Anemia is the condition in which healthy red blood cells are deficient and are unable to carry oxygen to different organs of the body. As a consequence, you might feel cold and experience symptoms of weakness and tiredness that can completely overwhelm you. There are different types of anemia and the most common type is caused due to iron deficiency. Listed below are some of the different types of anemia and their causes.
Iron Deficiency
One of the common causes of anemia is a lack of enough iron in the body. Iron is critical for hemoglobin production. And hemoglobin is responsible for carrying oxygen to the entire body.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A lack of this vitamin or the inability of a person to absorb it from the food being eaten can also be one of the causes of anemia. This is known as pernicious anemia.
Folic Acid Deficiency
When the diet being consumed is deficient in essential folic acid or the body cannot use folic acid correctly, it results in folate deficiency anemia.
Sickle Cell Anemia
Inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia are genetic forms of anemia. They occurs due to the faulty shape of the red blood cells, which affects the proper functioning of hemoglobin.
Diamond Black Fan Anemia
It is a rare genetic condition that may be inherited or acquired. In this type of anemia, the bone marrow for some reason is unable to make optimum red blood cells.
Hemolytic Anemia
In this condition, the red blood cells breakdown very fast. This type of anemia is often the result of acquired diseases.
Chronic Conditions
Certain conditions that do not allow your body to produce enough hormones that are required to produce red blood cells can also be causes of anemia. These causes include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, advanced kidney disease, lupus, and other long term chronic diseases.
Aplastic Anemia
This type of anemia results due to damage to the bone marrow. This can result in the insufficient production of red blood cells.
Fanconi Anemia
This is a very rare type of anemia. It is a genetic condition in which the production of blood cells by the bone marrow is impaired.
Mediterranean Anemia
This is mostly inherited issue is a condition in which the body is unable to produce sufficient hemoglobin. The red blood cells do not thrive as they would in other individuals who do not suffer from this condition.
Following a vegan or vegetarian diet can also be one of the causes of anemia. This is because people who only consume plant-based food, do not get sufficient iron from their diet. Some types of anemia could be caused due to genetic factors, while others could be the result of a diet deficient in certain vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Hence, some forms of this condition can be overcome by consuming a healthy balanced diet.