A Guide to Anemia in Teens

Merilyn Monterroza, 1/19/25

What is Anemia?

Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the U.S. and affects about 1 in 4 people worldwide. It occurs when the body doesn’t have enough hemoglobin or red blood cells. If a person has fewer red blood cells than normal, the blood will not be able to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.

Symptoms may vary depending on how severe the anemia may be. Some may experience mild conditions while others may deal with more serious symptoms.

Symptoms include:

Shortness of Breath
Weakness
Tiredness
Dizziness when standing up
Rapid heart rate
Pale or yellow skin

Specific Types of Anemia

Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common type of anemia and occurs when the body doesn’t have the right amount of iron to make healthy red blood cells. Symptoms include: freezing hands, fragile nails, craving for non-food related items, and chest pain due to lack of oxygen.

Treatment: Iron supplements to increase the iron in the body, dietary changes

Vitamin B12 Deficiency occurs when the body lacks vitamin B12 which causes the red blood cells to not function the way they should.

Symptoms: fatigue, red tongue, and loss of appetite

Treatment: Vitamin B12 injections, pills, tablets, blood transfusions

Aplastic Anemia is a rare blood disorder that happens when the bone marrow stops producing enough red blood cells. This type of anemia has individual symptoms ranging from small to more serious effects.

Symptoms: nosebleeds, fevers, circular red spots on skin, and skin rashes.

Treatment: Blood transfusions to increase levels of red blood cells, stem cell transplant, bone marrow transplant

Sickle Cell Anemia is a life-threatening blood disorder that alters the shape of red blood cells causing them to be rigid, blocking blood flow.

Symptoms: shortness of breath, crises (episodes), jaundice, and lower back pain.

Treatment: pain relievers, blood transfusions, gene therapy, bone marrow transplant

Complications

If not treated, anemia can lead to many complications including:

Heart Issues: Due to the lack of oxygen, the heart must pump more blood than normal which can lead to an expanded heart, irregular heartbeats, and heart failure.
Pregnancy Complications: Leaving anemia untreated during pregnancy can lead to a low birth weight infant or premature birth and can increase the baby’s risk of having anemia.
Weak Immune System: Anemia, specifically iron deficiency, causes the immune system to have a harder time fighting off infections and can cause a person to feel weak all the time.
Depression: Iron has a significant role in the way the body produces neurotransmitters (chemical messengers that the body needs to function properly). When a person has low iron levels, it can lead to fatigue which can contribute to feelings of depression.
Death: Certain types of anemia such as sickle cell anemia can be life-threatening through organ damage and brain injuries.
Developmental delays: Children may experience delays in comprehension, language, and poor coordination, which can affect their academic performance. Anemia can also affect adults by making it difficult to concentrate and process information.

Diagnosis

Anemia can be diagnosed through a number of examinations and laboratory tests.

Complete Blood Count (CBC): Used to count the amount and types of blood cells in the sample of blood such as red blood cells, white blood cells, and hemoglobin levels. When there are low levels, it is an indicator that anemia is present.
Hemoglobin Test: Measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood. If a person has a weakness, shortness of breath, or fatigue, then a hemoglobin test would be taken to find the cause of these symptoms possibly pointing to anemia.
Bone Marrow Biopsy: A surgical procedure where a small sample of bone marrow is removed in order to be examined. This procedure reveals if the bone marrow is not making enough red blood cells. A bone marrow biopsy can help in diagnosing types of anemia such as aplastic and iron deficiency anemia.

Prevention

Anemia can be prevented in most cases such as iron deficiency anemia, but those that are inherited cannot. Common types of anemia can be prevented through a variety of iron-rich foods like meat, fish, eggs, and dried fruits. In addition to iron-rich foods, it's also important to include foods with vitamin C as it helps the body absorb iron. Foods rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits, strawberries, and melons.

Anemia in Teens/Young Adults

Anemia in teens and young adults can sometimes be caused by rapid growth spurts, lack of nutrients needed in meals, and heavy menstrual periods for girls. Many teens may have poor eating habits or busy schedules due to school or sports which can cause low iron absorption.

Managing Menstrual Health: For young women, it’s important to manage menstrual health with a doctor to prevent iron deficiency
Regular Check-Ups: Having consistent blood tests are crucial in monitoring hemoglobin levels and general health to prevent/manage anemia.
Educating themselves: To manage their health, it’s important to understand the symptoms and causes that anemia can have. By doing this, teens and young adults can learn to make the right choices.

Maintaining a Healthy Life with Anemia

Eating a Healthy Diet- A large reason anemia develops is due to poor and unhealthy eating habits. With a healthy and well-planned diet, a person can get the iron and nutrition needed to manage anemia.
Hydration- Drinking water assists in increasing hemoglobin levels as well as healthy blood flow which stops red blood cells from pulling together
Exercising Regularly- Exercise can increase energy levels and manage fatigue that comes with anemia. Beginning with low-intensity exercises is important as too much can worsen fatigue. These exercises may vary depending on how severe the anemia may be. Exercises include walking, biking, squats, yoga, and cycling.
Getting enough sleep- Sleep is very beneficial, especially regarding anemia. Due to the excessive tiredness from anemia, getting 7-9 hours of sleep can help the body recover.

In summary, anemia is a worldwide issue mainly affecting young children and women. It's important to understand how to manage the various symptoms and its long and short-term effects. Awareness of these symptoms early on allows for the right measures to be taken to reduce the risk of serious complications and can help improve the quality of life for those affected by this condition.

Sources

Cleveland Clinic: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/3929-anemia

Mayo Clinic: Anemia

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20351360

Medical News Today: What to know about anemia

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/158800

Medical News Today: What is the link between anemia and depression?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/anemia-and-depression

NIH News in Health: Avoiding Anemia

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2014/01/avoiding-anemia

PennMedicine: What is Anemia?