Normocytic Anemia
Anemia in its various forms is the most common blood condition in the United States, affecting anywhere between 2 and 10-percent of Americans. Anemia is considered a symptom of disease, rather than a disease in itself.
The body's ability to sustain the correct number of red blood cells requires cooperation of the bone marrow, kidneys, and nutrients circulating within the blood. If one of these systems is not working properly, the body may develop a form of anemia.
Normocytic anemia is a condition in which the body does not maintain an adequate amount of healthy red blood cells. This reduces the blood's ability to transfer a sufficient amount of oxygen to the tissues.
There are two forms of Normocytic Anemia. Congenital normocytic anemia, caused by the breaking up of red blood cells, is a condition a person is born with. Acquired normocytic anemia, the more common form, is most often the result of chronic illness or disease. Rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, and autoimmune diseases are some of the diseases that may lead to normocytic anemia.
Normally normocytic anemia will progress slowly. Initially the person may have no symptoms. Eventually the person may become pale, overly tired. As the condition progresses, the person may experience any array of symptoms, including shortness of breath, low blood pressure, a fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, dizziness, and/or general weakness.
Normocyctic anemia is diagnosed through a complete medical history, a physical exam, and a routine blood test called a CBC (Complete Blood Count). Among other things, this blood test measures the levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin in the blood. A portion of the blood will likely be examined under a microscope. This will reveal the number of blood cells, as well as the size, shape, and color. Normocytic anemia is the diagnosis given when the patient is found to have a low number of normal-sized red blood cells.
Once diagnosed, the doctor may wish to order further testing to determine the cause of the anemia. Treatment of normocytic anemia preferably targets the root cause. Occasionally, in severe cases, the doctor may recommend a transfusion of red blood cells or shots of erythropoietin. Erythropoietin is a hormone normally produced by the kidneys. Manufactured under various brand names, this medication induces the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.
A person diagnosed with anemia will need to have follow-up visits with his or her doctor in order to determine the response to treatment. Repeat blood tests will be ordered to monitor the number of red blood cells.
Anemia – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
A successful treatment of anemia is to identify and treating the above cause: blood loss, a nutritional deficiency, cancer, bone marrow infiltration, chronic illness, inflammation, or decreased response to erythropoietin. Laboratory test results and a physical examination, a physician can determine the cause of you.
Anemia is a blood disorder that is created when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are the main transporters of oxygen to organs. If red blood cells are also deficient in hemoglobin, then your body is not getting enough iron.
Anemia is usually detected or at least confirmed by a complete blood cell (CBC) count. It is the common blood disorder. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs. It is found in the person when the number of red blood cells in your blood is low. For this reason, doctors sometimes describe anemia as having a low blood count
Symptoms of anemia:
feeling of restless fastly and loss of energy. fatigue -- occur because organs aren't getting enough oxygen Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise Shortness of breath and headache in exercise also Difficulty in concentrating on something
Types & causes of Anemia
1) Macrocytic anemia: Macrocytic anemia can be further divided into "megaloblastic anemia" or "non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia". The cause of megaloblastic anemia is primarily a failure of DNA synthesis with preserved RNA synthesis, which result in restricted cell division of the progenitor cells.
2) Microcytic anemia: Microcytic anemia caused due to hemoglobin synthesis failure or insufficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is the common type of anemia so it has many causes. RBCs often appear hypochromic (paler than usual) and microcytic (smaller than usual) when viewed with a microscope
3) Normocytic anemia :Normocytic anaemia causes when the overall Hb levels are decreased, but the red blood cell size (MCV) remains normal.
Causes include:
Accurate blood loss Anemia of chronic disease Bone marrow failure Aplastic anemia
4) Heinz body anemia: Heinz bodies are an abnormality that forms on the cells in this condition. This form of anemia may be brought on by taking certain medications; it is also triggered in cats by eating onions or acetaminophen (Tylenol). It can be triggered in dogs by ingesting onions or zinc and in horses by ingesting dry Red Maple leaves.
Iron Deficiency in Cats
Iron deficiency in cats always has been and always will be somewhat controversial, but at the same time iron deficiency anemia continues to be a very large problem. This condition affects cats world wide and although it can be caused by underlying diseases, the most common cause is a deficiency of iron in your cat.
As all owners can attest to, cats seem to have a sixth sense about them, and when they become ill with iron deficiency anemia one of the first actions they take is to start to eat dirt or in some cases, even their own cat litter from their box. Why?
The reason is very simple; they are searching for iron as a result of their natural instincts.
