Anemia how to treat

Different kinds of anemia how to treat?

Iron deficiency anemia how to treat. Treatment for this form of anemia usually involves taking iron supplements and changing your diet. For some people, this might involve receiving iron through a vein.

If the cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood — other than from menstruation — the source of the bleeding must be located and the bleeding stopped. This might involve surgery.
Vitamin deficiency anemias how to treat. Treatment for folic acid and vitamin C deficiency involves dietary supplements and increasing these nutrients in your diet.

If your digestive system has trouble absorbing vitamin B-12 from the food you eat, you might need vitamin B-12 shots. At first, you might have the shots every other day. Eventually, you'll need shots just once a month, possibly for life, depending on your situation.
Anemia of chronic disease how to treat. There's no specific treatment for this type of anemia. Doctors focus on treating the underlying disease. If symptoms become severe, a blood transfusion or injections of a synthetic hormone normally produced by your kidneys (erythropoietin) might help stimulate red blood cell production and ease fatigue.
Aplastic anemia how to treat. Treatment for this anemia can include blood transfusions to boost levels of red blood cells. You might need a bone marrow transplant if your bone marrow can't make healthy blood cells.
Anemias associated with bone marrow disease how to treat. Treatment of these various diseases can include medication, chemotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.
Hemolytic anemias how to treat. Managing hemolytic anemias includes avoiding suspect medications, treating infections and taking drugs that suppress your immune system, which could be attacking your red blood cells. Severe hemolytic anemia generally needs ongoing treatment.
Sickle cell anemia how to treat. Treatment might include oxygen, pain relievers, and oral and intravenous fluids to reduce pain and prevent complications. Doctors might also recommend blood transfusions, folic acid supplements and antibiotics. A cancer drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Siklos) also is used to treat sickle cell anemia.
Thalassemia how to treat. Most forms of thalassemia are mild and require no treatment. More-severe forms of thalassemia generally require blood transfusions, folic acid supplements, medication, removal of the spleen, or a blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant.

What Are the Treatments for Anemia?

Your doctor may not treat your anemia until the underlying cause has been established. The treatment for one type of anemia may be both inappropriate and dangerous for another type of anemia.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Blood Loss
If you suddenly lose a large volume of blood, you may be treated with fluids, a blood transfusion, oxygen, and possibly iron to help your body build new red blood cells. Chronic blood loss is treated by identifying the source of bleeding, stopping the bleeding, and, if necessary, providing treatment for iron-deficiency anemia.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Decreased Red Blood Cell Production
The type of treatment you receive depends on the cause of decreased red blood cell production.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Iron Deficiency
Without adequate iron, the body is unable to produce normal red blood cells. In young women, iron deficiency anemia can result from heavy menstrual bleeding. Non-menstruating women or men who develop iron deficiency need to have a colon exam (colonoscopy or barium enema) to help identify the source of chronic bleeding.

With iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will probably recommend iron supplements that contain the ferrous form of iron, which your body can absorb easily. Timed-release iron supplements are not a good choice for most people, because iron is primarily absorbed in the upper part of the digestive tract. If you use iron supplements, remember the following cautions:

Always consult with your doctor before taking iron supplements. Excess iron intake can be harmful. Symptoms of iron overload include fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, irritability, heart disease, and joint problems.
Iron supplements -- like all supplements and any medication -- should be kept out of the reach of children. Iron poisoning is one of the most common causes of accidental poisoning in young children. It can prove fatal in a matter of hours. Symptoms of poisoning in a child include dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Seek medical help immediately.
Watch for side effects. You may need to continue taking iron supplements for up to one year. Taking iron supplements with food can help prevent common side effects, which may include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. Let your doctor know if you continue to have side effects. Different formulations are available.
Watch for drug interactions. Tell your doctor if you are being treated for another condition. For example, calcium supplements interfere with iron absorption, so it is best to take them at different times of the day.
The body absorbs iron best when taken in a mildly acidic medium, so your doctor may suggest taking iron with a half-glass of orange juice or with vitamin C.

Your doctor may also recommend that you increase the amount of iron in your diet. Good dietary sources of iron include red meat, beans, egg yolk, whole-grain products, nuts, and seafood. Many processed foods and milk are also reinforced with iron.

Your doctor will monitor your red blood cell counts, including hematocrit, hemoglobin, and ferritin levels, during treatment. If your anemia doesn't improve with iron supplements, your doctor will look for some other underlying cause. In rare cases, your doctor may prescribe iron injections or give you iron intravenously (through a needle in the vein). In extremely rare cases of life-threatening iron-deficiency anemia, treatment may involve a blood transfusion.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency
Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. If your body stores are depleted of vitamin B12, your doctor will most likely prescribe vitamin B12 injections. Vitamin B12 can also be given by mouth, but very high doses are needed. Vitamin B12 can also been given under the tongue or in a nasal spray, but these preparations are expensive and have not been adequately studied to be recommended. There is a good chance that many of the symptoms of deficiency will improve once the body is provided with the needed B12.

Some people with vitamin B12 deficiency have a permanent inability to absorb vitamin B12 and will need injections every one to three months or pills daily for the rest of their lives.

Some forms of gastric bypass surgery are associated with deficiencies of iron, vitamin B12, and other nutrients typically absorbed in the part of the stomach that is bypassed.

