What is microcytic anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which the number or number of red blood cells (RBC) is unusually low in circulation. When a decrease in RBC is accompanied by paler and smaller RBC, it is usually called microcytic anemia. Micro is a term that means small, and cytics comes from the medical term Cyte concerning the cell. Microcytic anemia is usually caused by lack of iron in the diet, insufficient iron absorption due to intestinal diseases and other inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia. Thalassymia is one type of blood disorder in which the body produces abnormally structured hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body, is located inside the RBC. It contains iron and transmits the red color of the blood, so that the low iron content usually leads to a smaller and paler -looking RBC. During growth and healing, the body is absorbed and requires more iron, so that children, pregnant women and sick individuals are generally more sensitive to anemia with iron deficiency and microcytic anemia. Without nIron and the ability of the body is often influenced by the body's ability to produce new RBCs. If this happens, the supply of oxygen to vital organs is also often affected, resulting in a manifestation of symptoms of microcytic anemia.

Symptoms of microcytic anemia include loss of appetite, mouth ulcers, thin or fragile nails and pale skin, lips and eyelids. The affected individual can also experience frequent fatigue, weakness, headaches and light. Other symptoms are sleep and concentration problems, chest pain, irregular and rapid heart rhythm and dyspnoea during exercise. Anemic women also suffer from discomfort during strong menstrual flows.

doctors who control patients with microcytic anemia often evaluate these patients by means of a blood test called a complete Blood Number (CBC). This is usually done by accepting a sufficient amount of blood for analysis in the laboratory. These blood samples are also observed belowMicroscope, a device that can increase cells up to their actual size. CBC results include the number of RBC and other blood components as well as the level of hemoglobin.

Treatment of microcytic anemia often involves exploring its cause. If it is found to be caused by iron deficiency, doctors often recommend patients include iron -rich foods into the diet and also enjoy iron supplements. Examples of iron -rich foods include egg yolks, liver, beans and raisins. There are also foods that are enriched with iron such as noodles, breads and cereals. Blood transfusion is sometimes also necessary when a patient with microcyte anemia has a very low number of RBC and already represents serious symptoms.