Anemia is when your body does not have a sufficient number of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to transport oxygen to where it’s required. This isn’t one disease, it’s a clue that something else could be wrong, whether it be a simple lack of iron or an inherited blood disorder. It is also common – the WHO estimates that approximately 40% of young children, 30% of women and 37% of pregnant women worldwide suffer from it. Knowing how to detect and treat it and how to prevent it.
Anemia Symptoms
Symptoms vary based on the kind and severity. Usually mild anemia will have no symptoms at all, it may only be detected on a regular blood test.
If symptoms occur, fatigue is the first symptom to appear. It is a type of fatigue that makes day to day activities seem more difficult. Common symptoms are:
- Lack of strength, lack of energy
- Difficulty breathing, particularly with activity.
- A yellowish or pale complexion (especially for lighter-skinned people)
- Unregular or fast beating of th
- Chest pain
- Cold hands and feet
- Headaches
- Frequent infections, in some types
These signs and symptoms are shared by many illnesses. Sometimes the anemia is a symptom of some other disease and only surfaces when a doctor is looking to find another. Some people only find out when they’re turned away from donating blood due to low hemoglobin.
See a doctor if: you feel tired or short of breath for no clear reason, or symptoms haven’t improved in two weeks.
Seek urgent care if: you have chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, or a racing heart. Anemia can raise the risk of heart complications.
Anemia Causes
Anemia can occur in three ways: Your body does not produce sufficient red blood cells or hemoglobin, you bleed more than the body can replace, or your body removes red blood cells too rapidly.
Iron, vitamin B12, folate, and a healthy bone marrow are all necessary to make healthy red blood cells. If any link in that chain is broken, anemia may ensue. There are two categories of causes, most commonly divided by doctors.
Acquired causes (developed over a lifetime):
- Low levels of iron, B12 or folate in the diet.
- Chronic inflammatory conditions, such as kidney disease, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, which disrupt the use of iron in the body:
- Heavy periods, ulcers, surgery or frequent aspirin use can cause blood loss.
- Other autoimmune diseases, which target red blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia – in which the bone marrow does not produce sufficient blood cells,
- Diseases of the bone marrow, such as leukemia or myelofibrosis
Inherited causes: The most common disorders are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia, and include rarer disorders such as Diamond-Blackfan anemia and Fanconi anemia.
Higher-risk groups: Include people who have poor diets, those who have intestinal problems such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease, women who have heavy periods, pregnant people who don’t get enough iron or folic acid, and adults ages 65 and older, as well as anyone who has a family history of inherited blood disorders.
Iron Deficiency Anemia
This is the most common type of anemia in the world. Occurs when there is a lack of iron to produce hemoglobin, as the bone marrow needs iron to produce hemoglobin.
This can happen in two ways, inadequate iron intake through the diet, or loss of iron through anything that makes the body lose this mineral at a rate that exceeds its intake. One of the biggest drivers is blood loss, such as menstrual loss, a bleeding ulcer, polyps in the colon, cancer or frequent use of aspirin or other drugs. Another common cause is pregnancy; iron requirements increase significantly and supplements are frequently needed to meet these increased requirements.
In a 2023 global study, it was revealed that dietary iron deficiency is the sole global cause of anemia in 2021, impacting hundreds of millions of people. It is so frequent and typically preventable, that it is the initial type examined by a doctor when a person feels tired or has pale skin.
Anemia Diagnosis
Diagnosis starts with a discussion of your symptoms and history, followed by blood tests that look directly at your red blood cells. The main tests are:
- Complete blood count (CBC): Examines the blood cells for their quantity, size and form. This is typically the initial test that is ordered.
- Hemoglobin test : Measures hemoglobin directly and low hemoglobin is what is the definition of anemia.
- Hematocrit test: Measures what percentage of your blood is made up of red blood cells
- Peripheral blood smear: Examines blood cells with a microscope to see if there are clues in the cells that tell about the cause.
- Reticulocyte count: Assesses the amount of new red blood cells being produced in the
When anemia is diagnosed, blood tests are used to identify the specific cause (iron studies, B12 and folate levels, or chronic disease or bleeding). The treatment varies according to getting this right.
Anemia Treatment
There is no single treatment for anemia; it varies from type to type depending on the cause of the anemia. If the cause is another condition, such as kidney disease, then the treatment of the underlying condition is the first priority. Common approaches include:
- Supplements: Iron supplements for iron deficiency anemia, folic acid or B12 supplements for the specific deficiencies.
- Medications: On the other hand, if the immune system is causing the red blood cells to be destroyed, then erythropoietin is used to stimulate the bone marrow or immunosuppressant drugs.
- Procedures: Blood transfusions for fast correction, bone marrow or stem cell transplants, or surgery to stop internal bleeding.
If the cause of their mild anemia has been identified, this can be corrected by diet changes or supplements. However, anemia can also present with other diseases, so don’t guess, get diagnosed! If untreated, chronic anemia may result in an enlarged heart, heart failure and, in certain inherited types of anaemia, life-threatening complications.
Anemia Diet
Not all anemia can be prevented — inherited types can’t be avoided through diet. But iron deficiency and vitamin-deficiency anemias often can be. A supportive diet includes:
- Iron: beef and other meats, beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark leafy greens, dried fruit
- Folate: fruits and fruit juices, dark leafy greens, green peas, kidney beans, peanuts, enriched grains
- Vitamin B12: meat, dairy, fortified cereals and soy products
- Vitamin C: citrus fruits, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries — helps the body absorb iron
Poor eating habits are one of the most common reasons people develop anemia, which is why everyday nutrition matters so much for prevention. If you’re unsure whether your diet covers these nutrients, ask a healthcare provider about a multivitamin rather than self-prescribing high-dose iron, which can cause harm in excess.
Anemia ICD-10
Anemia is coded using ICD-10-CM codes for medical billing and records. Anemia, unspecified (D64.9) is a general code for anemia that does not specify the type or cause, and is a billable code in the chapter “Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs.
D64.9 should be used as a temporary code and should not be used as a diagnosis. The coding guidelines state to use the most specific code that the documentation (diagnostic) supports and D64.9 is only used when the type or cause of the disorder has not yet been established. Once a specific diagnosis is established more specific codes replace D50 — for instance, iron deficiency anemia, unspecified (D50.9) or iron deficiency anemia due to chronic blood loss (D50.0). Anemia associated with any other disease (such as chronic kidney disease) is coded with the associated disease. Multiple visits using D64.9 diagnosis only may attract scrutiny from the payers.
FAQ’S
It can be — mild cases are often easily treated, but untreated chronic anemia can lead to heart problems and other complications.
Iron deficiency anemia, caused by low iron intake or blood loss.
Many cases, especially iron or vitamin deficiency anemia, improve fully with treatment; inherited types are managed rather than cured.
Iron-rich foods like meat, beans, and leafy greens, paired with vitamin C to boost absorption.
Mainly through a complete blood count (CBC) and hemoglobin test.
Final Thoughts
Fatigue, pale skin or shortness of breath can be caused by anemia and should be investigated, as it may be caused by a nutrient deficiency or an underlying health condition. It can be confirmed with a blood test, and knowing the exact type of it is what translates to the right remedy (diet, supplements, medication and/or treatment of another condition). When you see symptoms that may be present, the best thing to do is to consult a health care professional who can perform the appropriate test and interpret the results within a context.