Your doctor may also recommend that you increase the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet. Good dietary sources of vitamin B12 are meat, liver, and kidney; fish, oysters, and clams; and milk, cheese, and eggs.

If you have a folate deficiency, your doctor will prescribe folic acid supplements (folic acid is a form of folate used in dietary supplements and fortified foods.) They may recommend you to increase the amount of folate in your diet. Good dietary sources of folate include fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts); dairy products; and whole grain cereals. Vegetables should be eaten raw or lightly cooked.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Problems of the Bone Marrow and Stem Cells.
This anemia tends to be more persistent and difficult to treat. The treatments for hereditary anemias, such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease, vary widely and depend on the specific condition and the severity of symptoms. Some anemias will not require any treatment, while others may require repeated transfusions and other aggressive measures. Although aplastic anemia will occasionally go into spontaneous remission, some people with this disorder require bone marrow transplantation.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Chronic Disease
It is best to treat the underlying condition whenever possible. Anemia caused by chronic kidney disease or following chemotherapy can often be treated with an injection of recombinant human erythropoietin called darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp).or epoetin alpha (Epogen, Procrit). Erythropoietin is a hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Darbepoetin alfa is a synthetic form of erythropoietin.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Increased Red Blood Cell Destruction
The treatment of hemolytic anemia will be tailored to the underlying cause. Mild cases of hemolytic anemia may not require any treatment at all. If an offending environmental agent can be identified -- a chemical, for example -- exposure to this agent should stop immediately. Other people with hemolytic anemia may need surgery to replace faulty heart valves, remove a tumor, or repair abnormal blood vessels.

Supportive treatment -- like intravenous fluids and pain medication -- will often be given. A blood transfusion may be necessary in some cases. Steroids can halt the body's immune attack on its own red blood cells. Certain damaging factors can be removed from the blood by a treatment called plasmapheresis.

If hemolytic anemia persists despite treatment, your doctor may recommend splenectomy -- surgical removal of the spleen -- as a last resort. Most people can lead a normal life without their spleen.

Longstanding hemolytic anemia can cause gallstones to develop from the by-products of red blood cell destruction. Gallbladder surgery may be necessary for symptomatic gallstones. A type of hemolytic anemia that occurs more commonly in children is associated with kidney damage, and dialysis may be necessary. In extremely rare cases, bone marrow transplantation may be the only solution for certain types of hemolytic anemia.

Anemia How To Treat Because Of Sickle Cell Anemia
Occasionally, children with sickle cell disease who have an appropriate donor may be cured by a bone marrow transplant. Alternatively, a drug called hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea, Silkos) appears to stimulate the formation of an alternate form of hemoglobin that isn't susceptible to the sickling, and may be used to reduce the frequency of bone pain. The bone pain can usually be eased with pain medications and the anemia may require transfusions. Hydroxyurea may also decrease the need for blood transfusions.

Lead poisoning is treated by discontinuing exposure to lead and administering a drug that binds and draws lead out of the body.

Anemia how to treat at home

Anemia is a low level of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through your body. Many things can cause anemia. A lack of iron is one of the most common causes. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to your body's cells. Without enough iron, your body will produce fewer and smaller red blood cells. As a result, your body cells don't get enough oxygen and you feel tired and weak. And you may have trouble concentrating.

Bleeding is the most common cause of iron deficiency. You may have heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding caused by diseases such as ulcers, hemorrhoids or cancer. Regular use of aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) may also cause bleeding in some people. A lack of iron in the diet can also lead to anemia, especially at times when the body needs more iron, such as during pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence.

Your doctor may have prescribed pills. It may take several months of treatment for your iron levels to return to normal. Your doctor may also recommend that you eat iron-rich foods.

There are many other causes of anemia. It is not always due to a lack of iron. Finding the specific cause of your anemia will help your doctor find the right treatment for you.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Remember to make and attend your appointments, and contact your doctor or nurse if you have problems. Afterwards you will need to know the results of your tests and keep a list of the medications you are taking.

How you can treat your anemia at home?

Take your medications exactly as prescribed. If you think there is a problem with your medication, contact your doctor or nurse call line.
If your doctor recommends taking iron supplements, take them as directed.
Try to take your pills on an empty stomach about 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. However, you may need to take your iron with food to avoid stomach upset.
Do not take antacids or drink milk or caffeinated beverages (such as coffee, tea or cola) at the same time or within 2 hours of taking your iron. They can make it difficult for your body to absorb iron.
Vitamin C (from food or supplements) helps your body absorb iron. Try drinking a glass of orange juice or some other food high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruit, with your iron pills.
Pills can cause stomach problems such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and cramps. Be sure to drink plenty of water and include fruits, vegetables and fiber in your daily diet. Iron pills often make your stool dark or green.
If you forget to take your iron pills, don't take a double dose of iron the next time you take them.
Keep the medicine out of the reach of small children. Excessive amounts of iron can be very dangerous.
Follow your doctor's advice and eat iron-rich foods. These foods include red meat, shellfish, poultry, eggs, beans, raisins, whole-grain bread, and green leafy vegetables.
Steam vegetables to help them retain their iron content.

References

1. Anemia - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

2. Understanding Anemia -- Diagnosis and Treatment

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