Diseases, Conditions & Concerns / Question
Published: November 26, 2007
Dear TeenHealthFX,
Just wondering if you could help me understand why i am always tired, my appitite changes and i get headaches and i feel sick to my stomache. I found out that i am anemic, but should i feel this lousy?
Signed: Found Out That I Am Anemic
Dear Found Out That I Am Anemic,
For our readers who may not know, anemia is a condition where there are not enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate amounts of oxygen to the tissues. Because of the inadequate amount of oxygen, people with anemia often feel chronically tired.
Signs and symptoms of anemia can include:
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- A fast or irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dizziness
- Cognitive problems
- Numbness or coldness in your extremities
- Headaches
There are different kinds of anemia: iron deficiency anemia, vitamin deficiency anemias, anemia of chronic disease, aplastic anemia, anemia associated with bone marrow disease, hemolytic anemias, and sickle cell anemia. Depending on the type of anemia a person has will depend on the types of treatments that are recommended.
In terms of your particular question, feeling chronically fatigued, having appetite changes, and getting headaches are common symptoms associated with being anemic. FX suggests that you speak to the doctor who diagnosed you and ask him/her what you can do to address the symptoms you have depending on the type of anemia you have been diagnosed with. For example, your doctor may have you take iron supplements if you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. If you find that with treatment your symptoms persist, let your doctor know immediately as alternate treatments might be needed or you may need to be evaluated for other underlying medical conditions that might be contributing to these symptoms.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern
Signed: TeenHealthFX
Teens whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don’t, yet only 1 in 4 teens report having these conversations. 
