If you begin feeling weak and like you have no energy to do even the simplest tasks around your home, then you may be anemic. Anemia is a condition that leads to low iron levels. There are several reasons as to why your iron could be low. For example, many vegetarians and vegans experience low iron symptoms because they don’t get adequate iron in their diet (from animal sources).
The following detail the main different types of anemia and how they may be corrected:
1. Iron deficient anemia
This is considered the most common type of anemia, often impacting both vegetarians and vegans, as well as those who don’t consume enough dietary iron. However, iron deficient anemia can also be caused by repeated blood loss, heavy menstrual cycles, and rapid growth spurts during puberty as the body uses more iron. If the condition is severe, then iron injections or infusions may be recommended to restore iron levels and energy.
2. Aplastic anemia
Teenagers, elderly individuals, and those who take certain types of medications are more at risk for aplastic anemia than others. Those who have been exposed to certain types of pesticides or toxins are subject to developing this kind of anemia as well. Iron infusions can often be used as treatment to improve the severity of the condition.
3. Sickle cell anemia
This type of anemia occurs when red blood cells take on an abnormal “C” shape. These abnormal cells aren’t able to move as easily through the body, and often impede oxygen from reaching essential tissues and organs. This can result in severe infections, extreme fatigue, headache, pale skin, and chest pain. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited condition, it occurs when a baby receives a sickle cell disease gene from one parent and a normal gene from the other (known as sickle cell trait).
4. Pernicious anemia
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disorder that occurs with inadequate stomach cells that make intrinsic factor, which is responsible for vitamin B12 absorption within the intestine. The loss of these cells may be caused when the body mistakenly attacks the immune system. Pernicious anemia may result in nerve damage, depression, enlarged liver, heartburn, and weight loss. B12 injections are common for treating this anemia.
5. Fanconi anemia
This inherited disorder is a very rare anemia rare that impacts bone marrow, and decreases all types of blood cells. An inherited is a disease, fanconi anemia is typically passed down from close relatives and is linked to aplastic anemia.