Iron deficiency in cats is especially dangerous during pregnancy and can have severe impacts on the litter if the mother did not receive enough iron from their diet during the pregnancy. Cats must have at least 36.4 mg of iron daily for every pound of food that they eat, and it should be in form that does not include iron oxide or carbonate.
There are several experts that suggest that cats can get the correct amount of iron in their daily diet, but if this is the case, why would iron anemia still be such a concern in any cat, let alone nursing cats? Feeding a nursing cat iron supplements is too late, as they can not make up a loss of reserves simply because these supplements can not increase the much needed iron in their milk. It must be done prior to the pregnancy, as most kittens will develop iron deficiency anemia during this period if the mother is deficient of iron.
This is especially dangerous as it can retard the growth of the entire litter, as well as causing them to become very weak which makes them susceptible to several diseases and infections. It also severally lowers their resistance to stress, and this can also cause several problems.
Symptoms:
Iron deficiency in cats results in the development of anemia in your pet, which is a lower than normal red blood cell count. Once this occurs, kittens as well as cats of all ages will start to show some very alarming symptoms.
The first sign that your cat has an iron deficiency will be when their gums start to turn pale. This may be very gradual at first, but as the deficiency increases, so will the paleness. This is than usually followed very quickly by an increased respiratory rate that may lead to your cat collapsing as they become weak.
As the red blood cell count continues to be lower than normal, your cat is usually hit broadside by several other blood complications. They will also start to loss blood through their urine, as well as developing external blood loss as the condition grows. If all of these symptoms do develop, your cat will also start to show a yellow discoloration in their skin. Once this occurs, the iron deficiency has become severe.
What is Iron Deficiency?
Iron deficiency in cats is a condition where your pets red blood cells suddenly stop developing the normal compliment of iron containing hemoglobin and the cells that form their bone marrow. There are several different types as well as potential causes of anemia, but the most common is the lack of iron in your cats system. If iron is deficient, the process of red cell maturation is delayed and as a result the young red blood cells will no longer contain the needed amounts of RNA, which is a polymeric constituent of all living cells as well as several viruses.
As a direct result of this, the red blood cells do not regenerate fast enough and this is what produces the lower counts. In most of these cases, there will also be a marked increase in the size or shape of the red blood cells, and red cell fragments start to occur. Cats are especially hit hard with this condition as their red blood cells are often so small that platelets overlap as a result of this size difference.
Iron deficiency also causes your pets immune system to coat red blood cells with antibodies as a natural defense. This adds to the complications as they are than removed from circulation by their spleen. This process helps to kill attacking organisms and the iron in your cats body is than used to build new blood cells. However, there are so many cells being destroyed that they can not keep up with the demand.
Once this occurs, it leaves your cat wide open for even more parasite attacks. It may take as long as thirty days for your cat to become sick, but they eventually will. The mortality rate of severely infected cats is at its peak in the next thirty days, and if your cat does recover, their system is still not fully rebuilt and risks further infections.
Iron toxicity:
Iron deficiency in cats is much more common than is iron toxicity, and although it can occur, it is extremely rare. Because iron is a mineral, it is stored in your cats body and if the levels become excessive, they become toxic. But is very important to remember that toxicity is very rare and is almost always the result of an overdose of iron supplements.
If your cat is fed too much iron or accidentally eats loose supplements, the early signs of toxicity will occur within the first six hours. They will become very drowsy as well as lethargic, and than will start to vomit. But the real warning sign is a very sudden burst of bloody diarrhea.
If your cat is not treated, they may appear normal, but it will only be temporary. Any type of toxicity does not have a spontaneous recovery, and usually within twenty four hours the symptoms will reappear. When they do, it can cause liver damage, shock, and possibly induce a coma in your cat.
Summary:
Iron deficiency in cats will always have some people on the side that say you should never supplement, but these are the same naysayers that fought for years that Beriberi could not be treated with Thiamine. Today, it is a well known fact that Beriberi is caused by a thiamine deficiency. Iron is critical to all cats in the prevention of anemia, and in most every case it is the first treatment that is used in correcting it.
But you also have to ask your self this question about your legendary cats sixth sense. If they can sense that they are iron deficient, why do they try to find iron by eating dirt or their own cat litter? Iron is critical for cats and supplementing it is your cats diet should always be done with your veterinarians guidance and than using very simple common sense methods of protecting your cat from any accidental overdose.
Children’s Sickle Cell Anemia – When Low-Calorie Diets Can Be Deadly
Sickle-cell anemia is a hereditary condition causing red blood cells to be misinformed. Healthy red blood cells have a contour roughly resembling a doughnut. They are flexible and can pass through narrow passageways in the bloodstream. Sickle cells develop an elongated, bent shape like a sickle.
