How To Know If You Are Anemic Or Not

It is very important to know if you are anemic, especially during a pregnancy, for example. It is also important for people who suffer from symptoms such as fatigue and tiredness for no apparent reason.

Identifying anemia begins with noticing the signs and then proceeding with treatment methods. To detect this disorder is not the problem in the medical aspect itself, but how each individual body responds to a lack of hemoglobin.

Therefore, the clinical manifestation of anemia may vary from one patient to the next. Often they are indistinct and include symptoms that may be caused by other diseases. In any case, a doctor will have to find the diagnosis by asking for relevant laboratory tests.

In this article, we will take a closer look at anemia , or anemia .

What is anemia or anemia?

Anemia consists of a lack of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. Both components have normal values ​​that we should maintain over time for the body to function properly.

Red blood cells are blood cells that carry hemoglobin protein within them. These cells have a half-life of around 3 months, which means that our body replaces them every 90 days.

Their function is basic to bring oxygen to different tissues. To perform this task, red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a substance that is abundant in iron. The microscopic shape of this protein allows it to bind to oxygen and transport it. In this way, it can distribute oxygen to different tissues and use it in its metabolism.

As you can see, the process involves both red blood cells and hemoglobin. At the same time, it also involves iron indirectly. Therefore, the three things that can lead to anemia are:

• Bleeding that reduces the amount of blood circulating in the body.
• Lack of iron in your diet, or that your intestines suffer from a reduced capacity to absorb iron in your diet.
• Chronic diseases that alter the formation of red blood cells and their performance.

How to know if you are anemic: Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of anemia are varied and imprecise, which means that it is difficult to know whether you are anemic or not. However, being aware of the symptoms can help you know if you should see a doctor.

Fatigue, tiredness and lack of strength are all common characteristics. As less oxygen circulates through the body, the cells reduce their metabolic activity, causing them to wear out more quickly. Therefore, it is more difficult to exercise, run and even walk. Daily activities such as going up the stairs can be a challenge.

In cases of anemia  , the airways try to make up for the lack of oxygen by taking it from the outside. Therefore, you may feel shortness of breath and feel that your breathing increases.

It is unlikely that you will be able to tell if you are anemic by observing your skin color. However, this factor may be indicative. The lack of red blood cells leads to a general pallor due to lack of redness. 

Other symptoms that may indicate anemia are as follows:

• Headache
• Palpitations and tachycardia
• Dizziness and fainting
• A feeling of being cold

How to know if you are anemic: Blood tests

If your doctor suspects anemia, he or she will order a number of biochemical parameters where the most important will be hemoglobin. Through testing in a laboratory, one can find the concentration of protein in your blood.

If a woman’s hemoglobin level is less than 12 grams per deciliter, or a man’s less than 13, they are anemic. Then the doctor will have to determine the origin of the anemia as well as the shape of the red blood cells to be able to characterize the disease. To do this, the doctor must perform a blood smear.

So, how do you know if you are anemic?

The only way to really know if you are anemic or not is by measuring the hemoglobin level in your blood using a test in a laboratory. Several symptoms may indicate anemia, but the diagnosis is based on more than symptomatology.

If you suspect that you are anemic because you are tired or pale, you experience headaches  or coldness in your extremities, you should consult a doctor. When you explain your symptoms, your doctor will be able to order the right samples. 

The treatment of anemia in all forms is possible, either with the help of iron supplements or by eliminating the cause of bleeding. Therefore, if you suspect anemia, you should not hesitate to seek medical attention.