Anemia is the most common blood disorder which is of different types and may have different causes. The anemia treatment that one may be prescribed will depend upon the severity of anemia, the underlying cause and the symptoms that are present.
Anemia can occur due to blood loss, due to inadequate red blood cell production or due to premature destruction of red blood cells in the blood and the anemia treatment will depend upon the nature and cause of the anemia:
Iron supplements
Anemia caused by iron deficiency can to an extent be controlled using dietary measures to eat more iron rich food but often they may be inadequate. Iron supplements may then be prescribed. Dosage will depend upon a person’s symptoms and weight and should be optimized so that the side effects of overdose (constipation, diarrhea, even increased risk of heart disease and cancer) don’t occur.
In some cases iron may be given intravenously or may be injected. This may be done when oral therapy has failed or for those who have bleeding disorders. Those who have gastrointestinal disorders like IBS may tolerate oral supplements poorly and may need iron in a different form.
Blood transfusions
Anemia caused by blood loss, either due to surgery, injury or certain diseases, may need blood transfusions as anemia treatment. Sometimes there could be a consequence of frequent blood transfusions which is iron overload. Since excess iron is known to cause several problems such as liver damage and heart problems, iron chelation therapy may be required to remove excess iron.
Erythropoiesis-stimulating drugs
These medications help stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow by targeting the hormone Erythropoietin. These drugs can help to avoid having to take blood transfusions.
This anemia treatment can be very valuable for cancer patients who have anemia due to chemotherapy. Anemia caused by HIV, AIDS treatments can also be treated with this medication. Those with chronic kidney failure or those who are undergoing dialysis can also benefit greatly from this therapy.
Vitamin replacement
This treatment is prescribed for a particular type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia (of which pernicious anemia is one type) wherein the red blood cells grow to abnormally large sizes. Folate and Vitamin B 12 supplements are prescribed to combat this disorder. Vitamin B 12 could also be taken in the form of a spray or in injectible form.
Hyperbaric oxygen
This is another anemia treatment for those who have excessive blood loss and cannot undergo other treatment protocols such as blood transfusion (some people have medical reasons why this is not possible and others could have religious beliefs that debar the treatment). When insufficient oxygen is reaching the tissues, this treatment is indicated.
There could be other options that could help to treat anemia and each would depend upon the underlying cause of condition that causes the anemia. Anemia treatment for iron deficiency may be fairly straightforward whereas other types of anemia may need more complex treatment protocols which can be initiated after proper diagnosis.
Read more at http://www.womenhealthzone.com/general-health/anemia/anemia-treatment/
