The diagnosis of anemia at home is difficult unless bleeding is obvious. How rapidly anemia occurs determines how severe the symptoms will be. If significant bleeding is obvious, go to a hospital's emergency department. If you experience any of the signs and symptoms of anemia, call your doctor for an appointment.

Anemia can be life threatening. If you have any of the signs or symptoms and cannot contact your doctor, or if you are having severe symptoms, you should go to a hospital's emergency department for help. A large amount of blood loss, even without signs and symptoms of anemia, should cause you to go to the emergency department.

If possible, have a friend or a neighbor take you to the hospital if you suspect you have anemia. It is dangerous for a severely anemic person to drive because you could pass out while driving and cause an accident.

Very little can be done at home to treat anemia. In general, if you have anemia, you should continue to take your medications for chronic medical problems. Because dehydration accompanies anemia, you will want to make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids.

Because anemia itself is not a disease but a sign of some other process, the best way to minimize the symptoms of anemia at home is to control other medical problems.

• For example, if you have had a HyperLink heart attack, you should be sure to take your heart medications because anemia can make the heart problem worse.
• If you have stomach ulcers, you will want to avoid alcoholic beverages, aspirin, and medications such as ibuprofen, which can make ulcers worse and lead to bleeding.

Some common forms of anemia are most easily prevented by eating a healthy diet and by limiting alcohol use. All types of anemia are best avoided by seeing a doctor regularly and when problems arise

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