Anemia: How to Know

How to know that you have anemia ? 

Basically, if you have sign of symptoms of Anaemia, the Dr will runs few test to make sure it's just Anemia ((not other chronic disease))

First of all, the Dr will run Complete Blood Count test or known as CBC on your blood. 

CBC is used by using your blood to detect a wide range of disease which affect your blood like anemia, leukimia or even infection of blood, with CBC, the Dr will knows your :

• Red blood cells count
• White blood cells count
• Hemoglobin (is a protein that carry oxygen in your blood)
• Hematocrit (red blood cells vs fluid, or plasma components)
• Platelets (blood clotting agent)

Take notes : 

In men, anemia is diagnose when Hemoglobin is  < 14 g/dL, Hematocrit is  < 42%, or Red Blood cells is < 4.5 million/μL. 

In women, Hemoglobin is < 12 g/dL, Hematocrit < 37%, or Red blood cells < 4 million/μL is considered anemia

Secondly, through anemia evaluation based on :

• The shape, the size and the number of rbc under microscope. 
• Reticulocyte count, the lifespan of your blood cells before it is introduced to your blood. 
• or sometimes they used, Bone Marrow aspiration, a procedure which soft tissue is taken to evaluate the production of each cell inside your blood. 

Lastly, by physical examination and medical history.  This evaluation is based on your sign and symptoms that has been asked.