Anemia in elderly females is a common health condition, occurs when the red blood cells (RBC) count is lower than normal. Nearly 10% of independently living people above 65 years have anemia. Though common, untreated anemia can worsen the symptoms, causing serious complications, including heart failure, poor immunity, and severe weakness. Therefore, seek medical assistance immediately if you develop any signs of anemia, including fatigue, chest pain, headache, etc.

Types and Causes of Anemia

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

It occurs due to iron insufficiency. Your body cannot produce hemoglobin without iron, resulting in a low RBC count.

Causes

• Blood loss from heavy menstrual bleeding or regular use of pain relievers
• Ulcer
• Bowel cancer

Vitamin Deficiency Anemia

It is caused by a lack of healthy RBCs caused by low vitamin levels (vitamin B-12, folate, and vitamin C).

Causes

• Lack of vitamins
• Inability to absorb or process vitamins

Aplastic Anemia

It’s a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs when your body produces insufficient RBCs.

Causes

• Infections
• Autoimmune diseases
• Certain medications
• Exposure to toxic chemicals

Sickle Cell Anemia

It is a hereditary RBC disorder that causes irregularly shaped blood cells to die prematurely, causing a chronic RBC shortage.

Causes

• Sickle or crescent moon-shaped RBCs caused by a defective hemoglobin form

Thalassemia

It is another hereditary RBC disorder that causes a lack of hemoglobin.

Causes

• Changes in the DNA of cells that produce hemoglobin

Anemia Diagnosis

Anemia is often diagnosed by a “complete blood count” test that examines hemoglobin and hematocrit (fraction of blood made of RBCs) levels.

A normal hemoglobin level is 11.9-14.8 gm/dL for women and 13.6-16.9 gm/dL for men. If anemia is detected, your doctor will review the mean corpuscular volume to check the size of RBCs. Abnormal sizes can help your doctor pinpoint the underlying cause of anemia.

Who Is Most Likely to Develop Anemia?

• Women – this is due to fibroids or blood loss from periods or childbirth
• People using blood thinners
• People above 65 years who have chronic diseases and iron insufficiency
• Infants and children aged 1-2 because of iron deficiency or inability to absorb iron

Common Causes of Anemia in Aging Adults

Aging adults can experience anemia because of:

Problems Producing RBCs

These include disorders and deficiencies obstructing RBC production, including:

• Iron/vitamin deficiency
• Chemotherapy
• Low erythropoietin
• Bone marrow disorders
• Chronic inflammation

Problems Losing RBCs

Some health conditions can make you lose RBCs, including:

• Chronic bleeding in the small intestine, large bowel, or stomach
• Menstrual bleeding
• Injury and trauma
• Frequent blood tests

Problems Replacing RBCs

Another category of anemias, called hemolytic anemias, destroys RBCs faster before your bone marrow can replace them.

How to Avoid Common Pitfalls Linked to Anemia and Iron

If you or anyone in your family is diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, check whether your doctor has examined your ferritin level (low level indicates iron deficiency) or confirmed your diagnosis. That’s because it’s common for aging adults to concurrently experience multiple causes of anemia (e.g., vitamin and iron deficiency), so confirming the diagnosis is essential before moving on to treatment.

Iron supplements are usually constipating for older adults, so it is advisable to take them only if you have iron deficiency. Also, if iron deficiency is confirmed, check whether your doctor examines the causes of ongoing or progressive blood loss, which also causes iron loss.

Essential Points to Remember About Anemia in Older Adults

• Anemia has several causes.
• It’s mostly mild to moderate but chronic, so never miss any follow-ups.
• If you have noticed low hemoglobin levels or are diagnosed with anemia or iron insufficiency, discuss with your doctor to understand your condition and its root causes.
• Keep copies of your test reports for future reference.
• Know how your blood count and causes of anemia are tracked.

If you are suffering from iron-deficiency induced anemia, the best way to combat it is by making changes in your diet and through iron supplements, as per your doctor’s advice. Iron deficiency can also be mitigated through iron infusion therapy.

Are you experiencing low iron symptoms? Contact Chesapeake Oncology Hematology Associates today for diagnosing iron deficiency and its treatment or if you have any questions concerning the condition. We offer personalized iron infusion therapy to help increase iron levels and treat iron-deficiency anemia.