Anemia is a condition in which the red blood cell count is below normal. Based on the causes, there are multiple types of anemia to know about. Each type can have different symptoms and severity levels. Here are the 5 of the common types of anemia that you should be aware of:
Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency in the body is among the most common nutrition-related disorders across the globe. Iron is needed by the body to produce red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) takes place when the intake of iron by the body has been low consistently over a period of time. The depletion of iron in the body can be caused to loss of blood, inadequate consumption levels of iron, or certain medical conditions that interfere with the body’s ability to absorb the iron.
Vitamin deficiency anemia
One of the common types of anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia occurs when there is a deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin C, and folate. These are the vitamins needed by the body to produce healthy red blood cells. When your diet does not contain these vitamins in adequate qualities, it leads to reduced production of red blood cells in the body. Also, in some cases, there may be enough supply of vitamin B12 in the body, but it is probably not able to process the same. Vitamin deficiency anemia is closely linked to megalolastic anemia.
Anemia of chronic disease
This type of anemia usually occurs along with chronic or severe conditions, such as HIV and viral infections. Autoimmune diseases including cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) can also lead to this form of anemia.
Anemia of chronic kidney disease
Anemia is among the most common complications that arise from chronic kidney disease, and can have severe consequences. This type of anemia can even increase the risk of hospitalization and end up in fatality. Those with this type of anemia are also at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
Aplastic anemia
This is a severe condition that is closely associated with bone marrow failure. This condition is caused by the absence of sufficient red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The condition can start at any age, and the onset can be slow or sudden. The symptoms caused by this type of anemia are quite similar to that of the other types. In addition to those, it can encourage infections to recur.
