A decreased number of circulating red blood cells in the body is a condition known as anemia. Physicians will sometimes describe someone with anemia as having a low blood count and a patient who has anemia is called anemic. Among the general population anemia is the most common blood disorder and this malady currently affects more than 3 million Americans and an estimated 1.62 billion people all over the world. The various symptoms of anemia may include pale skin, headaches, and chest pains. Anemia is often the result when other diseases interfere with the body's ability to produce healthy red blood cells or abnormally increase red blood cell breakdown or loss.
Our blood is made up of two parts, the liquid called plasma and a cellular component. This cellular composition contains several different cell types. Significantly the most important and the most numerous cell types are known as red blood cells. Other cell types include the platelets and the white blood cells. Red blood cells function to deliver oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.
All types of anemia have as their most common symptom a lack of energy and a feeling of fatigue. There are other common symptoms which may include light-headedness, headache,
paleness of skin, shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, and chest pain. Sometimes in milder cases there might be fewer or even no symptoms.
There are some forms of anemia which can have symptoms specific to their type. The condition of sickle cell anemia is often marked by painful swelling of the feet and hands, fatigue, and jaundice. Aplastic anemia can cause fever, frequent infections, and skin rashes. Jaundice, dark colored urine, fever, and abdominal pains can be signs of Hemolytic anemia. And Folic acid deficiency anemia may produce a smooth tongue, irritability and diarrhea.
Anemia is typically a clue to another underlying disease and therefore it needs to be fully evaluated by a doctor. Certainly all proper testing needs to be undertaken to determine the cause. In all cases if the signs and symptoms of anemia are present, one should contact his or her physician for evaluation. Your physician can simply detect anemia by obtaining a blood sample for a complete blood count. This complete blood count might be done as part of a routine general check-up. Or it could be based upon the presence of signs and symptoms suggestive of anemia.Through the results of the test and thorough physical evaluation your medical practitioner could order more tests to determine the exact cause of anemia.
For the convenience of our patients, our full-service lab is on-site at OFMC. Our lab is COLA Accredited and offers comprehensive testing to diagnose and treat many different medical problems.
Phone: 352-237-4133
Fax: 352-873-4581
E-mail: info@ocalafmc.com
