Anemia is a blood disorder that is defined as:
• a level of red blood cells (RBCs) that is below normal, or
• a level of hemoglobin that is below normal (hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells).
There are several forms of anemia, such as:
• iron deficiency anemia
• hemolytic anemia (destruction of RBCs)
• vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia
• folic acid deficiency anemia
• anemias caused by inherited abnormalities of RBCs (for example, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia)
• anemia caused by chronic (ongoing) disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
How do the different forms of anemia occur?
Iron deficiency anemia:
This most common form of anemia is caused by blood loss. For example, women lose blood during their menstrual periods and from repeated pregnancies. This type of anemia may also develop if you have internal bleeding in the stomach (as with ulcers) or in the intestine (as with colon cancer).
Iron deficiency anemia can also be caused by a lack of iron in the diet. Pregnant women may have this form of anemia because the baby uses the mother's iron to make red blood cells and to grow.
Hemolytic anemia:
This kind of anemia occurs when red blood cells are destroyed or damaged by infection, drugs, or inherited conditions.
Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) deficiency anemia:
This type of anemia results when the stomach or intestines have trouble absorbing vitamin B-12. For example, an immune system disorder called pernicious anemia prevents normal absorption of the vitamin by the intestinal tract. Stomach or intestinal illness, some medicines, and some inherited disorders may also cause vitamin B-12 deficiency. Some vegetarians may not get enough vitamin B-12 from the foods they eat.
Besides causing anemia, a lack of vitamin B-12 affects the nervous system and may cause symptoms of numbness, tingling, balance problems, depression, or memory problems
Folic acid deficiency anemia:
Anemia due to a lack of folic acid in the diet is similar to B-12 deficiency anemia, but there is no damage to specific nerves. However, it can cause depression. Not having enough folic acid in the diet can also cause birth defects. This anemia is common in:
• alcoholics, who often suffer from malnutrition
• pregnant women
• people whose intestines have problems absorbing nutrients from food
• people using some daily medicines, such as phenytoin, sulfasalazine, and possibly birth control pills.
Anemia caused by inherited problems with red blood cells:
The most common types of inherited problems that cause anemia because the red blood cells are abnormal are sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited disease that causes abnormal, sickle-shaped red blood cells. Sickle cell disease is most prevalent among people who are African, African American, Mediterranean (Italian or Greek), middle Eastern, East Indian, Caribbean, and Central or South American. The abnormal RBCs are damaged or destroyed as they pass through the circulatory system. The anemia causes many symptoms. It can cause a condition called sickle cell crisis. The crisis may occur under certain conditions such as altitude or pressure changes, low oxygen, or some illnesses. In sickle cell crisis the RBCs become even more deformed and block tiny blood vessels, causing acute, prolonged pain and other complications.
Thalassemias are a group of inherited anemias caused by abnormal hemoglobin. The abnormal hemoglobin may cause abnormal red blood cells as well as low hemoglobin levels. Thalassemias most commonly affect people of Mediterranean descent, but some types also affect peoples of Africa, Asia, India, and the South Pacific. Most forms of thalassemia are mild, but some forms cause life-threatening disease in children.
Anemia caused by disease:
Anemia caused by ongoing (chronic) disease is common in people who have:
• cancer
• leukemia
• inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis
• ongoing infections
• kidney disease.
What are the symptoms?
Mild anemia usually does not produce symptoms.
More severe anemia is associated with:
• weakness
• fatigue
• pale skin, gums, skin creases, and nailbeds.
Other symptoms of worsening anemia include:
• lightheadedness, especially when you change positions, for example, when you stand up
• fast heartbeat
• shortness of breath
• fainting
• chest pain
• heart failure.
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) may be a symptom of hemolytic anemia.
How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will carefully review your symptoms and examine you. You will have a complete blood count (CBC) to confirm anemia and to see how severe it is. You may need other blood tests to determine the type of anemia.
How is it treated?
The treatment depends on the type of anemia you have. You will have follow-up visits with your health care provider to check your blood count and the effect of your treatment.
Iron deficiency anemia:
To treat iron deficiency anemia (if there is no underlying disease causing blood loss), your health care provider will simply prescribe iron supplements and/or a diet of foods rich in iron.
Iron tablets may have side effects such as abdominal cramps; nausea; constipation; and dark, hard stools. To lessen side effects, your health care provider will start you on a low dose of iron and slowly increase your dose to the necessary amount. He or she may suggest that you take vitamin C with the iron pills to help your body absorb the iron. Taking the iron at mealtimes can help prevent stomach and intestinal upset.
Do not take antacids and do not eat or drink any dairy products at the same time you take the iron pills. Antacids and dairy products prevent the body from absorbing iron.
Only rarely are iron shots needed.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia:
If you have this form of anemia because your stomach does not absorb vitamin B-12 well, the usual treatment is a shot of vitamin B-12 once a month. In some cases your health care provider may prescribe an oral tablet.
Folic acid deficiency anemia:
The treatment for folic acid deficiency anemia is daily oral folate tablets. This anemia is similar to vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia. You should not start taking folate supplements until your health care provider has made sure you do not have vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia.
Anemia caused by inherited abnormalities of RBCs:
Sickle cell anemia usually requires frequent treatments. Sickle cell crisis requires IV fluids, rest, pain relief, and sometimes a blood transfusion.
The treatment for thalassemia depends on such factors as the severity of the anemia, your age, and the risk of blood transfusions. When blood transfusions are needed for acute anemia, there is a small risk that you will get a blood-borne disease such as hepatitis or AIDS, even though donated blood is carefully screened. For this reason, your health care provider will recommend a transfusion only when it is clearly the best treatment for you. People who have thalassemia must not take iron tablets.
