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What is anemia? — Anemia is the medical term for when a person has too few red blood cells. Red blood cells are the cells in your blood that carry oxygen. If you have too few red blood cells, your body might not get all the oxygen it needs.
Different things can cause anemia. The most common cause is not getting enough iron. Another cause of anemia is inflammation. This can happen when the body's infection-fighting system, called the "immune system," is more active due to a medical problem. This is called "anemia of inflammation" or "anemia of chronic disease."
Anemia of inflammation is caused by a long-term or "chronic" condition. Examples include diabetes, cancer, or other problems. The chronic condition makes it harder for the body to use iron to make red blood cells.
What are the symptoms of anemia of inflammation? — Many people with anemia of inflammation have no symptoms. They find out they have it after their doctor does blood tests for another reason.
People who do have symptoms might:
●Feel tired or weak, especially if they try to exercise
●Feel irritable
●Have headaches
These symptoms can also be related to the person's health condition. They do not always mean the person has anemia.
Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you have a long-term disease or condition and get the symptoms listed above, tell your doctor or nurse.
Is there a test for anemia of inflammation? — Your doctor might suspect anemia of inflammation when you have a chronic condition plus anemia.
There are several tests that can be done. A blood test can show if you have anemia. Your doctor will also do tests to look for other causes of anemia. You will probably get tests related to your chronic condition, too.
If you have anemia and a chronic condition, and tests do not find another cause for your anemia, your doctor might decide that you likely have anemia of inflammation. There is not 1 specific test that can show if you have anemia of inflammation. Doctors are studying and trying to develop a test for it, but so far there is none.
How is anemia of inflammation treated? — The main treatment is to treat the chronic condition. For example, if you have diabetes, getting treatment for your diabetes will also help with the anemia.
Sometimes other treatments are also given. For example:
●If your body is low in iron, which happens in some people with anemia of inflammation, your doctor will give you iron supplements. You can get extra iron in pills or through a thin tube that goes into a vein, called an "IV."
●In some cases, your doctor might use a medicine that causes your body to make more red blood cells. These medicines are called erythropoietin or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, or "ESAs." But this is not common.
