Anaemia

Introduction

We all need a good source of iron in our diet. Without it, our bodies become prone to one of the most common forms of anaemia - and it can leave us feeling faint, fatigued, weak and breathless.

Anaemia is not just a condition which affects growing teenagers and pregnant women, though they are the most common sufferers.

Anyone can suffer from anaemia, and it can cause a range of different symptoms. It is important to make sure you're not at risk and take care to eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of iron-rich foods.

What is anaemia?

Anaemia is an ailment of the body's red blood cells and occurs for a couple of reasons:

• When you don't have enough red blood cells. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow with the help of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid. However, if there is a shortage of one of these or if the bone marrow is damaged or diseased, this can cause a deficiency of red blood cells
• When there is a lack of haemoglobin in the red blood cells (haemoglobin is the red pigment in our blood that carries oxygen around the body)

Are there different types of anaemia?

Yes. The most common sort in the UK is called iron deficiency anaemia - which is caused by a lack of iron.

• Megaloblastic anaemia can develop if you have a lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid or both
• Pernicious anaemia  is a type of megaloblastic anaemia in which the small intestine is unable to absorb enough vitamin B12 from food. The stomach normally produces a substance called intrinsic factor to absorb vitamin B12, but this factor is reduced or missing in this type of anaemia.
  In the UK, the commonest cause of B12 deficiency is a lack of intrinsic factor.
• Haemolytic anaemia happens when the body has a condition in which red blood cells mature and are broken down too quickly
• Aplastic anaemia is when the bone marrow doesn't produce enough good red blood cells
• Sickle cell anaemia is a serious inherited condition where the red blood cells, which are normally round like a doughnut without a hole,collapse into a crescent shape. Sickle cells don't move easily through blood vessels and get stuck. The blocked vessels are not only painful, but can cause serious infections and damage organs
• Sometimes, chronic disease, such as cancer, kidney failure or inflammatory bowel disease may also cause anaemia.

How much iron do I need? 

• Men need 8.7mg a day
• Women need 14.8mg a day

Could I be anaemic?

Anyone can suffer from anaemia, but there are certain factors that make it more likely:

• Diet:a varied balanced diet usually contains enough iron for the body's needs, but some people on restricted diets may need to make sure they are getting enough iron from other food sources
• Blood loss:one of the common reasons why iron may be lost from the body so menstruating women tend to be more at risk of iron deficiency than men. Iron can also be lost when there is internal blood loss (for example from piles, a bleeding stomach ulcer or an inflamed oesophagus)
• Pregnancy:a growing baby takes its iron supply from its mother, so it's important for pregnant women to have a good iron-rich diet
• Medicines:in some people, certain regularly-taken medications, such as aspirin (or other anti-inflammatory drugs) can cause internal bleeding
• Hookworm infection:a common cause of iron deficiency worldwide, this is an infection caused by a small parasite that lives in the gut
• Age:people over the age of 60 may be more at risk of anaemia due to poor diet
• Genetics:some people are born with diseases which cause anaemia, such as thalassaemia or sickle cell anaemia
• Chronic diseases:some medical conditions, such as diabetes, HIV infection and some leukaemias can destroy or reduce the amount of red blood cells or haemoglobin

What are the symptoms of anaemia?

Normal symptoms of anaemia include tiredness, breathlessness (due to the reduced amount of oxygen in the body), skin pallor, dizziness, confusion and headache.

Less common symptoms include palpitations, altered taste, sore mouth and brittle or spoon-shaped nails. Neither diarrhoea nor weight loss is a direct symptom of anaemia, but they can arise from conditions which cause anaemia, such as chronic bowel disease or cancer. Severe anaemia can also cause chest pain and leg pain.

How do I know I'm anaemic?

If you have symptoms that indicate anaemia, your GP will normally ask you to have a test called a full blood count (FBC) so the levels of haemoglobin can be measured.

A normal level of haemoglobin in men lies between 13.5 and 17.5 grams (3 per decilitre of blood. For women, the normal range lies between 11.5 and 15.5 grams per decilitre.

If your haemoglobin levels are lower than this, you are probably anaemic.

Will I need other tests?

If the cause of anaemia isn't clear (pregnancy, heavy periods or poor diet), you may be advised to have other tests, such as an endoscopy, colonoscopy or a biopsy.

Can I prevent anaemia?

You can take steps to help prevent anaemia developing:

• Eat a diet that is rich in iron. Iron-rich foods include: liver (although pregnant women should avoid eating liver), meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit (apricots), whole grains, fortified cereals and leafy dark-green vegetables
• Eating vitamin C rich foods at the same time can help iron to be absorbed into your body

Clickthrough information and support links:

Food Standards Agency