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Anemia is defined as hemoglobin concentration in blood below the lower limit of the normal range for the age and sex of the individual. In adults, the lower extreme of the normal hemoglobin is taken as 13 g% for males and 11.5% for females. New born infants have higher hemoglobin levels and therefore, 15% is taken as the lower limit at birth, whereas at 3 months, the lower limit is taken as 9.5%. Although hemoglobin value is employed as the only parameter for determining whether or not anemia is present, the red cell counts, haematocrit(PCV) and absolute values (MCV, MCH and MCHC) provide alternate means of assessing anemia. Anemia has a complicated technical definition, but in simple terms it means that a person's blood contains a lower than normal amount of red blood cells or other elements that help transport oxygen throughout the body. Often caused by a lack of iron, anemia gradually starves the body of the oxygen it needs, leading to symptoms such as extreme skin pallor, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and fatigue.

Types of Anemia:

1) Macrocytic anemia: Macrocytic anemia can be further divided into "megaloblastic anemia" or "non-megaloblastic macrocytic anemia". The cause of megaloblastic anemia is primarily a failure of DNA synthesis with preserved RNA synthesis, which result in restricted cell division of the progenitor cells.

2) Microcytic anemia: Microcytic anemia caused due to hemoglobin synthesis failure or insufficiency. Iron deficiency anemia is the common type of anemia so it has many causes. RBCs often appear hypochromic (paler than usual) and microcytic (smaller than usual) when viewed with a microscope

3) Normocytic anemia :Normocytic anaemia causes when the overall Hb levels are decreased, but the red blood cell size (MCV) remains normal.

Causes include:

•    Accurate blood loss

•    Anemia of chronic disease

•    Bone marrow failure Aplastic anemia

4) Heinz body anemia: Heinz bodies are an abnormality that forms on the cells in this condition. This form of anemia may be brought on by taking certain medications; it is also triggered in cats by eating onions or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Treatment:

Red meat is prescribed to fulfill the demands of the body in such cases, so is poultry food like eggs, turkey and chicken and sea food such as mussels, clams and shrimps-more so because they contain heme iron which is easily absorbable. Vegans too have a variety to choose from. Cereals (iron enriched ones), pastas, bread, legumes such as peas, baked beans and leafy vegetables such as spinach and coriander leaves, canned asparagus, baked potato ,lentils and molasses are some of them. Apart from this, dried fruits, raisins and apricots can act as good substitutes as well. Though rich, vegetables and fruits are a source of non-heme iron. Intake of iron has to be effective and to have the desired effect iron helpers have to be included in the diet. Vegetables have non-heme iron which is difficult to absorb. Compared to 15% absorption rate in non-vegetarian food items, it is only 5% in vegetarian ones. Vitamin C rich fruits (iron helpers) perfectly suit the purpose. Thus, intake of iron rich food simultaneously with a glass of lemon juice or orange juice only enhances the iron absorption. Other iron absorption enhancers are broccoli, tomato juice and sprouts and strawberries Red wine, calcium, caffeine, milk and tannin, on the other hand, are inhibitors.

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