When suffering from anemia, the body lacks healthy red blood cells to carry out sufficient oxygen to the blood tissues, hampering many functions of the body. Treatment varies from person to person, based on underlying diagnosis. However, before prescribing any treatment, we need to understand different types of anemia. Let’s try to understand them better through their symptoms, causes, and treatments.

1. Aplastic Anemia
This kind of anemia occurs when a person’s body stops producing new blood cells in adequate quantity. Symptoms of aplastic anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heart rate, pale skin, easy bruising, skin rash, dizziness, headache, and fever.

Damaged stem cells that produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are the cause of aplastic anemia. Stem cells can get damaged due to many reasons, and some of them are

• Radiation and chemotherapy treatments
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Use of certain medications
• Autoimmune disorders
• A viral infection
• Pregnancy

2. Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is the one of the most common types of anemia. This kind of anemia occurs when blood does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Lack of iron is the main cause of this kind of anemia. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, prolonged headache, cold hands and feet, soreness of tongue, brittle nails, poor appetite, and unusual cravings.

For those suffering from this type of anemia, take the help of your doctor and know what iron-rich food you can include in diet and the iron supplements that need to be taken. Some causes of iron deficiency anemia are

• Blood loss
• A lack of iron in your diet
• An inability to absorb iron
• Pregnancy

3 . Sickle Cell Anemia
This is one of the most common type and is an inherited red blood cell disorder. In this type of anemia, which there inadequate healthy red blood cells in a person’s body. The red blood cells take the shape of sickles or crescent moon and get stuck in the blood vessels. This leads to slow or blocked blood and oxygen flow to body parts.

There are several treatments that can relieve pain and other associated symptoms. Symptoms in this condition are anemia, pain crises, swollen hands and feet, frequent infections, delayed growth, blurred vision, fever, pale skin and nails, troubled walking, and unexplained numbness.

4. Thalassemia
Thalassemia, like sickle cell anemia, is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which the body has less hemoglobin than normal. Thalassemia can cause severe anemia. A patient might require regular blood transfusions. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, pale skin and nails, facial bone deformities, slow growth, swollen abdomen, and dark urine.

Get in touch with your doctor for guidance and get yourself treated for different types of anemia.