A healthy kidney produces a hormone known as the erythropoietin. The latter assists the bone marrow to produce an adequate amount of RBC that carries oxygen to every nook and corner of the body. A damaged kidney results in less RBC production, thereby, creating a condition known as anemia. The hemoglobin count in the blood reduces significantly in this condition.

Anemia is characterized by shortness of breath, weakness and tiredness. It can affect sleep and a loss of appetite. A patient suffering from anemia reports of frequent headaches and a faster heart rate. These symptoms also surface when a person suffers from chronic kidney diseases (CKD). The condition gets worse as the disease progresses.

Treating anemia:
A patient suffering from anemia should be treated on time as there are many pitfalls of a lower hemoglobin level. The treatment will give instant relief from other symptoms that might have arrived with CKD. Doctors frequently prescribe Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA) for patients suffering from CKD and suffering from anemia due to the shortage of erythropoietin. ESAs can be injected through an injection or intravenously. These injections stimulate the bone marrow to produce more RBCs. However, studies have revealed that ESAs increase the chance of strokes, heart attacks and blood clots. Furthermore, they aggravate tumor growth and shorten life expectancy for cancer patients. People undergoing ESA treatment should have periodic check-ups to ensure that the hemoglobin count is normal and under control.

Iron
Iron count in the body has an important role in treating patients suffering from anemia and CKD. In case the level of iron is too low in the body, ESAs fail to improve the condition of an anemic patient. The ferritin count of a patient should be in the range of 100-800 mcg/L. One more test known as TSAT reveals the number of iron required to produce RBCs in the body. In case the iron count is less, doctors often suggest iron pills to bring the count to a more accepted level.

Other causes
There could be other reasons for anemia as well. A doctor might further investigate the level of B12 and folic acid present in the body. Even an inflammatory condition can lead to anemia. A decreased count of any of the above-mentioned ingredients can cause anemia to a patient suffering from EKD.

Food items necessary to improve the condition
A healthy diet helps in improving the condition of an anemic patient. Iron deficiency is best addressed by fish and beef. Food rich in vitamin C helps the body to absorb more iron in the body. Certain food items that block the entry of iron in the body include tea, milk, albumen (egg white) etc. Therefore, you should be strictly avoid these items from your diet.

Kidney Disease - How It Is Related With Anaemia?

Anemia makes you go low on energy. It is usually because your Haemoglobin is lower than normal. Normal range for females is 12- 14 gm & for males 13 - 15 gm. This technically means that the count of your red blood cells is abnormally low, so it can't carry enough oxygen to all parts of your body. This causes paleness and symptoms like generalized weakness, fatigue, low concentration, giddiness, and palpitations .
 
Follow these 7 home remedies to beat Anemia- 

1) Remember the ‘Apple a day’quote - it is more true for an Anemic than for anyone else.
2) Not just Apple, consume a ripe banana with 1 tbsp of honey twice a day. Honey helps in increasing the haemoglobin in blood. It is rich in iron, copper and manganese.
3) Soak handful of currants (munakka) for 4 hours. Remove seeds and have it every morning.
4) Mix a cup of beetroot juice, a cup of apple juice with honey and have it once a day. 
5) Have lots of green, leafy vegetables like spinach and cabbage. Tomatoes are very good too.
6) Consume fruits rich in iron such as watermelons, raisins, grapefruits, tomatoes, apples, bananas, oranges, strawberries and avocados.
7) Non vegetarian sources are rich in vitamin B12, which also increases HB. Have egg yolk, meat, seafood like tuna, clams, catfish, salmon, oysters and sardine.

Click on consult privately to ask me any questions that you might have on Anemia. Wishing you good health.

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Anemia - It's more common than you think it is.

Anemia is a medical condition in which the red blood cell count or hemoglobin is less than normal. Haemoglobin is the main part of red blood cells and it binds oxygen. If you have few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen. Anemia can last temporarily or for a long-term, and it can range from mild to severe. If you suspect you have anemia, see your doctor immediately because it can be a warning sign of a serious illness. A person who has anemia is called anemic.

