Causes of anemia and risk factors

Anemia is a blood disorder that makes you easily tired, dizzy, and pale. Unfortunately, the symptoms of anemia are often misunderstood as a sign of another disease so that not a few people realize they have it. In fact, the diagnosis and treatment of anemia that is not done properly can lead to more serious complications due to anemia. So, what causes anemia, and what are the risk factors?

What causes anemia?

Knowing the causes and risk factors can help you prevent anemia. The inability of the body to produce enough healthy red blood cells to the proper limits is the main cause of anemia.

The process of producing red blood cells itself involves a lot of work in the body's organs at once. However, most of this work takes place in the bone marrow. This process is also regulated by the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) which is made in the kidneys. This hormone will send a signal to your bone marrow to make more red blood cells.

Generally, young red blood cells can survive about 90-120 days. After that the body's metabolism will naturally destroy old and damaged blood cells to be replaced with new ones. However, having anemia prevents your body from undergoing this process properly.

There are several things that cause anemia, namely:

• The body is able to make red blood cells, but they are damaged (abnormally shaped pieces of blood) and do not function properly.
• The body destroys red blood cells too fast.
• You have heavy bleeding to the point of losing a lot of red blood cells.

In most cases, the cause of a deficiency in red blood cells that indicates anemia is a lack of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is a special protein that binds oxygen and essential nutrients to red blood cells to then flow throughout the body. This protein also functions to give blood its red color.

What factors put you at risk for anemia?

Anemia is a very common health problem. This condition, which is also known as lack of blood, occurs in at least 1.6 billion people in the world. Women, both adolescents and adults, as well as people with certain chronic diseases have a higher risk of developing this condition.

The main cause of anemia is a lack of red blood cells. There are several things that cause anemia as quoted from the Mayo Clinic, namely:

1. Lack of nutritional intake

The most common risk factor for anemia is malnutrition. Certain vitamins or minerals have an important role in helping the body make red blood cells, such as iron, folic acid (vitamin B9), and vitamin B12.

Adequate intake of iron-rich foods is important so that the body is able to produce hemoglobin. Without enough iron, you can experience symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. Meanwhile, inadequate intake of B vitamins can trigger symptoms of folate and B12 deficiency anemia.

Both folic acid (B9) and vitamin B12 are equally important to assist in the formation of oxygen-containing red blood cell chips. Both are also important for ensuring the smooth transportation of red blood cells to carry adequate amounts of oxygen throughout the body.

If the number of red blood cells is lacking, the body's tissues and organs cannot work properly. As a result, blood cells carry too little oxygen throughout the body. You also feel dizzy, weak, and pale.

2. Indigestion

Having a disorder or disease that affects the digestion and absorption of nutrients can be one of the causes of anemia, such as Celiac disease. This disease causes damage to the small intestine which functions to absorb nutrients from food to be distributed throughout the body.

This damage to the small intestine will certainly affect the absorption of iron, folate and vitamin B12, which help the process of forming red blood cells.

3. Gender

Women have lower hemoglobin and hematocrit levels than men. In healthy men, the normal hemoglobin level is around 14-18 g / dL and the hematocrit is 38.5-50 percent.

Meanwhile, in healthy women, normal levels of hemoglobin can be around 12-16 g / dL and hematocrit of 34.9-44.5 percent. This difference makes women more prone to anemia than men.

In addition, women's iron needs are higher than men. Women need a higher iron intake than men. The Nutritional Adequacy Rate (RDA) table states that the iron requirement for adolescent girls aged 13-29 years is 26 mg, this figure is much higher when compared to men their age.

Teenage girls who are in puberty also need more iron intake than pubescent boys. If insufficient, these conditions put a woman at risk for iron deficiency, which can develop into anemia.

4. Heavy menstruation

Heavy menstruation or menorrhagia can be a cause of anemia in adolescent girls and adults.

In women, iron intake is not only used to support growth, but is also used to replace the iron lost due to menstruation every month.

When menstruation lasts longer and the blood comes out more than usual, you are at risk of developing a blood deficiency. This is because the volume of blood wasted tends to be more than what is produced.

This condition causes signs and symptoms of anemia, including pale skin and easy fatigue.

5. Pregnancy

Pregnancy can also be a risk factor for anemia. During pregnancy, the mother's body will automatically produce more blood cells to support the baby's growth.

If pregnant women cannot meet the intake of foods rich in iron, folic acid, or other nutrients, the red blood cells the body produces will be fewer than they should. This is the main cause of anemia in pregnant women.

Labor and childbirth also make women lose a lot of blood, making them more prone to anemia than men. The more frequent pregnancy and childbirth, the more likely women are to experience chronic anemia.

6. Chronic disease

Chronic disease can be a risk factor for anemia. Chronic disease can cause changes in your body's systems to produce healthy red blood cells.

This condition causes the production of red blood cells to be inhibited, red blood cells that die more quickly, or even fail completely.

Some chronic diseases that have the potential to cause anemia include:

• Kidney illness
• Chronic infection and inflammation
• Cancer

7. Trauma (injury) or after surgery

Accidents, trauma, or surgery can cause anemia in some people. Trauma or surgery can cause the body to lose a lot of blood. As a result, blood and iron stores in the body will be wasted. You can also develop iron deficiency anemia (due to iron deficiency).

8. Family history

Having a family member who has anemia increases your risk of developing it too. One type of anemia that is susceptible to being passed down in the family tree is sickle cell anemia.

The cause of sickle cell anemia is altered atructir of hemoglobin in the blood. This makes red blood cells die faster. This can only happen because it is genetically inherited.

If you are concerned about your health condition, please check your symptoms here.