Anaemia is said to be the disease of women. In Pakistan, the prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15 to 44 is reported to be 26% in urban areas and 47% in rural areas. According to WHO (world health organization), an estimated 2 billion people worldwide are suffering from anaemia.

Anaemia

The condition of having a lower than normal red blood cells or quantity of haemoglobin. In this case, blood is unable to carry adequate oxygen to the body.

Types

There are many types of anaemia some of them are:

1. Iron deficiency anaemia

2. Vitamin deficiency anaemia

3. Aplastic anaemia

4. Hemolytic anaemia

5. Pernicious anaemia

Symptoms

Anaemic patients' experience:

1. Fatigue

2. Shortness of breath

3. Pale or yellow skin

4. Headache

5. Dizziness

6. Cold hands or feet

7. Irregular or fast heartbeat

Causes

Anaemia is multifactorial. Some common causes of Anemia are:

1. Inadequate intake of dietary iron, folate or vitamin B-12

2. Haemorrhage from Accident

3. Blood loss due to surgery

4. Menstruation

5. Childbirth

6. Gastrointestinal lesions etc.

Risk factors

Some people are of greater risk of anaemia than the other because of chronic

diseases (liver disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel

disease), malnutrition, infections, women who are menstruating or pregnant.

Treatment

Common strategies for treating anaemia are:

1. Dietary supplementation (beef, dark green leafy vegetables, dried

    fruits, nuts, meat and dairy)

2. Synthetic iron supplementation

3. Blood transfusion

4. Injections of synthetic erythropoietin

5. Bone marrow transplant

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