Sign and symptoms of anemia: Because a low blood cell count decreases oxygen delivery to every tissue in the body, anemia can cause a variety of signs and symptoms. It can also worsen the state of any other underlying medical condition. If anemia is mild, it may not cause any symptoms. If anemia is chronic, the body may adapt and compensate for the change. In this case, there may not be any symptoms until anemia becomes more severe. Anemia signs and symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the condition. These may include fatigue, weakness, pale or yellowish skin, irregular heartbeats, breathlessness, dizziness, chest pain, cold hands and feet, and headache.

Causes of anemia: Anemia occurs when your body doesn t have enough red blood cells. This can happen if: 

Your body doesn t make enough red blood cells: The bone marrow is essential for the creation of red blood cells. A number of diseases can affect the bone marrow, including leukemia, where too many abnormal white blood cells are produced. This disrupts normal production of red blood cells.
Bleeding causes you to lose red blood cells more quickly than they can be replaced: Iron deficient anemia is the most common type of anemia which often falls into this category. It is caused by a shortage of iron, which most often results due to blood loss. Blood loss can be acute and rapid or chronic. Rapid blood loss can happen at the time of surgery, childbirth, trauma, or a ruptured blood vessel. 
Your body destroys red blood cells: Red blood cells have a lifespan of 120 days in the bloodstream but they can be destroyed or removed beforehand. In one type of anemia, the body s immune system mistakenly identifies its own red blood cells as a foreign substance and attacks them. Excessive red blood cell breakdown can also occur due to infections, the use of certain drugs, snake or spider venom, severe hypertension, and in the case of clotting disorders.
Treatment of anemia: The treatment of anemia varies greatly. First, the underlying cause of anemia needs to be identified and corrected. Most of the times, iron supplements will be needed to correct iron deficiency. In severe anemia, blood transfusions may be necessary. Vitamin B12 injections are necessary in some cases who are suffering from a specific type of anemia.

Prevention of anemia: Many types of anemia can t be prevented. But iron deficient anemia and vitamin deficient anemia can be avoided by having a diet that includes a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including iron, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin C.

Anemia - What Causes It?

Anemia refers to a condition wherein the body possesses fewer red blood cells than what it contains under normal circumstances. Oxygen gets carried by the red blood cells to tissues and organs all over the body, thereby enabling them to use the necessary energy from food. A person suffering from anemia, will have his red blood cells carrying less amount of oxygen to organs like heart and brain, thus interrupt smooth functioning of the organs. Kidney disease leads to the problem of anemia. In fact, it is a very common side effect of kidney disease, wherein the body fails to produce the required amount of red blood cells.

What results in anemia?
A person can suffer from the problem of Anemia, when sufficient amount of red blood cells are not there in the body. Oxygen is carried through a person s bloodstream by the Red blood cells, providing him energy and also ensure that the bones, muscles and organs function properly. Anemia can make a person feel weak and very tired as he or she is unable to receive the required amount of energy.

How can chronic kidney disease lead to anemia?
Anemia is common among people, who suffer from chronic kidney disease, though the problem can occur to anyone. People suffering from chronic kidney disease may have anemia during the early stages of their kidney disease and as the kidney problem gets worse, so does anemia. Improper functioning of kidneys generally link towards the problem of anemia. People, who suffer from complete loss of kidney function, tend to develop the problem of anemia. Kidney failure leads to a person, requiring dialysis or kidney transplant, for ensuring longevity.

Anemia becomes even more common in chronic kidney disease, if a person:

Has high diabetes.
Is suffering from heart problems.
Has a high level of blood pressure.
Some of the other causes of anemia in people, suffering from kidney disease include loss of blood from hemodialysis and lower levels of some of the nutrients like iron, folic acid and vitamin B12, found in food.
These three nutrients are essential for the red blood cells to make haemoglobin, which is the main carrier of protein through oxygen in red blood cells.

