Anemia and weight loss

There are multiple causes that can lead to anemia, as well as a multitude of causes that can also lead to weight loss. Furthermore, there is a relationship between anemia and weight loss.

There are multiple forms of anemia, each with different origins. This can happen temporarily, or can last over time, ranging from mild to severe.

Like every sign in our body, weight loss can be indicative of a multitude of pathologies, and it is important that they be ruled out and studied by healthcare professionals.

In this post you will be able to know everything you need to know about the relationship between anemia and weight loss.

What is anemia?

Anemia is defined as the presence of low hemoglobin levels in our red blood cells. Red blood cells are responsible for supplying oxygen, thanks to the fact that the hemoglobin they contain transport it to the rest of the body.

Hemoglobin is a protein rich in iron, to which oxygen binds to be transported. In addition, this substance is what gives our blood red color. Generally speaking, normal hemoglobin levels are:

• Women: greater than 12 grams per deciliter.

• Men: greater than 13 grams per deciliter

As you can see, anemia is a very common disease in which there is a deficient amount of hemoglobin. This can lead to our tissues and organs not having an adequate supply of oxygen, and hence the symptoms.

Symptoms of anemia

Apart from the fact that the symptoms that characterize anemia are characteristic of the different varieties, it should be known that the way in which anemia occurs depends on conditioning factors. These factors are:

• Severity of anemia

• Speed ​​at which it occurs: The slower it is, the later the signs will appear.

• Previous state of health: anemia is not the same in previously healthy people as in an oncology patient, for example.

Due to these factors, the symptoms caused by anemia are very nonspecific, that is, they vary greatly between each person and are not always repeated. The most characteristic symptoms are:

• Fatigue and weakness

• Difficulty breathing

• Dizziness from hypotension

• Palpitations or tachycardia: in very severe cases, intense chest pain, heart attack and danger of death may appear if not acted on time

• Pale skin and mucosa with cold skin

• Headache

• Menstrual disturbances

• Loss of libido: decreased sexual desire, especially in men

• Gastrointestinal symptoms: lack of appetite, indigestion or nausea

How are anemia and weight loss related?

Knowing the symptoms that anemia causes, we can see that it can cause gastrointestinal involvement. Lack of appetite can cause significant weight loss, which in extreme cases worsens the state of health. Weight loss would be explained by the lack of absorption of the necessary nutrients for our body.

Also, just as anemia can lead to weight loss, there is a possibility that it could be the other way around: weight loss can lead to anemia. This is explained in the deficit of nutrients necessary for the normal functioning of red blood cells.

The main cause of anemia due to weight loss, by decreasing food intake, is the deficiency of vitamin B12, iron and folic acid, which are part of our red blood cells.

Unfortunately, there are countless diseases that lead to weight loss from multiple causes, thus worsening the anemia situation. An example of this are intestinal diseases that prevent the absorption of vitamins and minerals and that end in pernicious or iron deficiency anemia.

Anemia and weight loss should be studied

There is a relationship between anemia and weight loss, but they do not have to go hand in hand. On numerous occasions, the appearance of these pathological processes are signs of other diseases, of which the cause must be ruled out. When there are signs of anemia or involuntary or excessive weight loss, detailed study by healthcare professionals is necessary.

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