Anemia & Stomach Pain

Anemia is a condition that can strike anyone at any time. Stomach pain can be a symptom of certain types of anemia. Anemia can be a long-term or temporary condition. It also can develop into a more severe illness if it is not treated properly. A healthy diet and exercise are the best ways to prevent anemia.

Facts

You can develop anemia if there are not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin in your blood. Hemoglobin is a protein that carries oxygen to your red blood cells; it also gives red blood cells their color. Anemia also can be a life-threatening disease. Causes of anemia include: chronic disease, pregnancy, alcoholism, external bleeding, a bleeding disorder and a poor diet. Anemia also can be genetic.

Types

There are more than 400 known types of anemia; the types that commonly cause stomach pain are blood-loss anemia and vitamin B12 anemia. Stomach pains can also be a symptom of chronic bleeding. Gastrointestinal conditions, such as ulcers, gastritis, hemorrhoids and cancer, also can cause stomach pains that indicate anemia. Anti-inflammatory drugs can cause stomach pain and blood loss leading to anemia. Vitamin B12 anemia occurs when the digestive track cannot absorb the vitamin.

Identification

Anemia symptoms can include fatigue, pale skin, rapid heart beat, irregular heart beat, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, headaches and cold hands. Symptoms of anemia may go unnoticed until the anemia worsens. Stomach pain as a symptom of anemia is typically seen in patients with an ulcer or stomach bleeding.

Consideration

Consult your physician if you cannot donate blood because of low hemoglobin. Anemia is not always the cause of stomach pain or fatigue, People on vegan diets or any diet that does not include eggs, dairy products, meat and fish, are at a higher risk of developing anemia. Diabetic patients are also at a higher risk.

Prevention/solution

A healthy diet that contains iron and B-complex vitamins can help to prevent anemia. It may take up to 8 weeks of a healthy diet to restore the body's normal red blood cell count. A life-long schedule of B12 injections is required to treat vitamin B12 anemia. Saline, dextran, albumin and plasma injections are commonly used to treat anemia caused by blood loss.