Anaemia is when your haemoglobin levels are lower than normal. Haemoglobin a protein found in red blood cells. It carries oxygen around your body.

• What happens when you have Anaemia?
• What causes Anaemia?
• What should you do if you think you are anaemic?
• What can you do if you are diagnosed with anaemia?

What happens when you have Anaemia?
Symptoms of anaemia include feeling very tired and fatigued. People with anaemia often look slightly pale and have brittle nails. They can feel short of breath and their heartbeats faster than usual. In some cases symptoms can extend to feeling itchy and experience some hair loss.

What causes Anaemia?
There are several different things that can cause Anaemia. Some people become anaemic through a lack of iron. Many girls who are anaemic become so because of the blood they lose through very heavy periods. Finally, some people inherit genetic conditions, such as Sickle Cell Anaemia, which results in them becoming anaemic.

What should you do if you think you are anaemic?
If you think you may be suffering with anaemia, go and see your doctor and ask for a blood test. It is very important that you get a blood test as the only way to test for anaemia is with a blood test.

What can you do if you are diagnosed with anaemia?
The treatment you receive for anaemia depends on the cause of your anaemia.

• If you are anaemic due to a lack of iron – eating an iron rich diet can combat symptoms of anaemia.

Foods high in iron include red meats, green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, pulses and beans, brown rice, fish and eggs, dried fruits and fortified cereals with added iron. Eating these foods with a glass of orange juice will aid the absorption of iron. Avoid drinking tea and coffee which reduce the absorption of iron.

Your doctor may also prescribe you with iron tablets to be taken as instructed.

• Eating an iron rich diet may also be enough to overcome anaemia caused by heavy periods.

If you get heavy periods regularly it is worth keeping a menstrual diary and seeing your doctor. Your doctor may want to explore the possibility of other underlying problems causing heavy periods and recommend treatments to reduce the heaviness of your periods.

• If your child is diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia they will be referred to specialise care for sickle cell anaemia at a hospital.

A specialist team will devise a care plan suited to their needs. Sickle cell anaemia is slightly different to anaemia as it is when red blood cells develop abnormally and therefore have a shorter lifespan. That means these red blood cells are no replaced as quickly as they should be resulting in a red blood cell deficiency.

The general advice for anyone who thinks they might be anaemic is to go and see your GP. It is important remember anaemia is treatable once diagnosed and treatment will leave you feeling more energetic and full of life!