Nutrition

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How Much Do You Know About Anemia?

The red blood cells in your body look like doughnuts. Their main job is to carry oxygen to body tissues and remove carbon dioxide. Anemia is a condition in which the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells. Learn more about anemia by taking this quiz, based on information from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).

1. Anemia can be short term (temporary) or lasting a long time (chronic). It can range from mild to severe.
2. When you are anemic, your body makes too few healthy red blood cells, loses too many of them, or destroys them faster than they can be replaced.
3. Anemia can be a sign of a serious illness.
4. Anemia comes in only 1 type.
5. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia.
6. Treatments for anemia range from taking supplements or medicines, to getting shots or having surgery.
7. Eating a healthy, varied diet can prevent all types of anemia.
8. Fatigue is the main symptom of anemia.
9. Everyone has the same risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
10. See your healthcare provider if you feel extremely tired (fatigued) for unexplained reasons, especially if you are at risk for anemia.
Online Medical Reviewer: Gersten, Todd, MD
Online Medical Reviewer: Gotwals, Jessica, RN, BSN, MPH
Online Medical Reviewer: Sather, Rita, RN
Date Last Reviewed: 1/1/2023
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