Risk Factors for Acute Anemia

Acute Anemia, meaning a single short term instance, is usually the result of inadequate nutrition and/or a symptom of another disease or health condition. On this page, I have listed certain risk factors for various forms of acute anemia.

Hemoglobin is iron-based, and as a result the greatest risk of anemia comes from blood iron deficiency. So, what causes a person to have a blood iron deficiency? The most common answers are:

• Blood loss; particularly chronic blood loss resulting from menstruation or hemophilia/other disease. This is also a risk for frequent blood donors, who may not be allowing their iron level to restore.

• Diet with insufficient iron; rarely a lone cause, but increases symptoms and risk. The risk is greatest among vegetarians, because meats generally contain the most iron and the most easily absorbed iron.

• Diet, over-consumption of iron blockers/absorbers; including: tea, many dairy products, coffee, and foods (or drinks) with high Vitamin C. This is mainly a risk to people with already lower iron intake.

• Parasitic infestations in the gastrointestinal track.

Iron deficiency results in many of the early symptoms associated with anemia, including fatigue and decreased immune function. Iron deficiency can effect anyone, but most at risk are:

• Pregnant women; have the greatest risk and prevalence of anemia. Pregnant women have an increased iron need, due to their own body growth and providing for the fetus. Anemia rates among pregnant women (already higher than an average adult) are believed by some to be under counted, because some symptoms, such as fatigue, are attributed simply to the pregnancy. This can be dangerous for pregnant women with poor healthcare access or who aren't receiving regular hospital check-ups, because anemia increases the chance of growth retardation (the fetus stops developing) and premature birth.

• Children, particularly during major growth phases. Due to rapid growth and limited diet, the most at risk are young children 3 or 4 years and younger.

• Any woman with an active menstrual cycle. Iron loss from a period is the most common cause of iron deficiency and anemia, in women.

• Acute Anemia, sometimes very severe, is also common following major surgeries.

Other nutritional risk factors for anemia are deficiencies in Vitamin B12 and Folic Acids (food recommendations in useful links section). Alcoholism greatly increases the risk of B12 deficiency, and long term can alter blood composition. Malnutrition and/or anorexia increases the risk of all nutritional deficiencies.