Anemia

Your healthcare provider will ask questions about your symptoms. As anemia happens when you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells, they’ll do blood tests, including:

Complete blood count (CBC): Healthcare providers use this test to check on all of your blood cells, with a focus on your red blood cells. Medical pathologists examine blood samples to count your red blood cells. They also examine your red blood cells’ size and shape. Healthcare providers may use this test to check on your vitamin B12 or B9 levels.
Hemoglobin test: Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells. The test is often used to detect anemia.
Hematocrit test: This test measures the percentage of red blood cells in your blood.
Peripheral blood smear: Healthcare providers examine your red blood cells under a microscope to assess blood cell size and shape.
Reticulocyte count: Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells. This test checks if your bone marrow is producing enough healthy red blood cells.

What are the complications of anemia?

Chronic anemia can cause serious medical issues like heart attack, heart failure and organ damage. Chronic anemia is anemia that healthcare providers don’t diagnose and treat or that continues despite treatment.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

Living with atrial fibrillation?

Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Heart Rhythm Conditions support group on Freedmans Health Clinic Connect, a patient community.