Treating blood conditions is in our blood.
Anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and blood clots.
What is Anemia?
Anemia is defined as a low number of red blood cells. It occurs when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry the adequate amount of oxygen to the tissues.
Anemia Symptoms
Anemia is a relatively common condition reportedly affecting 30% of the US population. Sometimes it can be managed with increased Iron in your diet, sometimes it’s more complicated. That said, there are varying types and degrees of anemia, each of which may present signs and symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale or yellowish skin
- Irregular heartbeats
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Chest pain
- Cold hands and feet
What are Vitamin Deficiencies?
Put broadly, a vitamin deficiency is a deficiency of one or more essential vitamins the body requires to properly function. There are types of deficiencies, such as Iron deficiencies, that can result in anemia and other diseases.
Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies
There are 13 essential vitamins the body needs to work efficiently, and when those are lacking in the system, one or more of the following symptoms may occur:
- Brittle hair and nails
- Mouth ulcers and bleeding gums
- Decreased vision
- Hair loss
- Red or white bumps on the skin
- Restless leg syndrome
- Medical conditions such as anemia
What are Blood Clots?
Blood clots are shapeless blobs of blood that have changed from a liquid to a gel-like or semisolid state. Typically, clotting is a necessary process that prevents the body from losing too much blood due to injuries or cuts. However, it becomes a medical emergency when a clot forms inside one of the veins and doesn’t dissolve on its own.
Blood Clot Risk Factors
The most common place to get a blood clot is the leg, but they can occur anywhere in the body. There are several risk factors that can put someone in jeopardy of getting a clot, some of which include:
- Major surgery (ex: pelvis, abdomen, hip, knee)
- Severe trauma, such as a car accident
- Cancer and cancer treatments
- Use of estrogen-containing birth control methods
- Pregnancy
- Genetic predisposition to blood clots
- Obesity
- Confinement to bed or wheelchair
- Smoking
- Age (55+)
- Diabetes
Sunnyvale Primary Care Can Help
As you can see, we treat a variety of blood conditions. Dr. Kam and Dr. Fontenot along with the rest of the team here at Sunnyvale Primary Care are dedicated to making you feel comfortable as we improve your health and well-being.