Anemia caused by chronic disease:
Fortunately, the effects of this type of anemia usually tend to be mild. For certain conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, your health care provider may prescribe regular shots of erythropoietin. These shots cause your body to make more red blood cells.
How long will the effects last?
The symptoms of mild, easily treated anemias, such as iron deficiency anemia, respond quickly to treatment and improve in just a few days.
The symptoms of chronic anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, come and go. Anemia associated with a chronic disease usually improves or worsens as the disease improves or worsens.
How can I take care of myself?
Follow your health care provider's instructions. Take your medicine as prescribed.
What can I do to help prevent anemia and problems it causes?
The prevention of anemia depends on the cause. If your anemia is caused by a deficiency in your diet, eating foods rich in the missing nutrient will help to prevent a recurrence.
To prevent the complications of vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia, follow your health care provider's treatment of vitamin B-12 injections.
If you have sickle cell disease, it is important not to get dehydrated (that is, not to lose too much body fluid). Dehydration can trigger a sickle cell crisis.
Genetic counseling is important for families with inherited anemias.
What is anemia?
Herbal Plants
Herbal plant is a valuable plant that you can use some or almost every part of it for many treatments. Some people use its part such as dried leaves, roots, flowers, etc for curing diseases. Some use its chemical substance such as its extract oil for therapy. Furthermore, you can also use herbs as cooking recipes. Consequently, herbs have many benefits but the main purpose of using them is to maintain good health.
There are many kinds of herbal plants and each part of herbal plant used is different. Herbal plants can be used for various purposes that depend on your demand. You can use them for relief healing such as Aloe and some kinds of herbs and can be grown for a garden full of their sweet smelling. Crafting with herbs can make a satisfactory and beautiful home. Artemisia is a beautiful herb that is easily grown in the garden or Giver King is a lovely herb that has a fresh herbal scent and dried floral such as sunflower, roses or anything else are suitable for your crafting.
Herbs are natural in the kitchen such as lemon, pepper, chili or anything else. Many excellent cosmetics come from herbs.
Almost all herbs are used for improvement human health. Herbs have long been known for therapy. You can make excellent skin tonic and fragrance in the soap and hair conditioner from herbs. Some kinds of herbs have been used in the control of acne and eczema. You can use some kinds of herbs for relieving headache and as a stimulant and tonic.
There are several reasons why herbal plants become popular plants. One of the main reasons, of course, is that each herbal plant has various properties. For example, Lavender has long been known for its classic fragrance. Although Lavender is a fragrant flower, it is also an important medicinal herb. The oil from flowers can be used to protect cloths and store linens from moths. It can be used as a scent in air fresheners. The oil can be applied as a stimulant, tonic, headache relief and for relief of intestinal gas. Disinfecting wounds can be cured by using the oil from Lavender. In addition, Lavender oil can relieve neuralgic pains, sprains and sore joints.
Furthermore, Rosemary has been named the herb of the year by the International Herb Association. In ancient Greece and Rome rosemary was believed to strengthen memory. Rosemary has long been known for its therapeutic power. If you suffer from nightmares, you should try placing a sprig under the pillow of a sleeper. It will treat you. A product of Rosemary, for example, Rosemary tea helps digestion but it takes time as a soothing drink to calm the nerves and induce sleep. Rosemary oil is an excellent conditioning effect on the hair, helping to control dandruff and even, be alleged, curing baldness.
Moreover, Aloe Vera is known as a medicinal plant because it has many useful parts to treat many diseases. For example, the clear gel has a dramatic ability to heal wounds, ulcers and burns by putting a protective coating on the affected areas and speeding up the healing rate. As a food supplement, Aloe is said to facilitate digestion, aid in blood and lymphatic circulation. It helps cleanse the digestive tract by exerting a soothing, balancing effect because it has three anti – inflammatory fatty acids. And for another thing, Aloe has a moisturizing effect on the skin. It is a common remedy for sun burn and skin irritation. It can relieve itching due to insect bites.
Another useful plant is Ginkgo, which is the oldest living tree species and its dried leaf can be used as a sacred herb. Ginkgo is often used to treat elderly persons with Alzheimer’s and other symptoms of cerebral insufficiency because it has benefits of enhancing circulation in the brain including improvement of short and long-term memory which increases reaction time and improves mental clarity. Moreover, Ginkgo may help to counteract the effects of aging, including mental fatigue and lack of energy. It has been used to relieve tension and anxiety, improve mental alertness and elevate mood and restore energy. This herb is also used as a treatment for vertigo, ringing in the ears and a variety of neurological disorders and circulation problems; for example, the Ginkgolides have been shown to control allergic inflammation, anaphylactic shock and asthma. For one thing, Ginkgo may also help control the transformation of cholesterol to plague associated with the hardening of arteries, and can relax constricted blood vessels. The herb has been used in treatment of other circulation-related disorders because of its beneficial effects on circulatory system.
Conclusion
Herbal plants are very beneficial because they can be used for various proposes. They can be used for healing, crafting and cooking but almost all herbs are used for improving human health. They can be used for therapeutic treatments, control of acne and eczema, making skin tonic, astringent and deodorant and applications as a stimulant and headache relief. Using each herbal plant depends on its various properties. Lavender, for instance, is not only well - known for its classic fragrance, but it can also be used as a medicinal herb. Another useful herbal plant is Rosemary, which is widely known for its therapeutic abilities and another medicinal plant is Aloe Vera that has a moisturizing effect on skin and helps speeding up the healing rate. Another useful plant is Ginkgo. It is often used to treat elderly persons with Alzheimer’s and effects on circulatory system.