What causes Anaemia?

Anaemia is a state of health in which the red blood cells in the blood of a human being are reduced drastically.

But how does all this happen?

Lets discuss it before we go for the causes of anaemia.

A normal human body contains about eight pints of blood, which is pumped round by the heart and nourishes the tissues. There are very small particles in the blood called red blood cells and these cells compose the largest part of the blood.

Now what is the function of these red blood cells in our body?

They carry oxygen from the lungs to all the tissues, and this oxygen is highly essential to keep them alive.

And in anaemia, the number of these red blood cells (or corpluscles) is reduced and the body becomes unable to work as it expected. The anaemic patient gets pale due to the decreased amount of red pigment in the blood. The sufferer loses his/her stamina and gets tired easily, gets short of breath, may suffer through headaches and chest pain. The most common sufferers of anaemia are the women as compared to men. The reason for women being the victims is the heavy drainage of the red blood cells from their bodies during their periods every month.

Anaemia Causes

1. shortage of iron in diet, as this iron is used in the manufacturing of the haemoglobin- the pigment contained in the red blood cells
2. pregnancy- more chances of getting anaemic during pregnancy as enough haemoglobin for two has to be obtained- Pregnant women need extra iron as well as folic acid (another essential factor for developing red blood cells)
3. lack of vitamin B12, vitamin C, thyroid hormone
4. excessive breakdown or loss of red blood cells- this occurs when there is acute haemorrhage or small frequent bleeds from "haemorrhoids" or "hiatus hernia".

Anaemia Treatment

Here is a list of things that you should include in your diet to get rid of anaemia:

1. meat
2. eggs
3. liver
4. green vegetables
5. fresh fruits
6. iron supplements
7. vitamins B and C supplements

Warning:
If your condition does not improve inspite of all these efforts, then there is something serious and you need a fuller medical investigation immediately.