Anemia is one of the most common medical conditions in the country. There are many different types of anemia; some are mild, while others are serious. If left untreated, the condition can be life-threatening. Here are the different kinds of anemia one should be aware of.

1. Iron deficiency anemia
This type of anemia is caused due to a deficiency of iron in the body. The body needs iron to make hemoglobin. Due to a lack of iron, the body finds it difficult to make this protein for the red blood cells (RBCs). This anemia is caused due to many reasons such as consuming a diet without iron, pregnancy and breastfeeding, blood loss during periods, and certain digestive conditions such as Crohn’s disease.

2. Sickle cell anemia
Sickle cell anemia is an inherited and common disorder. It is caused when the RBCs become crescent-shaped due to a mutation in the gene. These sickle cells have a short life span, and they die prematurely, resulting in a shortage of RBCs. The sickle cells also block the blood flow in the organs and limbs, causing pain.

3. Vitamin deficiency anemia
This type of anemia is also called megaloblastic or pernicious anemia. It happens due to the deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, needed to produce enough RBCs. In some cases, people have enough vitamin B12, but their bodies are unable to process it.

4. Aplastic anemia
When the RBC count is lower than usual, it is called aplastic anemia. This usually happens when the bone marrow is damaged, affecting its ability to make RBCs, white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. This type of anemia can occur at any age. Some of the causes of aplastic anemia are exposure to toxic chemicals, genetic abnormalities, cancer treatments, and medications.

5. Anemia of chronic disease
Anemia of chronic inflammation occurs when long-term health conditions, such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, and other chronic inflammatory diseases, affect the production of RBCs. This type of anemia causes a change in the RBCs and reduces their life span.

6. Hemolytic anemia
Out of the different types of anemia, hemolytic anemia is where the destruction of RBCs is faster than production. It can be classified into two types – inherited and acquired. The inherited type is caused by a deficiency of RBCs, while acquired anemia is caused by other factors such as autoimmune disorder or medications.

The different types of anemia cannot be prevented, except for a few, such as iron and vitamin deficiency anemia, by eating a healthy diet. One must consult a doctor if they suffer from any of these conditions.