Living with anemia

Anemia can often be treated and controlled. If you have signs or symptoms of anemia, try to get early diagnosis and treatment. Treatment can give you more energy and increase your activity level, improve your quality of life and help you live longer. With proper treatment, many types of anemia are mild and last a short time. However, anemia can be severe, prolonged, and even fatal if caused by an inherited disease, chronic illness, or trauma. You must learn to live with anemia.

Anemia in childhood and adolescence

Babies and young children need more iron because they are growing rapidly. If there is not enough iron, anemia can occur. Premature and low-birth-weight babies are closely monitored for anemia. Talk to your doctor if you feed your baby only breast milk or formula that is not fortified with iron, especially after six months of age. Your doctor may recommend iron supplements. Children who drink a lot of cow’s milk are also at risk of anemia. Cow’s milk does not contain all the iron necessary for growth. Most of the iron a child needs comes from food. Ask your child’s doctor for advice about healthy eating and good sources of iron, vitamins B12 and C, and folic acid (folate). You should only give your child iron supplements if the doctor prescribes them. You must carefully follow the instructions on how to give your child these supplements. If your child has anemia, the doctor may ask if the child has been exposed to lead. Lead poisoning in children has been associated with iron deficiency anemia. Adolescents are also at risk for anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia, because they are going through growth spurts. Regular testing for anemia often begins in the teenage years. Older children and teenagers who have certain types of severe anemia may be more susceptible to injuries or infections. Ask the doctor if your child needs to avoid high-risk activities, such as contact sports. Girls begin to menstruate and lose iron with each period. Some girls and women are at greater risk of anemia due to excessive blood loss from menstruation or other causes, low iron intake, or a history of anemia. These girls and women may need regular testing and monitoring for anemia.

Anemia in pregnancy and postpartum

Anemia may occur during pregnancy due to a lack of iron and folic acid, and certain blood changes. During the first six months of pregnancy, the liquid portion (plasma) of a woman’s blood increases more rapidly than the number of red blood cells. Then the blood thins and anemia can occur. Severe anemia increases the risk of premature birth and low birth weight. Therefore, pregnant women should be screened for anemia during early prenatal visits. They also need regular monitoring during prenatal care. After childbirth, screening for anemia is often done if the mother:

• Had anemia that continued during the last 3 months of pregnancy (third trimester).
• Had excessive blood loss during pregnancy, childbirth, or postpartum.
• Had a twin or multiple birth.

Anemia in elderly people

Chronic diseases, iron deficiency, and poor diet often cause anemia in older people. Furthermore, in these people, anemia is almost always accompanied by other medical problems. For this reason, the signs and symptoms of anemia may not be as clear and may go unnoticed. Contact your doctor if you have any of these signs or symptoms. If you are diagnosed with anemia, your doctor may: Ask questions about your diet to find out if you are getting enough vitamins. He or she may recommend taking vitamins or iron or folic acid supplements. Prescribe a synthetic form of erythropoietin if your anemia is due to cancer, kidney disease, or treatment for these diseases. Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.