Causes of Anemia

Causes of anemia are numerous and include genetic disorders like sideroblastic anemia, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia; deficiency of nutrients like iron, vitamin B12, and folate (folic acid); increased blood loss from menstruation; malignancies & chronic diseases; and viral or bacterial infections.

Causes of Anemia

Broadly, the most causes of anemic can be classified into three major mechanisms:

1) Decreased production of red blood cells by the bone marrow : This seems to be the most common mechanism which causes anemia. Iron deficiency anemia, Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, Folic acid deficiency anemia, Aplastic anemia come under this category of anemia. The causes of anemia due to iron deficiency include blood loss, rapid growth period in children, and dietary deficiency of iron or pregnancy. Dietary deficiency of Vitamin B12 and folate can occur due to strict vegetarian habits and may cause anemia.

2) Increased destruction of red blood cells: Hemolytic anemias and Thallesemias are the examples of anemias which occur due to destruction of red blood cells. These anemias are inherited disorders and there is a defective gene associated with red blood cell destruction.

3) Increased blood loss: Blood loss can occur due to childbirth, surgery, accidents, excessive menstrual bleeding, gastric ulcers, intestinal ulcers, bladder or renal tumors, hemorrhoids or nosebleeds. A person on unhealthy or poor diet can get anemia with small but continuous blood loss, like in case of gastric or duodenal ulcer. Whereas, a person on healthy diet has low risk of getting anemia even in case of massive bleeding because his body  has potential to produce new blood.

As enumerated above, there are many causes of anemia but most of them can be prevented by consumption of healthy and nutritious diet.