Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

If you feel unusually tired or exhausted, think of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body doesn't have enough red blood cells to function properly. Even if the body produces enough red blood cells, the red blood cells are destroyed, or a disease has caused anemia. You need to see your doctor to be diagnosed. While following your doctor's regimen, you can also take supplements, change your diet, and take medications.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Modify your diet and take supplements

1. 

   Increase iron intake in the body. If you take iron supplements as directed by your doctor, you will gradually improve the iron content in your body, which in turn can treat iron deficiency anemia. Taking iron supplements can cause a number of side effects, including black stools, upset stomach, heartburn, and constipation. If you have only mild anemia, your doctor may only suggest that you eat more iron-rich foods. Here are good sources of iron:
   • Red meat (beef and liver)
   • Poultry meat (chicken and turkey)
   • seafood
   • Iron fortified cereals and breads
   • Legumes (beans; lentils; white beans, red beans and baked beans; soybeans; horsetails)
   • Tofu
   • Dried fruits (prunes, grapes and dried peaches)
   • Spinach and other green vegetables
   • Prune juice
   • Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, so doctors often recommend that you drink a glass of orange juice or eat vitamin C-rich foods with iron supplements.

2. 

   
   
   Take vitamin B12. If you have vitamin deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend vitamin B12 supplements. Usually, a doctor will prescribe an injection of B12 or a pill once a month. This way your doctor can monitor your red blood cell level and decide on the duration of treatment. You can also get vitamin B12 from food. Foods rich in vitamin B12 include:
   • Egg
   • Milk
   • Cheese
   • Meat
   • Fish
   • Clam
   • Poultry
   • Foods fortified with vitamin B12 (such as soy milk and veggie sandwiches)

3. 

   
   
   Take a folate supplement (folic acid). Folic acid is another B vitamin that is essential for the growth of blood cells. Folic acid deficiency can cause anemia, so your doctor may prescribe supplements to treat the condition. If you have moderate or severe symptoms, your doctor may give you folate injections or give you folate for at least 2-3 months. You can also get folate through your diet. Foods high in folic acid are:
   • Bread, noodles, rice fortified with folic acid
   • Spinach and dark green leafy vegetables
   • Black-eyed beans and dried beans
   • Beef liver
   • Egg
   • Bananas, oranges, orange juice, some other fruits and juices

4. 

   
   
   Limit alcohol intake. Alcohol can prevent the production of blood cells, create defective red blood cells, and permanently destroy blood cells. Drinking a glass from time to time doesn't do long-term damage, but drinking a lot more often can cause anemia.
   • If you already have anemia, you should pay attention to limit alcohol consumption, because alcohol will make the disease worse.
   • The National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Addiction Research recommends that women drink no more than 1 drink per day and men do not drink more than 2 drinks a day at “moderate” levels.
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Method 2 of 3: Medical treatment

1. 

   Blood transfusion. If you have severe anemia due to a chronic medical condition, your doctor may recommend a blood transfusion. You will be given the appropriate blood type through an IV. This method gives you an immediate large amount of red blood cells. It takes 1 to 4 hours to complete a blood transfusion.
   • Depending on the severity of the disease, your doctor may prescribe periodic blood transfusions.

2. 

   Take iron-reducing pills. With regular blood transfusions, the iron level in your blood can get high. High iron levels damage the heart and liver, so you need to reduce the amount of iron in your body. Your doctor may give you an injection or prescribe medication.
   • If your doctor prescribes medication, you need to dissolve the pill in water before taking it. Usually it is necessary to drink once a day.

3. 

   Bone marrow transplantation. Bone marrow contains stem cells that make the blood cells the body needs. If you have anemia due to your body's inability to make blood cells to function properly (bone marrow anemia, thalassemia (an inherited blood disorder) or sickle cell anemia) Your doctor may recommend a bone marrow transplant. Stem cells are injected into the bloodstream and then migrate to the bone marrow.
   • When the stem cells reach the bone marrow and are transplanted there, they begin to form new blood cells that can cure anemia.
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Method 3 of 3: Recognize the symptoms of anemia

1. 

   Identify symptoms of mild anemia. Some people have very mild symptoms and may not realize it. However, signs of mild anemia are still identifiable. If you only have mild anemia symptoms, make an appointment with your primary care provider for a checkup. Mild symptoms include:
   • Fatigue and weakness due to insufficient oxygen in the muscles.
   • Short breath. This is also a sign that the body needs more oxygen. You may only realize this with exercise if your anemia is mild.
   • Pale skin due to lack of red blood cells creates a ruddy look.

2. 

   Recognize the symptoms of severe anemia. Serious symptoms are signs that more organs are affected by the lack of oxygen in the blood and that organs are trying to carry blood around the body. Those signs also show that the brain is also affected. When symptoms are severe, you should see your doctor as soon as possible. You can also go to the emergency room for faster care. Severe symptoms include:
   • Dizziness
   • Headache
   • Decreased cognitive abilities
   • Heart beat fast

3. 

   Go to the doctor for a blood test. Your doctor will identify anemia with a simple blood test called a complete blood count test to determine the number of red blood cells your body has to recognize if it is too low. Your doctor can also help determine if your anemia is acute or chronic. Chronic anemia means it's been around for a while and isn't critical. Acute anemia means a health problem and needs to be diagnosed immediately to prevent the disease from progressing into a more serious disease. Appropriate treatment will begin once the cause has been identified.
   • Your doctor may also order imaging (such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging) or more detailed tests. If all tests fail to lead to results, a bone marrow biopsy may be needed.
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Advice

• Experimental drugs are an option for severe anemia. You should always talk to your doctor before taking experimental drugs or participating in any experimental medical program.
• Do not take antacids (antacids) at the same time as iron supplements. Antacids can interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron.
• If too much blood is lost during menstruation, it also contributes to iron deficiency anemia. Your doctor may give you hormonal birth control pills to help reduce the amount of blood lost during your periods.

Warning

• If your doctor diagnoses you with chronic anemia caused by a chronic disease (such as cancer, HIV or inflammatory disease) or bone marrow failure anemia (a very rare form of anemia), you need to work. with the medical team. In many cases, the treatment of anemia depends on the treatment of other diseases.