Anemia is the medical word for low red blood. Red blood cells carry oxygen, which gives your body energy and helps your brain work well. When someone has anemia, they may feel tired, weak, short of breath, or find it harder to focus.
Anemia can be caused by:
- Low iron stores in the body
- Blood loss
- Certain health conditions
Getting anemia treated before surgery can:
- Lower your chance of needing a blood transfusion
- Make recovery easier and faster
- Lower your risk of complications
Treating your anemia before surgery can make your surgery safer and help you recover faster.
How is Anemia Found?
Before surgery, your doctor will ask you questions about your health and may order a simple blood test. This test checks your hemoglobin level (the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen).
If your hemoglobin is low, your health care team may do more tests to find out why. For example, they may check your iron levels, kidney health, or look for other medical conditions.
What Can You Do Before Surgery?
If you learn you have anemia, it is a great idea to book an appointment with your primary care provider to figure out the cause. Some hospitals also have special programs to help patients with anemia get ready for surgery. Depending on your health and type of surgery, you may need more tests or to see a specialist.
If low iron is the reason for your anemia, you may be asked to build up your iron levels by:
- Eating more foods with iron like meat, fish, poultry, beans, peas, or lentils (check out the Nutrition section for more examples)
- Taking iron pills at home
- Getting iron through an IV infusion at the hospital
Your health care team may check your blood again before surgery to see how well the treatment is working.
Where to Learn More
Healthlink BC - Learn more about Anemia and how to manage it