How is anemia treated and can anemia be cured? Learn how to identify and manage anemia. Read more: Anemia: How Is It Treated and Can It Be Cured? Article
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Anemia: Common Causes, Symptoms, Types, and Treatment
Anemia is a disease marked by low numbers of red blood cells. Low iron deficiency or underlying disease, like cancer, may be to...
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Food and Recipes: Top Foods High in Iron
WebMD shows you which foods to choose that are high in iron -- and tasty, too!
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Understanding Cancer: Metastasis, Stages of Cancer, and More See SlideshowRelated Disease Conditions
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Anemia
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased. There are several types of anemia such as iron deficiency anemia (the most common type), sickle cell anemia, vitamin B12 anemia, pernicious anemia, and aplastic anemia. Symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, malaise, hair loss, palpitations, menstruation, and medications. Treatment for anemia includes treating the underlying cause for the condition. Iron supplements, vitamin B12 injections, and certain medications may also be necessary.
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Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious anemia is a blood disorder in which the body does not make enough red blood cells due to a lack of vitamin B12 in the blood. Pernicious anemia can develop from a lack of a protein that helps the body absorb vitamin B12, not getting enough B12 in the diet, and certain intestinal conditions that interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 such as Crohn's disease, celiac sprue, or ulcerative colitis. There is no cure for pernicious anemia, thus treatment is life-long.
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Sickle Cell Disease (Anemia)
Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease), a blood disease that shortens life expectancy, is caused by inherited abnormal hemoglobin. Symptoms of sickle cell anemia may include bacterial infections, painful swelling of the hands and feet, fever, leg ulcers, fatigue, anemia, eye damage, and lung and heart injury. Treatment for sickle cell anemia aims to manage and prevent the worst manifestations of the disease and focuses on therapies that block red blood cells from stacking together, which can lead to tissue and organ damage and pain.
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What Foods Are Good and Bad for Your Diet if You Have Anemia?
What is anemia? Learn foods that are good and bad for anemia.
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What Are the 3 Stages of Iron Deficiency?
Iron is an important substance that our body needs in minute amounts. Daily ingestion of iron is needed for the health of red blood cells and muscle proteins, as well as the functioning of body cells. The normal body iron content in an adult is approximately 3-4 grams.
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What Is Gilbert Syndrome?
Gilbert syndrome is a harmless genetic condition that causes abnormal breakdown of bilirubin, a compound that is formed when hemoglobin from red blood cells degrades. High bilirubin can cause jaundice (yellowing of the eyes). Gilbert syndrome does not need to be treated and has a good prognosis.
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How Do You Fix Anemia?
Anemia describes a condition in which you have a low red blood cell count and low hemoglobin levels. This is a serious condition as red blood cells and hemoglobin carry oxygen to all your cells, allowing them to burn energy. If you’re anemic, you’ll likely feel fatigued and short of breath, lacking physical stamina. You may have heart problems and appear pale. Anemia is often a symptom of some other disease or condition, so treatment varies widely depending on the root cause.
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How Does Anemia Affect Your Baby During Pregnancy?
Anemia occurs when you don't have enough red blood cells to transport adequate oxygen or iron. Anemia during pregnancy may contribute to early delivery or failure of the baby to grow to a healthy weight.
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What Are Anemia Symptoms During Pregnancy?
Anemia during pregnancy is a common issue that affects many women. Learn the signs of anemia, what causes anemia, how doctors diagnose anemia, and what you can do to treat anemia in pregnancy.
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How Does Anemia Affect Pregnancy?
Anemia is a condition in which your body doesn't make enough red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia which 50% of women develop during pregnancy.
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How Do You Treat Anemia in Children?
What are anemia symptoms in children and how do you treat it?
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What Is Diamond-Blackfan Anemia (DBA)?
Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a rare blood disorder that affects the bone marrow. In this condition, the bone marrow fails to make red blood cells, which are essential for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all the other parts of the body. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow.
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