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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

Left untreated, anemia can cause numerous complications, such as:

  • Severe fatigue. When anemia is severe enough, you may be so tired that you can't complete everyday tasks. You may be too exhausted to work or play.
  • Heart problems. Anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat — an arrhythmia. Your heart must pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood when you're anemic. This can even lead to congestive heart failure.
  • Nerve damage. Vitamin B-12 is essential not only for healthy red blood cell production, but also for healthy nerve function.
  • Impaired mental function. A shortage of vitamin B-12 can also affect your mental abilities.
  • Death. Some inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, can be serious and lead to life-threatening complications. Losing a lot of blood quickly results in acute, severe anemia and can be fatal.
References
  1. Anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/anemia/anemia_whatis.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2008.
  2. Pernicious anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/prnanmia/prnanmia_all.html. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
  3. Schrier SL. Patient information: Iron deficiency anemia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  4. Schrier SL, et al. Anemia of chronic disease (anemia of chronic inflammation). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  5. Schrier SL. Aplastic anemia: Pathogenesis; clinical manifestations; and diagnosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  6. Schrier SL. Approach to the diagnosis of hemolytic anemia in the adult. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  7. Hemolytic anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ha/ha_all.html. Accessed Dec. 10, 2008.
  8. Sickle cell anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ha/ha_all.html. Accessed Dec. 8, 2008.
  9. Schrier SL. Aplastic anemia: Prognosis and treatment. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  10. Schrier SL. Causes and diagnosis of anemia due to iron deficiency. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 25, 2008.
  11. Mechanisms of Anemia. In: Hoffman R et al. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/114764765-5/786318263/1267/208.html#4-u1.0-B0-443-06628-0..50032-8--cesec2_821. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.
  12. Linker CA. General Approach to Anemias. In: McPhee SJ et al. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2009. 48th ed. San Francisco, Calif.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2009. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=5476&searchStr=anemias. Accessed Dec. 19, 2008.

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March 19, 2009

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