Microcytic anemias are known this way because red blood cells (erythrocytes, red blood cells) are smaller than normal and this is the result of less red blood cell creation by the body. They are caused by less iron in the blood, sideroblastic anemia, some chronic diseases, and thalassemia.
Most iron deficiency anemias, because they are mild in iron deficiency, tend to be asymptomatic. If there are symptoms, asthenia is the most common. When the deficiency is severe there is a peculiar symptom known as pica and consists of eating unusual substances such as ice, dirt and coffee beans, among others.
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Index
How can it be diagnosed?
Most iron deficiency anemias are asymptomatic; but if there are symptoms, asthenia is the most frequent. In more severe cases of iron deficiency, brittle, flattened or spoon-shaped nails, swollen tongue, and difficulty swallowing may appear. In severe deficits, a peculiar symptom may appear, the “pica”, which is the ingestion of unusual substances such as ice, coffee beans, earth, etc.
Medical treatments
It is necessary, under medical indication, to take iron supplements preferably orally and on an empty stomach or an hour before, or two after, meals. Iron supplements can cause nausea, abdominal heaviness, constipation or diarrhea, these effects can be lessened with the joint consumption of an antacid, but this affects absorption.
Normally the response to iron supplementation is usually rapid, the body begins to increase the production of reticulocytes (precursors of red blood cells) and increases its hemoglobin levels.
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Causes and consequences of suffering from it
Causes of microcytic anemia include:
- The thalassemia (lack of globin, a component of red blood cells).
- Less release of iron from hemoglobin (anemia due to inflammation)
- Iron supply deficiency (iron deficiency anemia)
- Defects in the synthesis of iron (sideroblastic anemias).
How does it affect children, youth and adults?
During childhood and adolescence, the body increases its needs for iron, so it is easier to contract this type of anemia, especially due to inadequate nutrition, hence the need to take care that the diet is supplemented with iron in these stages.
Later towards maturity and in the elderly, difficulties reappear, but now, frequently, related to the absorption of the mineral. Again it will be necessary to assess the need to receive extra iron by other means, usually through the intake of tablets.
Effects and consequences during pregnancy
By nature, the mother’s body has its reserves to meet the needs of the developing fetus before its own. Therefore, a pregnant woman with iron deficiency compromises the health of the future baby in the first instance and her own.
Hence the need to prevent an iron deficiency from the beginning of pregnancy. A pregnancy where insufficient iron is available can lead to miscarriages, premature births, newborn mortality, and infections.
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Microcytic and hyperchromic anemia
The most common hyperchromic macrocytic anemias are Megaloblastic Non-Megaloblastic anemias . The former are due to a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid and the latter due to hyperregenerative anemia, anemia due to vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) and of various origins.
Causes and consequences
They are produced by four causes: insufficient intake in the diet, increased needs in certain stages of life (childhood, adolescence, pregnancy, adulthood), malabsorption, alteration of metabolism.
Medical treatment
It is based on supplying vitamin deficiencies and, in general, has a good prognosis unless there are other related diseases.
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Microcytic anemia and hypochroma
In this group are iron deficiency anemia, thalassemias and those associated with chronic infections . It is characterized by microcytosis, that is, small red blood cells and hypochromic, which means that the amount of hemoglobin per blood cell is also less than expected.
Hypochromic microcytic anemia is also associated with other ailments such as celiac disease; to inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, sarcoidosis, and inflammatory bowel disease; some types of cancer; infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, pyelonephritis, lung abscesses and pneumonia; severe and extensive burns or skin ulcers and alcoholism.
Causes and consequences
As this type of anemia occurs with related diseases, it will be necessary to attend to them to improve the general health of the patient. In most cases, supplementing the deficiencies with the missing vitamin in therapeutic doses indicated by the doctor on a regular basis may be a way to help overcome anemia.
Having a thyroid hormone deficiency there is the possibility that the functions of the whole organism are affected. The level of involvement depends on the level of hypothyroidism that is suffered, ranging from mild or unidentified levels to notable myxedema. Basically, suffering from hypothyroidism is due to a primary condition in the thyroid gland or a lack of pituitary TSH.
While the most physically notable variables of hypothyroidism can be easily identified through clinical patient data, the more common ones that are mild may require adequate laboratory studies for their detection.
Microcytic anemia and hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a primary condition of the thyroid gland itself or a lack of thyroid hormone. As a disease it can affect most of the body’s functions and has varying degrees of severity. If, in addition, iron stores are insufficient, hypothyroidism prevents the production of red blood cells adequately, even if the intake of supplements is indicated.
When there is microcytic anemia and hypothyroidism, it is necessary to treat both diseases to guarantee improved health. Erythropoietin is produced in the kidney, in case of acute or chronic renal failure we will see erythropoiesis directly compromised. (The appearance of anemia in a diabetic should suggest diabetic nephropathy).
In people with kidney failure
There is a protein that is secreted by the adult kidney and by the liver in the fetus, which stimulates the production of red blood cells, it is known as erythropoietin, in those with kidney failure the ability to produce erythropoietin is less, so that the possibility of restoring normal red blood cell production is more complicated.
Recommendations for a balanced diet
The balance in the diet, which includes foods from all groups to meet needs and avoid diseases such as anemia is essential. However, the nutritionist should indicate the preference of consumption of some foods if the patient faces deficiencies of some vitamins that suggest the possibility of anemia.
Normocytic anemia is a health condition associated with blood that is characterized primarily by the lack or absence of red blood cells, that is, this disorder is associated not with the quality but with the quantity of red blood cells in the body. It is a condition that is generally associated with chronic conditions such as kidney disease, heavy blood loss, or bone marrow problems. In the same way, it can be a disease that is acquired in a hereditary way.
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Articles on other types of anemia
We leave you a list with the articles of the other types of anemia that we have created, to make it easier to find information:
- Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments and Diagnoses
- Macrocytic Anemia: Medical and Natural Treatments, Causes and Diagnosis
- Hemolytic Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments and Diagnoses
- Iron Deficiency Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
- Sickle Cell Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, and Diagnoses
- Fanconi Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
- Aplastic Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
- Sideroblastic Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments and Diagnoses
- Pernicious Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
- Normocytic Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, and Diagnoses
- Small Cell Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
- Megaloblastic Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses
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