हिंदी
Anemia is a condition marked by a shortage of red blood cells or a reduction in hemoglobin levels in the bloodstream. In some rare instances, untreated chronic anemia can cause the heart muscle to enlarge, weakening it and raising the risk of heart failure. Given the heart’s role in circulating blood throughout the body, anemia can affect the heart in several ways:
1. Reduced Oxygen Supply: Hemoglobin, found in red blood cells, carries oxygen from the lungs to various body tissues and organs, including the heart. When hemoglobin levels drop due to anemia, less oxygen reaches the heart muscle, potentially leading to myocardial ischemia, where the heart muscle lacks sufficient oxygen for optimal function.
2. Elevated Heart Rate: To compensate for reduced oxygen supply, the heart may increase its rate (tachycardia) to pump more blood and oxygen to meet the body’s demands. This heightened workload on the heart can strain it and may contribute to symptoms like palpitations, chest pain, or eventually heart failure.
3. Arrhythmias: Anemia can make individuals more prone to abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). Electrolyte imbalances caused by anemia, combined with the heart’s increased workload, can disrupt its normal electrical activity, leading to arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular arrhythmias.
4. Changes in Cardiac Output: Anemia can also alter cardiac output, which is the volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute. Initially, the heart may try to compensate for reduced oxygen-carrying capacity by increasing cardiac output. However, severe or chronic anemia can eventually diminish heart efficiency, resulting in decreased cardiac output and symptoms like fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
