Nowadays, between 60% and 70% of Peruvians, including children, youngsters, adults and senior citizens, present cases of mild anemia making it a public health problem. One of the most shocking statistics is that 43% are children under 3 years of age. Dr. José Caravedo, a hematologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma, indicates that this condition may be related to a hematological disease or a secondary symptom of other diseases. There are types of anemia that can be serious, long-lasting and even fatal if not diagnosed and treated appropriately.

What Is Anemia?

Anemia is the decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood or in hemoglobin levels compared to normal values. It is considered anemia when the hemoglobin level is less than 13.5 g/dL in adult men and 12 g/dL in adult women.

How do I know if I have anemia?

• For any physical activity that requires an average effort, if your resistance decreases and you feel tired, combined with tachycardia and shortness of breath, your hemoglobin may be above 10 g/dl and you may be mildly anemic.
• On the other hand, if you notice paleness in the palms of your hands, in the pinnae and on the lips, as well as extreme tiredness with minimal effort or even at rest, it may be associated with a hemoglobin of 8 g/dL or less, which represents a more intense anemia.

If you have any of these symptoms, it is likely that you suffer from one of these degrees of anemia. Therefore, it is important to get a medical evaluation as soon as possible by a specialist.

Dr. José Caravedo
Hematologist at Clínica Ricardo Palma