With anemia, the oxygen supply to our entire organism suffers. Common signs of a so-called anemia are rapid exhaustion, tachycardia or paleness. Find out here which other symptoms you can use to recognize anemia.
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What is anemia?
In the case of a lack of blood or anemia (anaemia), there is a lack of hemoglobin (red blood pigment) or red blood cells in general. This leads to a lower proportion of blood cells in the body. We need hemoglobin to transport oxygen from the lungs to the body cells. From there, the blood pigment creates carbon dioxide, a waste product of metabolism, back into the lungs. If there is now a lack of hemoglobin, our organs are not supplied with enough oxygen, which causes symptoms.
Anemia can express itself in different ways and can therefore occur in different forms.
- Microcytic hypochromic anemia: Red blood cells (blood cells) that are too small and contain too little hemoglobin. Usually occurs in the form of iron deficiency anemia.
- Macrocytic, hyperchromic anemia: Excessively large erythrocytes that contain a sufficient amount of hemoglobin. However, these are broken down too early in the spleen. There is a folic acid deficiency and a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
- Normocytic, normochromic anemia: Anemia is caused by severe blood loss. The erythrocytes are of normal size.
signs of anemia
The classic symptoms of anemia are
- fatigue
- headache
- dizziness
- Shortness of breath to heart palpitations under stress
- Pale skin
- Reduction in mental and physical performance
- tinnitus
- A red, smooth tongue (“lacquer tongue”)
Depending on the cause, other symptoms can also occur. If the anemia occurs as a result of iron deficiency , cracked corners of the mouth or brittle nails can occur as symptoms. Furthermore, in the case of pernicious anemia – anemia due to a lack of vitamin B12 – loss of appetite, memory disorders, gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea or constipation, burning tongue or weight loss can indicate a deficiency. In anemia caused by internal bleeding, changes in the stool (such as black stool or red blood in the stool) are a warning sign. It can also result in circulatory collapse, low blood pressure, and high heart rate.
Causes of anemia
If you have persistent or recurring symptoms, see a doctor. Anemia can have various causes. For example, a genetic defect, an unbalanced diet or serious illnesses such as a viral infection, autoimmune diseases or cancer can cause anemia.
