What Is Anemia?
Treatments For Anemia
The method used to treat a patient's anemia depends on the underlying cause of it. For types of anemia related to deficiencies in an individual's diet, vitamin B12 or iron supplements may be prescribed. If the cause of a patient's anemia is related to excessive blood loss, a blood transfusion to replace the lost blood may be required. Individuals with kidney and liver-related types of anemia may be treated with certain medications to help with increasing the production of healthy red blood cells.
In situations where the patient's anemia is caused by a form of cancer or a tumor, a surgical procedure may be required to remedy it. If faulty or impaired bone marrow is the cause of anemia, treatment to replace or replenish it may be required. Some forms of treatment may have to be followed for life if the anemia cannot be cured completely, while others may only need initial treatment and follow-up.
How To Prevent Anemia
Various common types of anemia can be easily prevented by the consumption of a healthy diet with meats and vegetables. Limiting the consumption of alcohol and tobacco can also help prevent this condition from developing. For types of anemia that are not directly caused by lifestyle choices, frequent visits to the doctor and blood tests can help detect problems before they become too serious. For those who have a familial history of certain types of anemia, genetic testing can be done to identify if an individual has the same risk factor for developing it.
Oftentimes, anemia is detected through routine bloodwork before it becomes noticeably symptomatic. Addressing the problem causing the anemia before patients experience symptoms can stop it from progressing. Exercising proper wound and injury care can ensure excessive bleeding does not cause anemia to develop. If an individual is aware of an underlying factor such as kidney disease, intestinal problems, or the absence of certain factors in the blood, following up with regular maintenance of these conditions can help prevent them from developing severe anemia.