These blood cells are fragile and are easily broken. They fail to deliver adequate amounts of oxygen, and the kidneys are severely strained by the need to clear proteins from broken blood cells out of the bloodstream. Sickle-cell anemia begins before birth and causes numerous health complications throughout life.
Persons of African descent are most likely to have sickle-cell anemia, but it is also relatively common among people of Mediterranean, Arab, and South Asian ancestry, and it is not unknown among Caucasians. Inheriting a gene for sickle-cell anemia from both parents results in full expression of the disease. Inheriting a gene for sickle-cell anemia from only one parent causes changes in hemoglobin that are identifiable by blood tests, but does not cause symptoms.
increase the child's need for energy by about 50 calories a day, but many children with sickle-cell anemia suffer developmental setbacks because they are not fed enough when they are sick.Medically prescribed hydroxyurea treatment can reduce, but not eliminate, a child's need for extra calories and encourage growth.
Zinc deficiency is another common cause of delayed development in children with sickle-cell anemia. Without zinc, the immune system cannot activate natural killer cells and macrophages to fight infection, and other immune cells tend to mature and die early.
Reduced resistance to infection diverts nutrients needed for growth. Children who receive supplemental zinc grow taller and have stronger knees and arms. The difference between receiving adequate zinc and zinc deficiency amounts to only a fraction of an inch of growth per year, but the benefits of zinc supplementation throughout childhood and adolescence can be substantial.
Since zinc is critical to the child's development but it has an unpleasant taste, it is usually best to give this supplement in the form of a fruit-flavored syrup. Cherry-flavored zinc syrups are available from sickle-cell treatment specialists and compounding pharmacies. Be sure the child receives at least 10 milligrams of zinc per day, but do not overdose.
Very little research has been done concerning the nutritional needs of adults with sickle-cell anemia, although a study in the late 1980s found that most people with the disease suffer various antioxidant deficiencies. Moderate amounts of antioxidant supplementation may reduce the severity of some symptoms of sickle-cell anemia.
Some additional tips for dealing with this condition:
Maintaining body fluids is a special problem for people with this condition. Be sure to drink 8-10 glasses of water a day in hot weather, and to avoid heat as much as possible. People with sickle-cell are more likely to get cavities and gum disease. Regular dental care improves quality of life. Teenagers with sickle-cell anemia usually need more calories than other teens even when they get less exercise.Although vigorous physical exercise by itself does not aggravate anemia, confounding factors such as heat stress, dehydration, viral illness, and poor physical conditioning can cause serious complications.
The Symptoms And Understanding Of Lyme Disease
Although once thought to be a form of arthritis that attacks children, lyme disease is actually a condition in which a bacterial infection has gotten into your blood stream. Unlike other types of conditions that have similar symptoms, lyme disease is transmitted to you by a dear tick. It was first discovered in 1975 when a group of children that was unreasonably large seemed to be suffering from arthritis. That led doctors to do a bit of unearthing and found that it was actually a bacterial infection that had caused the outbreak.
The bad news is that lyme disease is no longer found in just that one town of Lyme, Connecticut. Today, it is found in nearly every state in the United States with a concentration in New York, Minnesota, New Jersey and in Wisconsin. The disease has spread world wide as well as spreading into other types of animals. Not only can you get it from deer, but also from skunks, foxes, mice, moles, squirrels and horses (to name a few.) These conditions are most commonly found in animals that are in wooded areas or in grassy fields.
What Are The Symptoms?
Anyone that is exposed to these conditions can actually be put in dangers way of getting lyme disease. It is essential, then, that you understand the symptoms that it brings out. The tell tale sign of lyme disease is that of a rash, but not just any rash. This rash usually starts out with a small red spot where the tick has bitten. It then grows and expands significantly over the next days or even weeks. Usually, it will form a circle or a triangular shape on your skin. Sometimes, there is a red ring that is surrounding an area that is clear at the very center of the bite mark. This is called an erythma migrans and it affects at least 70 percent of those that will end up with lyme disease.
Other symptoms are also evident. If you are not treated by a doctor for your condition, you can develop conditions in which you have flare ups of arthritis like conditions. Your joints can become swollen and painful. Sometimes this will last for days, other times for months at at ime. It doesn't have to be the same joint affected each time either. About 15 percent of patients that have lyme disease end up with this symptom. Yet another symptom is that of an attack of the nervous system. Here, you can experience other illnesses like meningitis or even temporary paralysis of facila muscles. Limbs and the circulatory system can become weakened or lessened in their abilities.
