
Treatment Options for Anemia You Should Know
Anemia is a condition identified with low hemoglobin level in the red blood cells. Hemoglobin – a protein found in the blood cells – is important for supplying oxygen to the body’s tissues. The treatment options for anemia can vary greatly. Therefore, it is essential to know what’s best for you. Here’s a look.
- Treatment options for anemia caused by iron deficiency
The treatment plan for this type of anemia usually revolves around the change in diet and taking supplements for iron. If anemia is caused due to anything that causes loss of blood in the body, except for menstruation, the reason needs to be identified and treated. Sometimes treating this cause of blood loss can also involve surgery. - Treatment options for anemia caused due to vitamin deficiency
If there is a deficiency of vitamin C and folic acid in the body, the treatment will mostly include switching to a diet that is rich in these nutrients. In case a person’s digestive system is not able to absorb vitamin B12 from the diet, shots of vitamin B12 can also be given. Initially, these shots might be required every alternate day. But with time, these will be provided once per month. In some cases, these shots might have to be taken lifelong. - Treatment options for anemia caused by a chronic disease
There isn’t a particular treatment that focuses on treating this type of anemia. Usually, the treatment focuses on curing the underlying condition. In case the symptoms get severe, the patient is either given erythropoietin injection or blood transfusion. Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidneys. By administering this hormone, it is expected that it will boost the production of red blood cells and give relief from fatigue. - Treatment options for aplastic anemia
Treatment for this type of anemia usually involves blood transfusion. It is done to increase the number of red blood cells in the body. A bone marrow transplant can also be required in cases where the bone marrow cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells. - Treatment options for anemia related to bone marrow disease
There are various treatment options for this type of anemia, including the following:
Chemotherapy
Bone marrow transplant
Medicines
- Treatment options for hemolytic anemia
There are various measures taken to manage this type of anemia. These include avoiding medications that can trigger the condition, curing infections, and using medications that can suppress the immune system. Once the cause of this type of anemia is identified, the patient can also be referred to a vascular or a heart specialist. - Treatment options for sickle cell anemia
The treatment for this type of anemia usually focuses on reducing the pain and preventing any complications. The treatment options can include pain killers, oxygen, and fluids that are given intravenously.