S Y M P T O M S OF A N E M I A

                      

Symptoms of anemia can include:

in general,

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale skin color
• Feeling cold
• Behavioral changes, such as lack of interest, confusion, agitation, or depression

specifically,

symptoms for iron deficiency anemia

• Soreness of the mouth with cracks at the corners. 
• Pica – a hunger for strange substances such as ice, dirt or paper. 
• Koilonychias – upward curvature of the nails 

symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

• Mental confusion 
• Headaches 
• Depression 
• Delusions or Paranoia 
• Impulse Control 
• Tingling in the extremities 
• Balance issues 

If you have heart disease and anemia, you may notice an increase in chest pain or swelling in your ankles.

Since all these symptoms above can also be caused by other problems, you’ll need a physical examination and blood tests to determine whether you have anemia. Sometimes a person may not notice any symptoms, but anemia will be identified by an abnormal result on a routine blood test (such as a blood test that is part of your annual check-up).

Even mild anemia can lead to a lower quality of life.  For example, a little muscle weakness and frailty combined with a little less balance can increase the risk of a fall, which would have a major impact on quality of life.

                       

Now, let's do a little recap on what actually causes anemia.

Causes of Anemia:

The three major reasons why anemia can happen are described below. In older people, anemia is often the result of more than one condition occurring at the same time. These conditions can include:

• Decreased red blood cell production due to:
  • Problems with bone marrow function
  • Chronic diseases or inflammation, such as cancer or infections
  • Hormone problems
  • Kidney disease
  • Malnutrition and dietary deficiencies in iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid (folate)
  • Hereditary disorders
  • Medications
  • Alcohol dependency

• Loss of blood from:
  • stomach irritation from medications, alcohol, or an ulcer
  • polyps or tumors in the bowels
  • kidney stones or tumors
  • cancers
  • surgery 

• Increased destruction of red blood cells due to:
  • Medications
  • A hereditary disorder
  • A disease of your immune system
  • Heart valve problems (which damage your red blood cells)
  • A tumor
  • Infections

In older adults, the most common causes of anemia are:

Iron-deficiency Anemia

A common cause of iron-deficiency anemia is chronic blood loss, usually from the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding ulcers or polyps, chronic irritation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, or cancer can cause this kind of “silent” internal bleeding. Often, this blood loss is invisible to the naked eye, and your healthcare provider may do a simple test, called a fecal occult blood test, to find it.

Anemia of Chronic Disease

Anemia of chronic disease can result from chronic inflammation caused by ongoing infections, tissue damage, various forms of arthritis, benign or malignant tumors, or a variety of chronic medical conditions. These conditions cause inflammation inside your body and prevent your bone marrow from working as well as it should.

Anemia of B12 and Folate Deficiencies

Vitamin B12 and folate (folic acid) are two vitamins important for red blood cell production. Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common with advancing age, particularly in women over the age of 60 and adults with autoimmune thyroid disease. Signs and symptoms include:

• General body weakness
• Pale skin
• Changes in the nervous system (some signs of this include a clumsy walk, or numbness and tingling in the arms and legs)
• Behavioral changes or confusion

Folate deficiency can result from poor nutrition, certain medications, or diseases affecting absorption from the gut.  

Hemolytic Anemia

Anemia caused by red blood cell destruction is called hemolytic anemia. Problems with your immune system are often to blame. Cancers, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, also destroy red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia can also be caused by medications or infections, or by an immune system disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR ?

Make an appointment with your doctor if you're feeling fatigued for unexplained reasons. Some anemias, such as iron deficiency anemia or vitamin B-12 deficiency, are common.

Fatigue has many causes besides anemia, so don't assume that if you're tired you must be anemic. Some people learn that their hemoglobin is low, which indicates anemia, when they go to donate blood. If you're told that you can't donate blood because of low hemoglobin, make an appointment with your doctor.

                              

article source

https://www.canstockphoto.ie/anemia-symptoms-icons-59596308.html

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

http://prohemia.com/symptoms-of-anemia/

http://www.healthinaging.org/aging-and-health-a-to-z/topic:anemia/