Anemia occurs when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, or when the amount of hemoglobin in the blood is low. The red blood cells in the blood carry oxygen throughout the body. A protein called hemoglobin allows the red blood cells to absorb and release oxygen. Without enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, the body doesn't get enough oxygen. Symptoms of anemia may then occur.
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Common causes of anaphylaxis are allergies to penicillin, bee stings, aspirin, eggs, peanuts, and nuts. In this video, you'll find out other possible causes, what preventive steps you can take to avoid anaphylaxis, and why emergency treatment is needed.
Patients are often presented with a variety of treatments, medications and procedures that can be complicated and sometimes difficult to understand, both in terms of the expected result, but also in terms of possible side effects. One of the best ways to overcome this challenge is for patients to ask a lot of questions of their healthcare providers, so they can make the most-informed decisions for their own care. Patients can also play an important role in preventing infections while they are in the hospital.
