Anemia is a health condition in which an individual does not have the proper amount of red blood cells or their red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin. What occurs with individuals with anemia is that their red blood cells do not carry enough oxygen to the rest of the body. In the beginning, this condition may not present a huge problem only a small amount of feeling tired, however, as the condition worsens, it can lead to serious problems such as fatal damage to other organs in the body including the heart. 

Symptoms of Anemia

Feeling tired or weak is the most common sign or symptom of anemia. The weakness can be so severe that it is hard to perform normal tasks. Other symptoms of anemia include dizziness, shortness of breath, cold hands, cold feet, headache, pale skin, and chest pain. The main reason of the symptoms is that the heart is working harder and harder to pump oxygen throughout the body. 

Treating Anemia

Treating anemia has quite a bit to do with the type of anemia a person has, the cause of their anemia and the seriousness of the condition. 

The major treatments for anemia include:

• Dietary Supplements

Such supplements can include iron, B12, Folate, and Vitamin C. Iron helps your body produce hemoglobin. You can either add these vitamins and minerals to your diet or eat foods that are rich in these to aid in correcting the anemia. Foods high in iron include spinach, peanuts, peanut butter, eggs, peas, dried fruits, and prune juice. Food rich in Vitamin B12 include dairy products like cheese and milk, meats like poultry and fish, and breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin B12. Folate is a form of vitamin B12, which is available in foods such as pasta and breads fortified with folate and other foods such as black-eyed peas, eggs, beef liver, and bananas. 

Foods rich in Vitamin C, which helps the body absorb iron, include fruits, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes, and spinach.

• Medicines

In some cases, medicines may need to be used to help individuals with anemia such as antibiotics if the anemia is brought on by an infection. Hormone treatment for women and girls that have heavy menstrual cycles has helped with anemia symptoms. Epoetin is an artificial man made medicine similar to that of erythropoietin, which is a hormone that aids in the production of red blood cells. This medicine is used with caution as it comes with high risks. If the immune system needs help then medicines that work to prevent the body from attacking itself will be used. In the case of lead poisoning, which can lead to anemia the medication known as chelation is administrated. 

In severe cases of anemia, the individual may need a blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant, or stem cell transplant. All three of these are in rare cases and are due to the cause of the anemia.