Do I Have Critical Anemia?

Are you hospitalized for a severe acute infection, trauma, or other conditions that cause inflammation?

Do you feel tired or weak?

Do you have pale skin?

Do you have shortness of breath?

Do you have a fast heartbeat?

Do you have headaches?

Do you feel dizzy or do you feel like you are going to pass out?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have anemia of critical illness. Anemia of critical illness is a type of anemia of inflammation, which is present in most patients admitted to the intensive care unit. It develops suddenly and is often the result of severe infections, blood loss, nutritional deficiencies and renal insufficiency. Anemia of critical illness can be a persistent condition with over 70 percent of patients remaining anemic after discharge from the hospital.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have anemia of critical illness. Anemia of critical illness is a common condition that occurs in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Anemia is defined as a hemoglobin level of less than 13 g / dL in men, and below 12 g / dL in women. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It is estimated that about 97 percent of patients become anemic within a week after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have anemia of critical illness. The occurrence of anemia is extremely common in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). It can be the result of an improper red blood cell production due to systemic inflammation, as well as blood loss due to phlebotomy and bleeding. There is no universal pattern for assessing the severity of anemia during a critical illness. Anemia must be managed individually depending on the condition of the patient. Treatment includes blood transfusions and the use of techniques to reduce the volume of blood drawn for diagnostic purposes.