What causes small red blood cells?

Red blood cells, also called erythrocytes, carry oxygen from the lung throughout the body using a circulatory system. These cells can affect various health conditions, causing small red blood cells, enlarged red blood cells and also affecting their shape and color. The most common cause of small cells is iron deficiency anemia, which is usually the result of insufficient iron intake, excessive bleeding or iron absorption problems. The medical term used, when it is caused by anemia, is microcytic anemia and treatment differs depending on the basic cause. There are also some rare blood disorders that can cause small red blood cells, such as spheitosis, various forms of thalassemia and sideoblastic anemia.

Anemia and other blood disorders are commonly diagnosed using complete blood numbers or CBC. This blood test examines in detail the red blood cells using several red blood cell indexes. For example, the number of blood cells and a change in their size is to be shifted. To ensure the right diAgnostics and treatment, it is important to consult a doctor if the blood test shows small red blood cells.

iron deficiency anemia is usually due to iron deficiency in the diet; loss of blood, such as stomach ulcer or childbirth; Or poor iron absorption, sometimes caused by stomach disorders, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease. Iron deficiency causes the production of less red blood cells and the produced cells are small and pale due to lack of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is what gives red blood cells their color, and that is also what causes them to be able to bear oxygen. Iron is necessary for the formation of hemoglobin. The most common treatment of iron deficiency anemia are iron supplements, but other medicines are sometimes necessary to treat the cause.

However, other blood disorders may also cause small red blood cells, aleto conditions are rare. One example is sideoblastic anemia that nIron deficiency, but problems with the production of hemoglobin of the body, resulting in less red blood cells that have small sizes and pale colors. Spheracytosis is another rare genetic blood disorder that causes red blood cells to be small and unusual. Different forms of thalassemia, sometimes called Cooley anemia, can also cause small, pale and fragile red blood cells. Thalassemia is usually inherited and differs in severity.