Signs and symptoms of anemia with chronic kidney disease
The signs and symptoms of anemia in someone, suffering from chronic kidney disease are:

He might have terrible weakness.
A person might suffer from headaches on a frequent basis.
There would be problems with regard to concentration.
The color of the skin would become pale.
Treatment
A doctor would try and increase the levels of iron in a person s body, as the first step of treatment. Iron pills would help in improving the levels of iron and haemoglobin. Red Blood Cell transfusion is another way to treat this problem. Transfusion would be done inside the patient s vein by raising the level of the patient s blood consisting of red blood cells, thereby also increasing the amount of oxygen. Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid supplements are also suggested by healthcare providers, to help treat anemia.

Anemia - How Chronic Kidney Disease Can Lead To It?

Iron deficiency is most common among people of all age groups. The nutrient is critical, because it not just produces haemoglobin, it also protects red cells by providing them enough oxygen. Check out these symptoms to know if you are iron deficient.

1) Exhaustion- Do you feel tired, exhausted all the time? Most women think that it?s because of their frantic life. But it could actually be because your tissues don?t get enough oxygen.

2) Heavy Periods- Heavier blood flow is one of the reasons behind iron deficiency. Women may loose too much of blood and might not be able to replace it faster. Periods should only fill two to three tablespoons each month.

3) Paleness- Have people been telling you that you look pale or sickly. Low levels of protein and iron can suck away colour from your skin. 

4) Shortness of Breath- A flight of stairs seem like a mammoth of a task when you have less iron. If you easily get short of breath, it?s time you consult your doctor.

If you have any of the above symptoms or have more questions on this topic, click on consult privately to ask me.

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Iron Deficiency Is More Dangerous Than You Think. Symptom Checker Inside.

World Sickle Cell Day is observed each year on June 19th to raise the public awareness regarding this disease and its treatment methods. Sickle Cell disease is an inherited transmitted deformity/abnormality of haemoglobin. It is an inherited form of anaemia. This abnormality generates changes in the shape of red blood cells from round to crescent, which reduces the oxygen carrying capacity and slows down the flow of blood to various parts of the body. 

Generally, red blood vessels are round and flexible, passing easily through the blood vessels. The red blood cells become sticky and rigid in sickle cell anaemia. Sickle cells last 10 to 20 days, which causes anaemia because of the disorder of red blood cells, while healthy red blood cells could live up to 120 days.

Millions of people around the world are affected by Sickle Cell Anemia. There is no specific cure for this disease as Sickle cell anaemia is not contagious, it is hereditary. Sickle cell anaemia is named so for the reason that red blood cells are crescent-shaped or sickle-shaped, and anaemia signifies lack of blood. There is a difference between iron-deficiency anaemia and sickle cell anaemia.

Symptoms

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has many symptoms which includes: serious anemia, episodes of suffering, additionally a range of complications, heart failure, dizziness, chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute chest syndrome (ACS), chest pain, gallstones, pulmonary hypertension, immune deficiency, paralysis or stroke, splenomegaly, joint damage mainly in the hip joint, foot ulcers, delayed puberty, retinopathy, and endocrine disorders.

Diagnosis

Sickle Cell Disease is diagnosed by blood tests.

Treatment

Bone marrow transplant or stem cell transplant in patients usually below the age of sixteen is the only available cure for the disease.

Aim of the World Sickle Cell Day

The aim of the World Sickle Cell Day is to support and promote research for the patients in order to help them upgrade their overall quality of life to the maximum possible extent. It also aspires to increase awareness for sickle cell disease disorder in the general public so that they know how to deal with patients suffering from the disease. Moreover, the World Sickle Cell Day has the objective of raising awareness of the importance among generations of pre-marital screening to lessen the transmission of Sickle Cell Disease.

Target Groups for Awareness Programs

Though it is desirable that everybody knows about Sickle Cell Disease, the target groups for the awareness programs include health decision-makers, sickle cell anaemia sufferers and their families, health organizations and associations, people who are planning to get married, and the health workers including health educators, physicians, and nurses.

On the World Sickle Cell Day, different societies provide advocacy, information, and advice for raising awareness. They also provide educational and welfare grants, support services, annual children s holiday, home help, hospital visits, mentoring and befriending through holding talks, assisting into research and training, lobbying for better service provision, patient education seminars, and campaigning.

World Sickle Cell Day - What Should You Know?

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