Is there more than one type of anemia?
You may be surprised to know that there is more than one type of anemia. Although they may have similar signs, the various types of anemia have different impacts on health. To illustrate, there are three leading types of anemia: iron deficiency anemia (IDA), vitamin deficiency anemia (megaloblastic anemia) and inherited blood disease. It’s important to get the facts about each condition to differentiate the symptoms.
Frist, IDA is most frequently the type of anemia doctors see in patients. Sometimes referred to as “iron-poor” or “tired” blood, people with IDA do not produce enough iron. Because iron is used to make hemoglobin, an iron deficiency results in anemia. While blood loss is a common cause of IDA, factors that may cause blood loss are:
- childbirth;
- uterine fibroids;
- ulcers;
- colon polyps;
- colon cancer;
- pain medications;
- infection;
- low-iron diets;
- Crohn’s disease;
- Celiac disease;
- surgery; and
- severe injury.
Likewise, vitamin deficiency anemia is caused by low levels of vitamin B12 or folate. When considering B12, it is important to note that B12 is needed to produce red blood cells. When sufferers cannot produce a sufficient amount of red blood cells, they may develop anemia. Often, lack of B12 could indicate an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from absorbing B12 from foods. Low levels of folic acid can cause anemia because folic acid is used to make red blood cells. Folate is a B vitamin that can be found in green, leafy vegetables, fruits, and dried peas and beans.