Each time we breathe in, oxygen is absorbed from our lungs and into the blood stream. The red blood cells carry a protein called haemoglobin into which oxygen is absorbed so it can be transported around the body. Once the oxygen has been delivered to all the organs and tissues that need it, the blood is then pumped back to the lungs where the process starts all over again.

If there's a shortage of red blood cells or haemoglobin, this means the body is starved of oxygen. This lack of oxygen is responsible for the symptoms of anaemia.

Some people are anaemic but don't suffer any symptoms for months. When symptoms do appear, common ones include: feeling weak and tired, lethargy, sometimes having dizzy episodes and feeling faint.

As the anaemia becomes more severe, shortness of breath, palpitations, headaches, sore mouth and gums, and brittle nails may cause problems. People find themselves looking pale or others around them may say they're looking peaky.

Anyone can suffer with anaemia. Most often it affects women of childbearing age, men and women over 75, growing children and teenagers. Usually it's because their diet doesn't contain enough iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Pregnant women must watch out for anaemia and vegetarians must ensure they get enough iron from food other than meat.

Iron: red meat, liver, green vegetables, eggs, dried apricots, sardines, spinach, fortified breakfast cereals, wholemeal bread Vitamin B12: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, fortified breakfast cereals Folic acid: wheatgerm, broccoli, green cabbage, pulses, nuts, yeast extract

Cause Of Anaemia
iron deficiency: poor dietary intake, bleeding chronic diseases: rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disease acute blood loss: trauma, burst stomach ulcer bone marrow failure: leukaemia, aplastic anaemia vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency haemolytic: inherited diseases

A common cause of anaemia is the loss of too much blood containing red blood cells and haemoglobin. This may happen suddenly, for example, when a stomach ulcer bursts. Or it can happen slowly over time, such as when a woman has heavy periods.

If not enough red blood cells are being made, someone may suffer symptoms of anaemia. This is often because the body is not getting enough iron, which is needed to make haemoglobin, as well as vitamins B12 and folic acid, which are needed to make properly functioning red blood cells.

A shortage of iron - whether through bleeding or because not enough is eaten - is the most common cause of anaemia in the UK. Pregnancy is often a time when the body becomes lacking in iron and anaemia develops.

When the bone marrow, where red blood cells are made, is damaged and can't function properly then a shortage of good red blood cells results. This is the case with a rare form of anaemia called aplastic anaemia and also with leukaemia.

In some conditions, red blood cells mature and are destroyed by the body too quickly. This type of anaemia is called haemolytic anaemia and is often caused by an inherited condition, such as sickle cell anaemia.

People with chronic diseases, such as kidney failure and rheumatoid arthritis, may also suffer with anaemia.

Once the diagnosis is made, the treatment given will depend on the cause of the anaemia. When the anaemia is because of a lack of iron, eating food rich in iron can be all that's needed.

Sometimes it's advisable to take iron supplements to speed the process up and when the anaemia is more severe a blood transfusion is often necessary. It's also important to have plenty of vitamin C in the diet because it helps the body to absorb iron.

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