Can a person die due to Anaemia?

Anemia is caused by iron deficiency in the body or low iron absorption from the food intake. Anemia reduces the count of the red blood cells in the body, reducing the hemoglobin levels. As RBCs are oxygen carriers throughout the body to all parts, their limited supply can affect the heart, kidneys, and brain drastically.

Anemia does not cause death directly, but if left untreated, It may cause Organ failure leading to death.

How is Anemia detected or diagnosed?

Anemia as such is not fatal if detected early and treated. But anemia is mistaken for general weakness and ignored till it becomes acute and chronic. Doctors measure the levels of a protein called Ferritin in blood to diagnose Anemia. Low ferritin count is said to be an indicator of iron deficiency. The concentration of ferritin is said to show the amount of iron absorption and retention in the body. Treatment for anemia depends on the ferritin count.

Further, symptoms like fatigue, palpitations, lowered immunity levels, low cognitive ability, headaches, brittle hair and nails, yellow and pale skin, pounding in the ears and loss of interest could all act as visible signs of anemia if observed.

Risk groups who may be affected by anemia are

• Breastfeeding mothers

• Pre and postmenopausal women

• Those having ulcer or chronic gastritis problems

• Children or adults who consume more than 4 glasses of cow milk daily, as calcium interferes with iron absorption.

• Those who underwent a major surgery or any physical trauma

• Internal bleeding of the urinary or pulmonary tract.

Effect of Anaemia?

• Iron deficiency or anemia harms and weakens the person’s resistance to infectious diseases.

• Iron regulates the metabolism in the body and plays a key role in the body’s oxygen supply, transport and delivery within the body to all parts. When the count of RBC reduces, the oxygen supply diminishes, affecting the smooth functioning of all organs and their co ordination in maintaining good health.

• Low oxygen supply may cause heart failure, less oxidized blood may cause damage to kidneys, bad blood may increase toxins within the body causing further harm and diseases.

• As RBC are carriers of oxygenated blood, the low iron count may affect the synthesis of dopamine, a chemical necessary for the brain and may cause brain-clogging and brain hemorrhages.

Does Anaemia cause death

• Death may not occur directly as a result of anemia. But anemia may be fatal due to the reasons that low iron levels in the body and lowered oxygen supply may affect the coordinated functioning of organs.

• Interference in iron absorption and insufficient oxygen supply may affect the bone marrow, heart, kidneys, brain and other organs causing serious damage to health and resulting in a fatality.

• Sickle Cell Anaemia is a life-threatening condition, painful and that affects blood pressure, deprives lungs of oxygen, and causes stroke, sometimes proving fatal.

Anemia can be treated on time with iron supplements and with a good nutritious diet. Severe anemia may prove fatal if neglected or not diagnosed on time.