Anemia occurs when the blood lacks red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin forms a major part of the red blood cells and is essential to bind oxygen. The body’s oxygen supply is hindered when the red blood cells or hemoglobin count is low or abnormal.

The various signs and symptoms of anemia depend on the condition the individual is going through. Some of the most common symptoms include: fatigue, weakness, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, pale or yellowish skin, shortness of breath, lightheadedness and dizziness, headaches, and cold hands and feet. In the initial stages, anemia can easily go unnoticed, but when it worsens, the symptoms worsen too. This causes a lot of discomfort to an otherwise normal body.

If anemia is ignored and left untreated, some of the complications that could arise include:

• Severe fatigue
  Anemia causes the body to exhaust easily, leading to disruption when carrying out simple everyday tasks as the condition worsens.
• Complications in pregnancy
  In the case of pregnant women, those who have a folate deficiency anemia, tend to face quite a lot of complications in the form of premature birth, etc.
• Heart problems
  With anemic conditions, an individual can easily face issues in the heart, like irregular or rapid heartbeats. The heart tries to pump more blood to compensate for the oxygen deficiency, which eventually leads to heart failure. Since the heart overworks, this is quite common.
• Fatality
  Sickle cell anemia is not only rare and serious but also leads to life-threating complications in the body. An individual is prone to lose a lot of blood, as a result, it can prove to be fatal at a point.

Ways to prevent anemia
The first step is to eat a vitamin-rich diet. There are quite a few ways available today to prevent the effects of anemia from taking a toll on your life.  But above it all, it is important to consume a well-balanced diet to compensate for the lack of nutrient production in the body. Some of these key vitamins include – iron, folate, vitamin C, and vitamin B12.

You can balance your diet through the consumption of multivitamins. Getting a thorough check-up and consulting a doctor can help identify what is essential to your body to substantiate your health.

You can also seek out genetic counseling if you fear the chances of sickle cell anemia or other serious conditions. The doctor can help you take precautionary steps. They can also help you deal with the possibility of it being passed on to your future generations. One of the common complications of malaria is anemia. Which is why it is all the more important that you take conscious steps to reduce the risks of exposure to this illness.