone has some risks. You and your doctor will decide whether the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risks. Medicines to prevent the body's immune system from destroying its own red blood cells. It can also help the doctor decide whether to check for underlying conditions, such as leukemia or kidney disease. If RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels fall below the normal range, a person is likely to have some form of anemia.

The outlook for a person with anemia depends on the cause. People can sometimes prevent or manage anemia by making dietary changes alone. Anemia occurs when a low number of RBCs are circulating in the body.

There are over types of anemia. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia. A doctor can use a CBC blood test to help detect anemia. Treatment varies, depending on the type, but it may include iron or vitamin supplements, medications, blood transfusions, and bone marrow transplants.

Find out about the potential benefits of iron including assisting with a healthy pregnancy, helping both mental and physical performance, and…. A serum iron test can tell doctors whether a person has low, healthy, or high iron levels.

Normal levels vary between individuals, but having a result…. The gums can turn pale for several reasons. Pale gums around the teeth may indicate anemia, which is often caused by a lack of iron, folate, or….

Nutritional-deficiency anemia happens when the body does not get enough iron or a few other nutrients from the diet. Learn more, including how to…. A variety of conditions and lifestyle factors can lead to a reduction in hemoglobin. Common causes include anemia, pregnancy, and thyroid conditions…. What to know about anemia. Iron deficiency anaemia is caused by lack of iron, often because of blood loss or pregnancy. It's treated with iron tablets prescribed by a GP and by eating iron-rich foods.

Less common symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia that are not usually connected to pregnancy include:. If the reason for the anaemia is not clear, they might order some tests to find out what might be causing the symptoms. This will find out if the number of red blood cells you have your red blood cell count is normal. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia. There are other types, like vitamin B12 and folate anaemia, that the blood test will also check for.

Once the reason you have anaemia has been found for example, an ulcer or heavy periods the GP will recommend treatment. Citrus fruits, beans, and whole grains are good sources of folate. Some greens high in iron, such as spinach and kale, are also high in oxalates. Oxalates can bind with iron, preventing the absorption of nonheme iron. Vitamin C helps your stomach absorb iron. Eating leafy greens with foods that contain vitamin C such as oranges, red peppers, and strawberries may increase iron absorption.

Some greens are good sources of both iron and vitamin C, such as collard greens and Swiss chard. All meat and poultry contain heme iron.

Red meat, lamb, and venison are the best sources. Poultry and chicken have lower amounts. Eating meat or poultry with nonheme iron foods, such as leafy greens, along with a vitamin C-rich fruit can increase iron absorption. Liver is arguably the most popular organ meat.

Some other iron-rich organ meats are heart, kidney, and beef tongue. Some seafood provides heme iron. Shellfish such as oysters, clams, scallops, crabs, and shrimp are good sources. Most fish contain iron.