Treat for anemia depends on the type, cause, and severity of the condition. Treatments may include dietary changes or supplements, medicines, procedures, or surgery to treat blood loss.
Goals of treat for anemia
The goal to treat for anemia is to increase the amount of oxygen your blood can carry. This is accomplished by increasing the number of red blood cells and/or hemoglobin levels. (Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body.)
Another underlying reason for the goal is to treat for anemia.
Treat for anemia with Dietary Changes and Supplements
Low levels of vitamins or iron in the body can lead to certain types of anemia. These low levels may be caused by a poor diet or certain diseases or conditions.
To raise your vitamin or iron levels, your doctor may ask you to change your diet or take vitamin or iron supplements. Common vitamin supplements are vitamin B12 and folic acid (folate). Sometimes vitamin C is given to help your body absorb iron to treat for anemia.
Treat for anemia with Iron
Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Your body can more easily absorb iron from meats than from vegetables or other foods. To treat for anemia, your doctor may suggest eating more meat—especially red meat (such as beef or liver), as well as chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and shellfish.
Nonmeat foods that are good sources of iron include:
- Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables
- Tofu
- Peas; lentils; white, red, and baked beans; soybeans; and chickpeas
- Dried fruits, such as prunes, raisins, and apricots
- Prune juice
- Iron-fortified cereals and breads
You can find out how much iron these foods contain by looking at the Nutrition Facts label on the packaged food. The amount is expressed as a percentage of your total daily iron requirement.
Iron is also available as a supplement. It is usually combined with a multivitamin and other minerals to help your body absorb iron.
Your doctor may recommend iron supplements for premature babies, infants and toddlers who drink a lot of milk, and babies who are fed only breast milk or formula without iron.
Large amounts of iron can be harmful, so take iron supplements only as directed by your doctor to treat for anemia.
Treat for anemia with Vitamin B12
Low levels of vitamin B12 can lead to pernicious anemia. Vitamin B12 supplements are often used to treat for anemia.
Good food sources of vitamin B12 include:
- Breakfast cereals with added vitamin B12
- Meats such as beef, liver, poultry, and fish
- Eggs and dairy products (such as milk, yogurt, and cheese)
- Foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as soy-based beverages and vegetarian burgers
Treat for anemia with Folic Acid
Folic acid (folate) is a form of vitamin B that's found in foods. Your body needs folic acid to make and maintain new cells. Folic acid also is very important for pregnant women. It helps them avoid anemia and promotes healthy growth of the fetus.
Good sources of folic acid include:
- Bread, pasta, and rice with added folic acid
- Spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables
- Black-eyed peas and dried beans
- Beef liver
- Eggs
- Bananas, oranges, orange juice, and some other fruits and juices
Treat for anemia with Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron and is beneficial to treat for anemia. Good sources of vitamin C are vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits. Citrus fruits include oranges, grapefruits, tangerines and similar fruits. Fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables and juices usually have more vitamin C than canned ones.
If you are taking medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist if you can eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. This fruit can affect the strength of some medications and their effectiveness.
Other fruits rich in vitamin C include kiwi fruit, strawberries and cantaloupe.
Vitamin C-rich vegetables include broccoli, peppers, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, cabbage, potatoes and leafy greens such as turnip greens and spinach.
Treat for anemia with Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe medications to help your body make more red blood cells or to treat for anemia as an underlying cause. Some of these medications include:
- Antibiotics to treat infections.
- Hormones to treat heavy menstrual bleeding in teenaged and adult women.
- A man-made version of erythropoietin to stimulate your body to make more red blood cells. This hormone has some risks. You and your doctor will decide whether the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risks.
- Medicines to prevent the body's immune system from destroying its own red blood cells.
- Chelation (ke-LAY-shun) therapy for lead poisoning. Chelation therapy is used mainly in children. This is because children who have iron-deficiency anemia are at increased risk of lead poisoning.
Treat for anemia with Procedures
If your anemia is severe, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure to treat for anemia. Procedures include blood transfusions and blood and marrow stem cell transplants.
Treat for anemia with Blood Transfusion
Blood transfusions are a safe and common way to treat for anemia by providing blood to you through a venous (IV) line in one of your blood vessels. Blood transfusions require careful matching of the donated blood to the recipient's blood.
Treat for anemia with Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplant
A blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant is the replacement of your faulty stem cells with healthy stem cells from another person (the donor) to treat for anemia. Stem cells are produced in the bone marrow. They develop into red and white blood cells and platelets.
During a transplant, just like a blood transfusion, you get the donated stem cells through a tube placed in a vein in your chest. Once the stem cells are in your body, they enter your bone marrow and begin making new blood cells.
Treat for anemia with Surgery
If you have serious or life-threatening bleeding that's causing anemia, you may need treat for anemia with surgery. For example, you may need treat for anemia with surgery to control ongoing bleeding due to a stomach ulcer or colon cancer.
If your body is destroying red blood cells at a high rate, you may need to have your spleen removed. The spleen is an organ that removes wornout red blood cells from the body. An enlarged or diseased spleen may remove more red blood cells than normal, causing anemia.
Treat for anemia with Hemoglobin Meter
Hemoglobin meters can be easily and quickly used to determine red blood cell levels. Easy to understand your hemoglobin levels to monitor your hemoglobin (HB) levels and hematocrit (HCT) %. Whether you are preparing for surgery or want to test for a chronic condition, a hemoglobin meter is a great tool to help you treat for anemia.
References
1. How Is Anemia Treated? - Hematology Oncology Associates
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