Anemia

Anemia

You may find variable definitions of anemiaA condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxyge.  However all of the definitions result in indicating that the blood has a very low oxygen carrying capacity. Erythrocytes carry oxygen. Therefore, by definition, anemia indicates some irregularity with your red blood cellsThe basic structural and functional units of life.. This irregularity impairs their ability to carry oxygen.

This picture that I have here is oxygen.  Oxygen is 2 oxygen atomsThe smallest units of matter that retain the properties of an element. bonded together by a double covalent bondStrong chemical bonds formed by the sharing of electrons between atoms.. The official name for this molecule that you see here is molecular oxygen. And this is the O2 in the air that we consume.  This little molecule is non polar

You can have too many red blood cells and a high hematocritThe percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells. but also be anemic. This happens when your red blood cells are individually deficient. As a result, your bone marrow overproduces erythrocytes(RBCs): Red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport. to compensate.  Remember, your body is not always great at compensation.  It tries, but disease develops from a lack of compensation.

Iron Deficient Anemia

There are lots of types of anemias, many more than you would expect. One of the most common types of anemia results from nutritional issues and is called iron deficient anemia. Iron is essential for making the hema pigment. This pigment is part of the hemoglobinThe oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells that gives blood its red color. protein in red blood cells. The hemoglobin binds and carries oxygen. When somebody has iron deficient anemia, their red blood cells are usually smaller than normal. This results in a low MCV, or mean corpuscular volume. This also allows us to use the term microcytic to describe the red blood cells.

Sometimes size differences are so small that they can be indistinguishable. For comparison, you need to measure a bunch of individual erythrocytes and generate an average. You can then compare this with the average size of normal cells.  Iron deficiency anemia is characterized by pink stained red blood cells. In contrast, normal red blood cells are more darkly red stained. This pinkish color results from a lack of hemoglobin. This can be measured by the MCH or mean corpuscular hemoglobin on a CBC.

Sickle Cell Anemia

Sickle cell anemia is another type of anemia but is not nutritionally based it is genetically based. This condition can be inherited and even passed on from people who don’t exhibit symptomsSubjective experiences reported by the patient (e.g., nausea, fatigue). of the disease. In sickle cell anemia, the amino acidThe building blocks of proteins, consisting of an amino group, carboxyl group, and side chain. chains that form the hemoglobin pigment are incorrectly formed. Hemoglobin is the oxygen binding pigment. The incorrect formation is due to one mistaken amino acidA substance that releases hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution.. Unfortunately, this specific difference in the gene for hemoglobin folding affects the entire shape of the protein. It also impacts the erythrocytes that carry it.

Erythrocytes are sickled in shape or crescent mooned. This crescent moon shape has a much lower surface area to volume ratio for dropping off and picking up oxygen.  This sickle shape is incompatible with the tiniest capillariesThe smallest blood vessels where gas, nutrient, and waste exchange occurs between blood and tissues. have causing erythrocytes to become clogged in these tiny vessels. These sickled erythrocytes accumulate in organs with small capillaries such as the kidney and the lungs. Sickle cell anemia not only comes with symptoms of low oxygen. It also brings many painful conditions. These conditions are associated with the inability of sickled red blood cells to fit through the capillaries.

Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia was once thought to be a dietary deficient caused anemia.  Today we know that pernicious anemiaA type of anemia caused by a deficiency of intrinsic factor, leading to poor vitamin B12 absorption. can sometimes be caused by an autoimmune disease. At its core, pernicious anemia is about the deficiency of the B12 vitamin. This vitamin is crucial for making red blood cells. If B12 is deficient in the diet, erythrocytes will form incorrectly. They will have a mean corpuscular volume that is higher than normal.  This allows us to call these cells macrocytic. When erythrocytes puff out, they form spikes on the cell membrane. These are called Burr cells. They are readily differentiated from normally shaped red blood cells on a blood smear.

A B12 deficiency could certainly be dietary caused. There is a substance in your stomach called intrinsic factorA stomach-secreted protein necessary for vitamin B12 absorption. It is required for you to absorb B12 in your small intestine. People who don’t make intrinsic factor have an issue. They could be eating pounds of B12. However, it would pass through their small intestine. It would not be absorbed into their blood. Autoimmune diseases can attack the cells in the stomach that create this intrinsic factor. People who are incapable of making intrinsic factor can simply receive intramuscular injections of B12. By getting an injection that surpasses the stomach and any barriers to absorption.

Hemolytic Anemia

Erythrocytes break down prematurely in hemolytic anemiaAnemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells before their normal lifespan ends.. They are also broken down in the bloodstream instead of in the spleen.  Hemolytic anemia itself is an autoimmune condition. However, it is usually encouraged by other autoimmune diseases, especially those associated with bone marrow or the spleen. As these erythrocytes decompose in the bloodstream, we end up with various small fragments. These fragments have strange names, such as schistocyte, acanthocyte, and my personal favorite: helmet cells.