What Is Anemia?

Complications Linked To Anemia

When an individual has a severe case of anemia or if anemia is left untreated, a number of serious complications can result. While different types of anemia can cause a range of different complications, there are several complications most have in common. An irregular or fast heartbeat is a common complication of anemia because low blood oxygen levels signal the heart to contract faster. This occurs because the heart attempts to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the tissues throughout the body. Ultimately, heart problems caused by anemia can result in heart failure.

Anemia patients will also often have a poorly functioning immune system. In anemias that involve the increased breakdown of red blood cells, the spleen works overtime to filter these dead cells from the blood. The spleen reduces its other functions of monitoring the body for infections to help clear out the dead cells. Additionally, the bone marrow does not receive enough oxygen to make an adequate amount of white blood cells, which are required for the immune system to be effective. Other complications include chronic fatigue, weakness, and pregnancy complications.

Diagnosing Anemia

The most common way to diagnose anemia is a simple complete blood count, which measures components and features of blood, including the patient's hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. It is a simple test with no preparation needed, just a little pin prick to provide a small blood sample. Doctors will be looking for information such as the patient's levels of iron and vitamin B12. Aside from the use of a complete blood count test, doctors may also order chest X-rays, abdominal scans, an upper GI, and a barium enema when they are diagnosing anemia, particularly to narrow the severity and type.