Theresa worried about her mother’s overwhelming fatigue and headaches but figured it was just part of her advancing age. When her elder care provider reported that she was suffering from dizziness, shortness of breath and cold hands and feet, she knew something was not right.
After a visit to the doctor and a blood draw, the doctor called to say that Theresa’s mother was anemic, and they needed to talk about treatment options. Theresa knew next to nothing about anemia or what she and her mother needed to do to make her feel better and stay healthy.
When red blood cells are reduced in volume and number, it is known as anemia. It is one of the most common health issues that American seniors face, due to age-related illnesses, poor nutrition, and chronic conditions. Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the country, yet many family caregivers and aging adults don’t know that much about it. It’s even possible for an elderly person to be suffering from anemia and not even realize it.
How Anemia Causes Serious Health Problems
Anemia can occur due to deficient production of red blood cells, excessive blood loss or excessive blood cell destruction. Poor production is the most common of these causes, and it is often caused by poor iron intake in the diet. Other illnesses like digestive bleeding, cancer, and kidney disease can affect red blood cell production. When there aren’t enough red blood cells, the body is short on hemoglobin, the protein in the cell that carries oxygen.
Organs and tissues need adequate oxygenation to stay healthy and do their job, but with anemia, they are constantly oxygen starved. This triggers the heart and lungs to work harder to bring in more oxygen, but this causes stress on these organs that may already be weakened due to age and other chronic conditions. In seniors, anemia is especially dangerous because the body’s organs are already weakened with age and it’s much harder for them to heal.
Symptoms of Anemia in Elderly Adults
It’s easy for family caregivers and elder care providers to overlook the symptoms of anemia, especially in the early stages. So many of the symptoms that anemic seniors display can be mistaken for other health issues. Among the most common symptoms are fatigue, headaches, cold hands and feet, pale skin, rapid heartbeat and chest pains. If an aging adult displays these symptoms, family caregivers and elder care providers should get them to see a doctor.
The only true way to diagnose anemia in an elderly adult is for a doctor to do a blood test. After that, the doctor will try to identify the cause of the anemia and work out a treatment. In most cases, the anemia is caused by low iron. Seniors may need to take iron supplements and change their diet to include more iron-rich foods. Untreated anemia can wreak havoc on an elderly person’s body, so it’s important that any symptoms be checked out.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring Elderly Care in Sherman Oaks, CA, please call Mom's Home Care and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff.
Our number is 323-244-4789.
