Anemia Blood Test

Untreated iron deficiency can be dangerous. Iron deficiency can cause fatigue, headaches, hair loss, and restless legs, as well as also worsen other health conditions, such as those of the heart. Young children with iron deficiency are at risk of impaired mental development, and pregnant women who are iron deficient have an increased risk of delivering an infant with low birth weight (Radboudumc, 2020).

With treatment, most people recover from iron-deficiency anemia in 2 to 3 months. However, it may be required to take iron supplements for several months longer to build up your reserves of iron.

In many cases, anemia is temporary and caused by a nutritional deficiency or blood loss. By making dietary changes or taking supplements it can be reversed. In other cases, anemia is a lifelong condition that is the result of a chronic or inherited condition, including genetic disorders, autoimmune problems, cancers, and other diseases.

Some research has found a link between stress and iron deficiency and the depletion of other minerals in the body. However, stress alone is not known to cause iron deficiency or anemia. Nevertheless, minimizing stress is good for your overall health and well-being.

Anemia may cause symptoms of fatigue, breathlessness, a rapid pulse, dizziness, or faintness. However, the only way to know you have anemia for sure is through a blood test.

Anemia tests usually look at hemoglobin, ferritin, and iron levels. Other values, such as hematocrit or mean corpuscular volume can be used to help diagnose anemia.

Many people think that anemia is caused by having an insufficient amount of blood, but this is not the case. Anemia means you have a shortage of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Your red blood cells are about 1/3 filled with hemoglobin, a protein found in the blood. Hemoglobin is red and therefore gives your blood its red color. The function of hemoglobin is to transport oxygen and carbon dioxide. As soon as you have a shortage of hemoglobin, you can feel lethargic and fatigued. Do you want to learn more about hemoglobin and why it is important? Then our article “All about Hemoglobin” might be interesting for you.

Yes. Most rapid tests are not reliable because your sample will not be examined by a laboratory. With Homed-IQ’s Anemia Test, your sample is examined by the same laboratory that most hospitals and general practitioners work with and uses exactly the same testing method. We can therefore give you a definitive answer whether you have anemia or not.

The biggest advantage of this anemia laboratory test is that you can easily take the test yourself at home, without the need for a visit to your doctor or a testing center. You will receive the test result within a few days.

If not treated, chronic anemia can lead to many health problems such as:

• Extreme fatigue
• Complications during pregnancy
• Heart problems
• Developmental delays in children

Anemia cannot always be prevented, but a healthy and varied diet does reduce the risk of anemia. This is especially important when you:

• Are pregnant
• Are vegan or vegetarian
• Have a long-term (chronic) illness
• Lose a lot of blood during your period

Foods that are high in iron include:

• Red meat
• Iron-fortified bread
• Certain types of fish such as mackerel, sardines, tuna, and crab
• Legumes, such as beans or lentils
• Nuts
• Dried fruits, especially apricots and figs
• Vegetables (especially dark green leafy vegetables) such as endives, spinach, broccoli or zucchini, artichoke, and concentrated tomato products

All of Homed-IQ’s self-sampling tests are scientifically certified and validated for home use. The tests have been tested and approved by our lab to ensure the results of samples taken at home are as accurate as samples taken in a testing station or doctor’s office. It is only legal to sell validated medical tests.

Each sample is processed in a laboratory that is ISO15189 certified, which allows us to guarantee the reliability of the tests.

Most people are at risk of developing anemia due to poor diet, intestinal disorders, chronic illnesses, infections, and other conditions. Women who are menstruating or pregnant and those with chronic conditions are most at risk of this disease. The risk of anemia increases with age.

If you have any of the following chronic conditions, you may be at even greater risk of developing anemia:

• Rheumatoid arthritis or another autoimmune disease
• Kidney disease
• Cancer
• Liver disease
• Thyroid disease
• Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)

The signs and symptoms of anemia can easily be overlooked. In fact, many people don’t even realize they have anemia until it is diagnosed with a blood test.

One risk group for anemia is people who are vegetarian or vegan. We have specially developed the Vegan and Vegetarian Blood test for this group of people.