How to check for anemia?

Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
Updated on September 29, 2024
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Anemia requires an initial routine blood test, which is a complete blood count. If it indicates a reduction in red blood cell count and a significant decrease in hemoglobin, it suggests anemia. Once anemia is indicated by the complete blood count, further tests are guided by the size of the red blood cell volume. If it is microcytic anemia, common types include iron deficiency anemia and anemia of chronic disease, and tests such as serum iron, ferritin, and tumor markers are needed. If it is normocytic anemia, a bone marrow biopsy is required to rule out aplastic anemia, multiple myeloma, etc. If it is macrocytic anemia, tests for folate and vitamin B12 are needed to exclude myelodysplastic syndrome and megaloblastic anemia, among others.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How to deal with anemia and dizziness?

Dizziness during anemia is caused by the anemia itself, as the body is in a state of ischemia and hypoxia during anemia, leading to dizziness due to ischemia and hypoxia in the nervous system. In addition to dizziness, there is also a feeling of heavy-headedness and headaches. To quickly improve these symptoms, it is necessary to transfuse red blood cells and correct the anemia. However, after correcting the anemia, due to the limited lifespan of red blood cells, if the cause of the disease is not clearly identified and treated accordingly, the patient will still experience anemia and symptoms like dizziness again.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia.

Anemia is a condition in which the total volume of red blood cells in the circulating blood is reduced below the normal value. Iron deficiency anemia belongs to a category of anemia caused by a lack of hematopoietic raw materials. It occurs when the body's stored iron is depleted and cannot meet the needs for normal red blood cell production. Iron deficiency anemia is a common disease among red blood cell disorders and is categorized under anemias caused by a deficiency in hematopoietic raw materials.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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How to recuperate from anemia

How to nourish anemia depends on the specific cause of the anemia, and it varies with the specific cause. If the anemia is nutritional, this type is due to a lack of hematopoietic materials such as folic acid, vitamin B12, and iron. In this case, it is necessary to actively supplement these hematopoietic materials, including eating foods that are rich in these materials. However, if the cause of anemia is due to leukemia, aplastic anemia, myeloma, lymphoma, etc., then it is necessary to treat the underlying disease to improve the anemia. In addition, patients with anemia need to pay attention to rest, prevent catching cold, and prevent infections.

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Written by He Li Fang
Hematology
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Iron deficiency anemia is what type of anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia refers to the anemia that occurs when the body's stored iron is depleted and cannot meet the needs for normal red blood cell production. Before the production of red blood cells is limited, the body's stored iron has already been exhausted. However, at this stage, the routine blood tests may not yet show obvious signs of anemia; this condition is then referred to as iron deficiency. The characteristics of iron deficiency anemia include a lack of stainable iron in the bone marrow and other tissues, as well as reduced serum ferritin and transferrin saturation, presenting as typical microcytic hypochromic anemia. Therefore, iron deficiency anemia is a type of microcytic hypochromic anemia and is classified according to the level of marrow proliferation as a hyperproliferative anemia.

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Written by Li Fang Fang
Hematology
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Can anemia cause tinnitus?

Anemia can cause tinnitus. When anemia is severe, various organs of the body are in a state of ischemia and hypoxia. The nervous system can exhibit symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and a feeling of heaviness in the head, as well as tinnitus. At this point, infusing red blood cells to correct the anemia can alleviate symptoms like tinnitus. It is also important to actively seek the underlying causes of the anemia. Anemia can be categorized based on the size of red blood cells into microcytic hypochromic anemia, normocytic anemia, and macrocytic anemia. Microcytic hypochromic anemia is commonly seen in chronic disease anemia and iron deficiency anemia, normocytic anemia is commonly found in conditions such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and acute blood loss anemia, while macrocytic anemia is typical in megaloblastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.