What are the causes of anaemia?
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Iron deficiency anaemia
Lack of iron is the most common cause of anaemia in the UK. If you eat a normal diet, it usually contains enough iron. The following are some reasons that may cause a lack of iron.
- Pregnancy or childhood growth spurts are times when you need more iron than usual. The amount of iron that you eat during these times may not be enough.
- Heavy menstrual periods. The amount of iron that you eat may not be enough to replace the amount that you lose with the bleeding each month.
- Poor absorption of iron may occur with some gut diseases. For example, coeliac disease and Crohn's disease.
- Bleeding from the guts (intestines). Some conditions of the guts can bleed enough to cause anaemia. You may not be aware of losing blood this way. The bleeding may be slow or intermittent, and you can pass blood out with your stools (faeces) without noticing.
- If you eat a poor diet, it may not contain enough iron.
Other causes
There are many other causes of anaemia. These include the following.
- Lack of certain vitamins, such as folic acid and vitamin B12.
- Red blood cell problems, such as thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia, and the haemolytic anaemias. In these conditions the red cells are 'fragile' and break easily in the bloodstream.
- Bone marrow problems and leukaemia are uncommon, but cause anaemia.
- Other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and kidney failure can cause anaemia.
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Robert Campion, over 2 years
I would like to know if staying awake for long periods (ie shift work) can deplete one's redblood cells, rendering one anemic. I work part-time nights and usually end up being awake for 24hrs. Last year I was diagnosed anemic (amoung other things.)
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