Anemia in Adolescents

To understand what anemia is,  one should begin with breathing. Oxygen circulates though out the body and the brain; it travels to all parts of the body though the bloodstream in the  red blood cells (RBCs).   RBCs are produced in the bone marrow of the body and they carry oxygen in the blood. RBCs have something called hemoglobin, a protein which holds oxygen. To make adequate hemoglobin the body requires iron. The iron is supplied by food (and vitamins). When RBCs are fewer in number than what is needed anemia occurs.

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There are  3 primary reasons: RBCs are lost due to some reason, the production of RBCs is slower than what is needed, or the body is destroying the RBCs. Different types of anemia are linked to at least one of these causes.

The bone marrow replaces small amounts of blood lost without making a person anemic, such as normal menstruation. But in cases where considerable amount of blood is lost in a short time (like a severe injury), it is not  possible for the bone marrow to replace RBC’s quickly, resulting in anemia.   Conversely, losing small amounts of blood over long periods of time may cause anemia.

Anemia due to iron deficiency is the most common kind of anemia in the United States, occuring mainly from a dietary deficiency.  A teen with iron deficiency has lower hemoglobin production and consequently lower RBCs.  The signs of anemia are paleness and tiredness.

There can be other reasons as to why the RBC count is low.  Folic acid and Vitamin B-12 are also essential and not getting enough in one’s diet can lead to anemia. There can also be a bone marrow problem.

Hemolytic anemia occurs when a person red blood cells have a shorter productive cycle. The bone marrow may not be able to produce enough new blood cells in time. This is from disorders like sphenocytosis or sickle cell anemia. In some cases the immune system of the body may itself destroy the RBCs.  Certain antibodies can form in the blood from a reaction to certain drugs or infections and may attack the RBCs.

Teens can get anemia as they mature rapidly and the amount of iron intake may not be enough to keep up with the pace of their growth. In the case of girls they need more iron after puberty and are at risk due to heavy blood loss during menstrual periods.  Pregnancy may also lead to anemia. Also, teens who diet excessively to lose weight may also be at risk of having iron deficiency. Meat eaters especially red meat eaters are at less risk compared to vegetarians as meat has iron in it.

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