Aging & Health A to Z

Anemia

Causes & Symptoms

In older people, anemia is often the result of more than one condition occurring at the same time. These conditions can include:

• Decreased red blood cell production due to:
  • Problems with bone marrow function
  • Chronic diseases or inflammation
  • Hormone problems
  • Kidney disease
  • Malnutrition and dietary deficiencies in iron, vitamin B₁₂ or folic acid (folate)
  • Hereditary disorders
  • Medications
  • Alcohol dependency.

• Loss of blood from:
  • stomach irritation from medications, alcohol, or an ulcer
  • polyps or tumors in the bowels
  • kidney stones or tumors
  • cancers
  • surgeries.

• Increased destruction of red blood cells due to:
  • Medications
  • A hereditary disorder
  • A disease of your immune system
  • Heart valve problems (which damage your red blood cells)
  • A tumor
  • Infections.

Iron-deficiency Anemia

A common cause of iron-deficiency anemia is chronic blood loss, usually from the gastrointestinal tract. Bleeding ulcers or polyps, chronic irritation of the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, or cancer cause this kind of “silent” internal bleeding. Often, this blood loss is invisible to the naked eye, and your healthcare professional may do a simple test, called a fecal occult blood test, to find it.

Anemia of Chronic Disease

Anemia of chronic disease can result from chronic inflammation caused by ongoing infections, tissue damage, various forms of arthritis, benign or malignant tumors, or a variety of chronic medical conditions. These conditions cause inflammation inside your body and prevent your bone marrow from working as well as it should.

Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia is almost always the result of a vitamin B₁₂ or folate deficiency. Your body needs both of these B vitamins for red blood cell production.

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency becomes much more common with advancing age, particularly in women over the age of 60. Signs and symptoms include:

• General body weakness
• Pale skin
• Changes in the nervous system (some signs of this include a clumsy walk, or numbness and tingling in the arms and legs)
• Behavioral changes or confusion

Hemolytic Anemia

Anemia caused by red blood cell destruction is called hemolytic anemia. Problems with your immune system are often to blame. Cancers, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, also destroy red blood cells. Hemolytic anemia can also be caused by an immune system disease like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, or by medications or infections.

Symptoms of anemia can include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale skin color
• Feeling cold
• Behavioral changes, such as lack of interest, confusion, agitation, or depression

If you have heart disease and anemia, you may notice an increase in chest pain or swelling in your ankles.

Since all these symptoms, above, can also be caused by other problems, you’ll need a physical examination and blood tests to determine whether you have anemia.

Updated: March 2012
Posted:  March 2012