What is common is the fact that individuals will experience some pain that seems to be that of arthritis. Although lyme disease has been mistaken in the past for arthritis, don't make this mistake. The symptoms and conditions of this condition can worsen, severely and can leave you with a lot of pain and eventually the breakdown of joints.
Hemochromatosis – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Methods
Hemochromatosis is an inherited condition of abnormal iron metabolism; it is not a blood disease. This disease is the result of an abnormality, usually a single site mutation, in the HFE gene, which is located near the HLA complex and produces a glycoprotein. It is the main iron overload disorder. Signs and symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis usually appear in midlife, although they may occur earlier. The most common complaint is joint pain, but hereditary hemochromatosis can also cause a number of other symptoms, including fatigue, abdominal pain and impotence. It is characterized by improper processing by the body of dietary iron which causes iron to accumulate in a number of body tissues, eventually causing organ dysfunction. Individuals with hemochromatosis absorb too much iron from the diet. Genetic or hereditary hemochromatosis is mainly associated with a defect in a gene called HFE, which helps regulate the amount of iron absorbed from food. It is a disorder that interferes with iron metabolism, which results in too much iron in the body.If left untreated, hereditary hemochromatosis can result in the progressive accumulation of iron in the liver, pancreas, heart, joints, and pituitary gland leading to potentially serious complications including cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and heart problems. Primary hemochromatosis (also termed hereditary hemochromatosis or idiopathic hemochromatosis) is an autosomal recessive disorder.
The genetic defect of hemochromatosis is present at birth, but symptoms rarely appear before adulthood. Type I Hemochromatosis is also called classic hemochromatosis is due to mutations of HFE, a gene located on chromosome 6. A person who inherits the defective gene from both parents may develop hemochromatosis. If hereditary hemochromatosis is suspected, your doctor will order a genetic blood test to look for the HFE mutation that is responsible for the disorder. Hemochromatosis is also known as iron overload, bronze diabetes, hereditary hemochromatosis and familial hemochromatosis. Most people with hereditary hemochromatosis show no signs of the illness until they are middle-aged. They might have only mild signs, like tiredness, or they might have arthritis or impotence. HFE interacts with the transferrin receptor and causes a clear decrease in the affinity with which the receptor binds transferrin. This interaction also may modulate cellular iron uptake and decrease ferritin levels. Patients who receive multiple blood transfusions also develop iron overload, occasionally termed hemosiderosis or secondary hemochromatosis. In rare cases, iron overload begins before birth. These cases are called neonatal hemochromatosis.
Causes of Hemochromatosis
The common causes and risk factor's of Hemochromatosis include the following:
Hereditary hemochromatosis can occur when a person inherits two mutated copies of a gene called the HFE gene- one from each parent. Men and women have the same chance of inheriting two copies of this gene. People who inherit the HFE gene mutation from both parents. Certain anemias, such as thalassemia and aplastic anemia. It can also result from blood transfusions and over consumption of dietary iron, especially among people with a genetic predisposition to accumulate iron. Bronze colored skin. Hereditary hemochromatosis is passed by an autosomal recessive trait on the genes. Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis ("steato" means "fatty").
Symptoms of Hemochromatosis
Some sign and symptoms related to Hemochromatosis are as follows:
Chronic fatigue. Loss of drive (libido) or impotence. Abdominal pain. Arthritis. Depression, disorientation, or memory problems. Early menopause. Abnormal pigmentation of the skin, making it look gray or bronze. Thyroid deficiency. Damage to the adrenal gland. Liver disease, including an enlarged liver, cirrhosis, cancer, and liver failure. Damage to the pancreas, possibly causing diabetes.
Treatment of Hemochromatosis
Here is list of the methods for treating Hemochromatosis:
Doctors can treat hemochromatosis safely and effectively by removing blood from your body (phlebotomy) on a regular basis, just as if you were donating blood. Treatment involves the removal of 500 milliliters (about 15 ounces) of blood weekly until normal plasma iron levels are established. Once iron levels return to normal, maintenance therapy, which involves giving a pint of blood every 2 to 4 months for life, begins. Some people may need it more often. Avoid taking vitamin C supplements, especially with food. Vitamin C increases absorption of iron. Try to drink vitamin C-rich juices, such as orange juice, between meals. Another approach to treatment is called chelation therapy, in which a medication called deferoxamine (Desferal) binds to iron, removing it from the body and lowering the amount of stored iron. Loss of desire and change in secondary characteristics are improved with testosterone therapy.
Categories
- Allergy
- Anemia
- Back & Neck
- Cancer
- General
- Guest Post
- Insomnia
- Lupus
- Obesity
- Stroke & Neurological Conditions
- Surgery
- Therapeutic
- Uncategorized
- Unsorted
Archives
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009