Anaemia is caused by a lack of red blood cells
Anaemia is the most common nutritional problem in the world and mainly affects women of child-bearing age, teenagers and young children.
The condition also affects one in six women over the age of 85.
While it is not usually a threat in its own right, it may be an indication of a more serious underlying problem.
One in five people over 65 diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anaemia - the most common form of the condition - also have a serious problem with their gut.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What is anaemia?
Anaemia is a condition in which the blood fails to supply the body's tissues with sufficient amounts of oxygen.
This is due either to a lack of red blood cells, or to each cell containing too little of the oxygen-carrying pigment haemoglobin.
Blood cells are created by the bone marrow, and normally are destroyed after about four months of life.
Anaemia results when the balance of this mechanism is disturbed.
Either the bone marrow produces too few blood cells, or the cells are destroyed or lost at too fast a rate.
There are several causes of anaemia. They include:
Defective bone marrow
A shortage of iron, the main ingredient of haemoglobin
A shortage of the vitamins B12 or folic acid, both needed to produce red blood cells
Loss of blood, through heavy menstruation, or internal bleeding, which may be caused by disease
Infections such as malaria
***
Today shall be the day forever remembered as the day where i fainted in front of colleagues after taking 3 tubes of blood samples for health screening at work, and then realising that I could very well be anaemic - how else could I explain those dizzy spells and near pitch-black moments every now and then..
Freaky. :|
***
edit post: 2356 hrs:
"Actually what you've described is a common thing when giving blood. What you experienced is called Hypovolemic Shock and occurs when the vascular system has a rapid change to it. In the case of giving blood, the "container" (vessels) remained the same size, but the volume within changed. That will cause the symptoms you've described. Also, in some cases, there are people who have a very sensative Vagus response, and they can have some difficulties for a bit after giving blood."
I'M NORMAL!!! =)