Dr. Huntley's
Diagnosis
Checklist
Have a symptom?
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in his assesment of the symptom: Anemia. These may include a physical examination or other medical tests. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor may help them with their diagnosis.
Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:
Why: e.g. including vegetarianism, lack of red meat, animal products and green leafy vegetables - may indicate dietary deficiency of iron , folate or B12 as cause of anemia.
Why: pregnancy causes increased physiological requirements of iron and folate.
Why: Alcohol can cause anemia by several mechanisms e.g. Gastrointestinal blood loss due to oesophageal varices, peptic ulcer; folate deficiency and sideroblastic anemia.
Why: Chronic disease can cause anemia e.g. connective tissue disease, malignancy , thyroid disorders , Addison's disease.
Why: e.g. previous stomach or small bowel surgery can cause Vitamin B12 deficiency; any recent surgery can cause blood loss.
Why: e.g. aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids and warfarin all increase the risk of blood loss from the gastrointestinal tract and thus iron deficiency anemia; phenytoin and methotrexate can reduce folate; chloramphenicol, anti-cancer drugs, sulphonamides can cause bone marrow failure.
Why: Of Thalassaemia, Colorectal carcinoma, Sideroblastic anemia.
Why: These can all be symptoms of anemia.
Why: Whilst these may all appear to be unrelated to anemia, they can be experienced as symptoms.
Why: Menorrhagia can be a cause of iron deficiency anemia.
Why: Gastrointestinal bleeding may cause iron deficiency anemia, and may be exhibited by some changes in your stool or bowel habit. Bowel Cancer can also cause iron deficiency anemia, and may cause changes in your bowel habit as well.
Why: These can cause you to experience chronic blood loss and result in iron deficiency anemia.
Why: These can cause you to lose small amounts of blood on a regular basis and can be the cause of anal symptoms, anal swelling, anal itch, and iron deficiency anemia.
Why: These are all conditions affecting the large bowel, which can result in acute or chronic gastrointestinal blood loss and thus cause iron deficiency anemia.
Why: Hookworm can be a cause of gastrointestinal blood loss and iron deficiency anemia, however it is much more common in areas in the tropics.
Why: Poor diet and living conditions can cause iron deficiency anemia, however this is more likely to be the case in children rather than adults. Additionally certain diets (e.g. vegans) may not consume enough of certain vitamins, and thus cause a type of anemia.
Why: There are many conditions which can cause malabsorption (such as coeliac disease) and thus cause iron deficiency anemia. Thalassemia is a genetic and inheritable condition which results in the abnormal formation of hemoglobin in your blood, and may cause iron deficiency anemia in an otherwise healthy person.
Why: There is an increased risk that you may carry one or more genes for Thalassemia if you have genetic family members who are from those areas. Thalassemia can be a cause of iron deficiency anemia.
Why: Along with iron deficiency anemia, these can all be signs of Plummer Vinson Syndrome.
Why: Anemia isn't an uncommon diagnosis, and there is some likelihood that you may have been diagnosed with it before. If you have, then it is important for the Health Professional you are currently seeing to know what has transpired since that diagnosis. If you have made any changes, then it is important to evaluate whether or not they are having the desired effect. For example, whether or not you changed your diet or began taking iron supplements.
Why: Some infections which last for a long time may cause a type of anemia known as anemia of chronic disease.
Why: This is a condition which can last for a long time and may cause anemia of chronic disease.
Why: Rheumatoid arthritis as well as some other Rheumatological conditions can result in anemia of chronic disease as they tend to be experienced for some time.
Why: Cancer and its treatment can have a huge impact on your body, so much so that its effects can result in anemia of chronic disease .
Why: Chronic disease can have long-term effects on other aspects of your health, such as the way in which your body produces blood. These diseases can cause anemia of chronic disease .
Why: Excessive consumption of alcohol for a prolonged period of time can result in some forms of anemia.
Why: These can all be caused by some forms of anemia which are the result of the abnormal production of hemoglobin in your blood.
Why: These can all be signs of hypothyroidism, which may also be a cause of anemia.
Why: Pregnancy can be a cause of anemia, and it is important to consider and rule out this possibility in all women of reproductive age.
Why: Preeclampsia is a very serious condition which in addition to the above listed symptoms, can cause a type of anemia.
Why: Some medications such as azathioprine, phenytoin and trimethoprim can cause some types of anemia.
Why: Along with pernicious anemia, these can all be associated with one another. Having any one of these autoimmune conditions increases your risk of having (or being later diagnosed with) any other disease in this group.
Why: Some surgeries such as a gastrectomy/partial gastrectomy can result in a form of anemia.
Why: Paresthesia can be seen in anemia.
Why: Jaundice can be noticed as a subtle change in the colour of your eyes and skin, and may be seen with anemia.
Why: Some eye problems such as retinal hemorrhages can occur in some types of anemia.
Why: A subtle but discernable premature graying of your hair may occur with some forms of anemia.
Why: Fever can be a sign of many difference disease processes, but can be associated with a few types of anemia.
Why: Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary condition affecting hemoglobin in blood which can result in anemia, jaundice and episodes of pain in your peripheries. It is more likely to be carried and experienced by those with some or any ethnically African heritage.
Why: Apart from the few conditions specifically mentioned above, there are many other inheritable conditions which can affect your blood. These may include Glucose 6 Phosphate Deficiency, Hereditary Spherocytosis, and Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency.
Why: Contrary to what generally happens blood transfusions can sometimes cause anemia. This may be because the blood/blood product you received was entirely compatible with you.
Why: Some types of artificial heart valves and some cardiac diseases can cause anemia.
Why: Malaria can cause anemia. In general, it is vitally important that you tell your Health Professional about any recent or past (up to many years in the past) travel or holidays you have undertaken.
Why: Anemia can be sometimes be caused by a condition which causes your blood cells to break apart at night or at times of infection or stress on your body (paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria).
Why: These can sometimes be associated with sickle cell anemia.
Why: An occurrence called Raynaud's Phenomenon where the fingers/toes may go pale then blue and then finally red. There is much ache and pain associated with this serious of changes, and the condition may be associated with some types of autoimmune anemia.
Why: Acute renal failure and unusual bruising can be seen along with anemia in thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura. There may also be some neurological symptoms which may resemble stroke/transient ischemic attack.
Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. These may include:
Why: e.g. lethargic, tired, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pains, palpitations - may indicate if symptomatic or asymptomatic.
Why: i.e heavy periods with clotting and flooding - may indicate cause of chronic blood loss and thus anemia.
Why: e.g. episodic burning pain in upper abdomen below the ribs related to meals - may be cause of chronic blood loss and thus anemia.
Why: may be due to colorectal cancer or polyps, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids , angiodysplasia and thus be a cause of chronic blood loss and thus anemia.
Why: i.e black tarry stools - indicates bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract e.g peptic ulcer or oesophageal varices and thus be cause of anemia.
Why: e.g. intolerance to wheat, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, bulky frothy stools - causes iron and folate deficiency due to malabsorption.
Why: e.g. recurrent attacks of loose stools, bloody diarrhea, mucous in stools - may be a cause of chronic blood loss and thus anemia.
Why: E.g. paresthesia, loss of vibratory sensation, ataxia and mild dementia - may indicate pernicious anemia.
Why: E.g. yellow skin and sclera, pale stools, dark urine - may indicate Hemolytic anemia; if mild can be due to pernicious anemia or due to chronic liver disease.
Why: e.g. jaundice , easy bruising , itchy skin, enlargement of male breasts , loss of body hair , swelling of legs - may indicate cause of folate deficiency and thus anemia.
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