The Facts
Anemia is a condition where the number of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) in the blood is lower than normal. RBCs transport oxygen throughout the body, so a shortage of these cells can be serious.
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It commonly affects children and women of all ages - especially women who are menstruating. It's estimated that at least 1 in 5 women in North America has iron-poor blood. It can also seriously affect men when it is caused by colon polyps, colon cancer, or other gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies (cancers). Iron-deficiency anemia is often one of the first warning signals that a person may have a GI malignancy.
Sickle-cell anemia is another well-known type of anemia. This condition affects millions of people worldwide. It is a hereditary disease, passed on to children by parents with the altered genetic material. People most commonly affected include those of African descent, Middle Eastern descent, Mediterranean descent, and East Indian descent. Every year, 1 in 12 African American babies is born with a genetic potential to pass sickle-cell anemia on to their children. It's estimated that 1 out of 400 African American babies will have the disease.
Aplastic anemia is a form of anemia where the bone marrow stops producing all types of blood cells. This type of anemia is very serious, but fortunately rare. It affects 2 to 12 out of every million people each year. Aplastic anemia occurs in both adults and children.
Anemia of chronic disease is a mild form of anemia that occurs with people who have diseases that last more than 1 to 2 months. Such diseases include tuberculosis, HIV, cancer, kidney disease, rheumatologic disorders, and liver disease.
Pernicious anemia is a form of anemia more common in elderly people and is caused by either a lack of oral intake or lack of absorption of vitamin B12 in the diet. It is also a common condition seen in alcoholics.