Editor’s Note: All Women Are At Risk for Anemia
Anemia is very common in women of all ages. Although premenopausal women are at higher risk for anemia, it also affects postmenopausal women.
Anemia is defined as having low red blood cell (RBC) and hemoglobin counts. RBCs and the hemoglobin molecules within them carry oxygen to all parts of your body, including your heart, brain, muscles, and all of your organs and blood vessels. If you are anemic, you are at risk of decreased function in all areas of your body. Anemia can be detected by a blood test that is commonly ordered at annual check-ups.
Anemia may develop due to blood loss, insufficient RBC production, and increased RBC breakdown. The most critical cause of anemia, and the one to be ruled out first, is bleeding. Blood loss occurs with heavy periods in premenopausal women, but it also may occur in postmenopausal women due to internal bleeding, which can happen in the stomach, the colon, or at other sites.
Insufficient RBC production can be caused by iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies; vegans (who consume no animal-based foods) and those who eat diets low in meat and/or leafy vegetables are especially at risk. Another possible culprit is a disease of the bone marrow, where the RBCs are normally made. Increased RBC breakdown occurs in certain bone marrow diseases, and in auto-immune diseases in which the body makes antibodies to RBCs. Blood tests and/or an examination of the size and shape of the RBCs can help your doctor identify the cause of your anemia.
Anemia can produce symptoms that are wide-ranging; fatigue, shortness of breath, and tachy-cardia (rapid heartbeat) are some of the most common signs. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek attention soon. If your RBC count is low, you need to determine the cause and get it cor-rected, so you have enough oxygen-rich RBCs to supply the fuel your heart, brain, tissues, and organs need to function optimally.
—Editor-in-Chief Orli R. Etigin, MD
The post Editor’s Note: All Women Are At Risk for Anemia appeared first on University Health News.
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