Anemia occurs when you don’t get enough hemoglobin or red blood cells in our bodies. Naturally, this causes a host of other problems, including the onset of other illnesses that can make our lives difficult.
Many people don’t know that there are actually several types of anemia. However, the most common kind is iron deficiency. This is also known as microcytic or hypochromic anemia.
The people most susceptible to this condition are children, pregnant women, and females who suffer from menorrhagia (heavy menstrual bleeding).
Other kinds of anemia are usually brought about by red blood cells getting destroyed sickle cell anemia, or a Vitamin B12 deficiency. The cause is important to know, but what’s even more important is that you get a diagnosis as early as possible. This way, the anemia could be treated in due time.
Hence, you should be on the lookout for telltale symptoms including the following ones:
1. Fatigue
Getting tired very easily is a highly common symptom of anemia. You or your child may even feel exhausted from the moment you open your eyes in the morning. Even after a good night’s sleep, you may still not feel refreshed.
Such symptoms are highly inconvenient and disturbing in themselves. They are also serious signs of anemia which shouldn’t be ignored. In any case, unexplained and persistent fatigue is not a normal condition and should be checked out no matter what.
When the underlying cause of fatigue is anemia, the main reason is the reduced number of red blood cells. These are the blood cells that carry oxygen to various parts of your body. When the cells themselves are depleted, your organs don’t get the refreshing oxygen they need to function properly. This causes you to become weaker, more lethargic, and more easily exhausted than your activity explains.