Anemia is a condition where a person lacks the necessary amount of red blood cells needed to perform optimally. The inability to produce enough leads to general fatigue and lack of energy. Anemia is one of the most common blood-related diseases found in the country. Nearly 3 million citizens in the country are affected by it. A person is most likely to have iron-deficiency anemia, the most common form of the condition. Iron deficiency is caused by blood loss or lack of iron or inability to absorb iron. Other types of anemia are rare. The following are the 8 types of anemia and their causes.

1. Sideroblastic anemia

Our body needs iron to make hemoglobin (which carries oxygen in the blood). In this form of anemia, our body cannot use the iron to make hemoglobin. The unused iron leads to the development of abnormal red blood cells known as sideroblasts. This disease can either be acquired or genetically inherited. The most common cause of this type of anemia is excessive alcohol consumption, lead poisoning, vitamin B6 deficiency, and zinc deficiency.

2. Aplastic anemia

This type of anemia develops because of the malfunction of the bone marrow which leads to deficiency in all types of blood cells. the real cause of this type of anemia are the different factors that can affect the bone marrow and production of blood cells. The causes are radiation and chemotherapy, the use of certain drugs, exposure to toxic chemicals, and viral infection.

3. Autoimmune Haemolytic anemia

This type of anemia is a rare disorder in which a person’s red blood cells are destroyed by antibodies. This disease is caused because of another disease (lupus), with another disorder or by the use of certain drugs such as penicillin, quinine, and methyldopa. It can also occur after a person has had blood and marrow stem cell transplant.

4. Myelodysplastic Syndrome

Also known as MDS, this type of anemia occurs when blood marrow dysfunctions and cannot produce one or more types of blood cells. It is also a type of cancer. Some myelodysplastic syndrome is caused by chemotherapy and radiation used in cancer, or pesticide, lead, benzene, or toxic chemicals such as tobacco. Others have no known cause.

5. Congenital Dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA)

It’s rare and is an inherited blood disease that affects the development of red blood cells. This disease is inherited and is passed through generations/ families.

6. Megaloblastic anemia

It is a type of anemia in which red blood cells are not produced properly. They are a bit larger and lower in quantity than normal. This type of anemia usually caused by a person who is deficient in vitamin B12 (cobalamin) or vitamin B12 (folate).

7. Fanconi anemia

It is a rare type of anemia and it mostly affects the bone marrow. Due to which bone marrow produces fewer blood cells. The cause of this disease is inherited as it passes through generations. It is a hereditary type of anemia.

8. Diamond blackfan anemia (DBA)

It is a rare type of anemia in which the bone marrow cannot produce red blood cells. They also have a chance of developing myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). This is also a hereditary disease that is it will pass through generations. This disease is lifelong, fatal and can reduce one’s lifespan.