Symptoms of Anemia and Facts You Should Know

You go to the doctor's office for a check-up. A routine blood test shows up enlarged blood cells. What does this mean? What can you do about it?

When your red blood cells are larger than normal, it is referred to as macrocytosis. Enlarged blood cells are not a disease, but are an indicator of some kind of medical condition. Further blood tests can detect the cause of macrocytosis. If blood tests don't show the cause of the enlarged blood cells, then a biopsy of the bone marrow may be necessary.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the most common causes of macrocytosis include: vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, liver disease, alcoholism, side effects from medications, and anemia.

If the cause of your macrocytosis is vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency, it can be treated with a change in your diet, extra vitamins or possibly B-12 shots. If it is caused by anemia, a change in diet or iron pills is recommended. For severe anemia, intravenous (IV) iron or a blood transfusion might be necessary.

Alcoholism commonly causes liver disease. This causes the production of red blood cells to slow down which allows the cells to have a much larger shape. However, these enlarged blood cells carry less oxygen than normal blood cells and causes a condition known as macrocytic anemia.

A side effect of certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, can also cause macrocytosis. Chemo drugs kill the bad cancerous cells as well as the good cells and normally cause a low platelet count or anemia. Sometimes, a blood transfusion is required.

After a severe loss of blood, the bone marrow will try to compensate for the blood loss by rapidly reproducing new blood cells. This rapid reproduction will cause the cells to become enlarged. A blood transfusion will be done to replace the blood cells.

Macrocytosis has no symptoms of its own, but the underlying condition does. Some of the basic symptoms of macrocytosis anemia are tiredness, fatigue, low energy level and a low resistance to infections. You may also experience shortness of breath.

*** If you experience any of these symptoms, you should schedule a check-up with your doctor.***

Referrences:
1. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/macrocytosis/an01287