Question: what causes anaemia?

Priscilla Ngotho answered on 23 Sep 2014:

@the jungle
Anaemia is defined as reduced red blood cells or haemoglobin in the body. This usually leads to decreased ability to transport oxygen throughout the body leading to feeling faint or tired. The main causes are therefore to do with either loss of blood, inability to make red cells and haemoglobin, destruction of red cells. Loss of blood could be due to injury or trauma, surgery, diseases that cause excessive bleeding (e.g fibroids, ulcers), menstruation and parasitic infections like malaria and worms. Some diseases interfere with the body’s ability to make blood cells or lead to excessive destruction of blood cells e.g. thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia. Fluid overload in the body could lead to decreased haemoglobin e.g. during pregnancy. Diets poor in iron could lead to iron deficiency anaemia. Therefore people who are at higher risk of anaemia like pregnant women and adolescent girls should eat balanced diets with an emphasis on iron rich foods like liver.