In chronic blood loss, the hemorrhage is usually minor and while the bone marrow may be able to accommodate with replenishing the red blood cell count, the hemoglobin levels are often lower as a result of chronic iron loss. Iron deficiency anemia will set it and iron supplementation may therefore be necessary. Since 80% of the body’s iron is in circulation compared to 20% in the stores, a massive hemorrhage may mean that a large portion of this iron is lost. The body constantly recycles iron as outlined under Red Blood Cells Life Cycle. It can take several days for the bone marrow to replace the lost red blood cells, but this is only possible if there is sufficient iron available. Death is always a risk in acute blood loss but if attended to rapidly and if the patient survives, anemia will set in unless there is a transfusion. There are hundreds of types of anemia and the causes of anemia can divided according to :Īcute blood loss is often due to trauma and the hemorrhage has to be massive for it to result in anemia. The limitation is not restricted to physical tasks – even mental abilities are hampered and the general feeling of being unwell can lead to emotional disturbances as well. The level of functioning is impaired significantly and daily tasks may be difficult to complete. In severe anemia the signs and symptoms are constant, whether at rest or during strenuous activity. Therefore a person may pass these symptoms off as being unfit. This tends to occur when the demand for oxygen increases, like during exercise, but the body quickly recovers during rest. Although the odd incident of vague symptoms may sometimes be noticed by the anemic patient, it is often ignored and not attributed to anemia. Mild anemia can remain asymptomatic for months or years. A person gradually adapts to living in a hypoxic (low oxygen) state and is eventually unable to identify the reduced level of functioning due to hypoxia. The signs and symptoms of anemia are a result of hypoxia – low oxygen supply/availability.
In anemia there is a reduction in the quantity of oxygen transported in the blood because of fewer red blood cells in circulation or lower hemoglobin levels. Oxygen is essential for energy production and maintaining the functions and processes that sustain life. The primary function of hemoglobin is to carry oxygen in the bloodstream so that it can be distributed to tissues throughout the body. Irrespective of the type of anemia, the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is reduced and this causes a number of effects as outlined in Too Few Red Blood Cells. There are number of different types of anemia and this term may encompass a number of defects in size, shape, structure and quantity of red blood cells in the blood. Anemia is a deficiency of circulating red blood cells or low hemoglobin levels.