You experience fatigue during your daily tasks and feel exhausted at the end of the day. According to certain medical tests you had, you were anemic. Since then, a number of supplements have failed to alleviate symptoms or enhance the blood picture. Your anemia requires more characterization and might not be effectively treated unless it is thoroughly investigated. Although they may have similar symptoms, anemias are not all the same. Normocytic anemia is one such common anemia that is often either not diagnosed or not treated well.
Understanding normocytic anemia
Normocytic anemia is an abnormality of blood wherein the numbers of red cells is reduced (normal count is around 4.7 to 6.1 million cells per microliter in males and 4.2 to 5.4 million cells per microliter in females; the ranges may vary in different laboratories) and their shape and structure is normal. Red cell mass consequently decreases to values below those of typical individuals of the same age and gender. This is not the case with anemia caused by a lack of iron, which results in small red blood cells, or anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B12. An initial sign of any kind of anemia could be normocytic anemia.
Normocytic anemia is a common type of anemia is frequently observed in the elderly.
Causes
Normocytic anemia may be present since birth, i.e. it can be congenital. It could be brought on by an illness or an infection if it is discovered later in life. It typically manifests itself over the course of chronic illnesses including cancer, kidney disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, a condition that causes inflammation in the body’s tiny joints, etc. Insufficient red cell synthesis, an excess of fluid in the blood that dilutes it, or an increase in red cell death are the three main causes of normocytic anemia. Certain bone marrow diseases may be the cause of inadequate destruction. Pregnancy and over-infusion of fluids in the course of treating other diseases can both result in increased blood dilution.
Normocytic anemia can also occur as a side effect from taking some medications.
Signs of normocytic anemia
Normocytic anemia is a silent entity. It only produces low-grade, hard-to-explain fatigue or tiredness, with a gradual onset. It’s possible to become pale and lose skin lustre. The nails become white and lose their pink hue. Additionally, the insides of the lower eyelids become pale. Normocytic anemia may develop more quickly, resulting in dyspnea, lightheadedness, fainting, and other symptoms. It can be challenging to distinguish normocytic anemias from other types of anemias based solely on symptoms because they share similarities with those of other anemias.
Diagnosis
In addition to taking a thorough medical history regarding your complaints, your doctor will examine your skin, nails, eyes, and other body parts. The best way to diagnose normocytic anemia is to examine a comprehensive blood picture. Your physician might recommend a complete blood count (CBC) for you. To do this, a blood sample drawn from one of your vessels will be examined to determine the types and quantity of cells present. This is accomplished by analyzing the samples under a machine after distinct blood cell types have been identified using specific techniques. CBC results in a lower number of normal-sized red blood cells in normocytic anemia.
The concentrations of hematocrit, hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) are the red blood cell indices used to characterize normocytic anemia. The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen is called hemoglobin. The term “hematocrit” refers to the percentage of cells in total blood volume. MCV is a metric used to quantify red cell size. A typical blood profile of normocytic anemia is characterized by a normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV; 80 to 100 femtoliter) and decreased hemoglobin (<13 g/dL in men and <12 g/dl in women) and hematocrit concentrations (<39% in men and <36% in women).
You may then need to undergo detailed investigations to find out the underlying cause for normocytic anemia. Other family members may need to undergo investigations if they too have normocytic anemia.
Treatment
Normocytic anemia is best treated by correcting the underlying cause. It resolves as other medical conditions are treated. If normocytic anemia is being caused by some other drugs that you are taking, you will need to stop taking the drug and use other alternative drugs as advised by your doctor. If caused by deficiency of iron, you will need iron supplements in form of pills or syrups. You may be advised to also take a vitamin supplement. When normocytic anemia is severe and causing distressing symptoms, you may need some injections of erythropoietin. This is a hormone produced by the body that stimulates the bone marrow to produce more and more red cells. It is available as a recombinant form for injections. It is safe to use this injection though it may cause pain at injection site and increase in blood pressure in some patients.
Care about the oxygen carriers
If you have anemia, your red cells may not be able to deliver sufficient oxygen to the body’s cells, resulting in reduced function. Anemia is treatable provided it is understood what is the type and cause for anemia. Reconfirm yours if you have one and see it disappear after a proper treatment.
