Normocytic normochromic is one of the most common forms of anemia. Anemia is a condition where the red blood cells that circulate in your body decrease. In normocytic normochromic anemia, the red blood cell count is low but the haemoglobin remains normal which translates to the size of the blood cells is still normal.

What Causes Normocytic Normochromic?

It's mostly caused just by growing older. Most of the cases are of women who are more than 85 years old. This type of anemia can also affect people who were born with it as well. In another scenario, it can be the result of other illnesses or diseases such as a chronic infection, a malignant disease, or any kind of inflammatory disease. In more serious cases it can be the result of hypothyroidism, renal failure, polymyalgia rhematica, marrow failure and acute blood loss. Your diet may also play a part in getting normocytic anemia if you are deficient in iron.

What Are the Symptoms of Normocytic Normochromic?

The symptoms tend to creep up on you over time. Because it is a form of anemia you may feel weak and dizzy periodically. With the blood flow failing, you may look very pale and feel tired most of the time.

Additional symptoms include:

• Weakness
• An irregular or fast heartbeat
• Chest pains
• Headache
• Cold hands and feet

How Do You Find Out If You Have Normocytic Normochromic?

If you are feeling especially tired all the time and this feeling never seems to go away, you may want to be checked by your physician to see if you have this condition. While it may show up on a regular blood test, you may have to request a complete blood count or CBC. This will show how many regular sized red blood cells you have. If the count is unusually low, you might have to get additional tests done.

How Do You Treat Normocytic Normochromic?

Because there are several different reasons why you would fall victim to this condition, the ways to treat it are just as different. Here are the types of treatment that work best for each cause.

1. For Specific Medical Condition

If you have normocytic anemia because of an underlying illness or disease, that condition must be treated first. If your anemia is very prominent, your doctor may order you to have injections of erythropoietin on a regular basis. This will encourage your bone marrow to generate additional blood cells which will let your body get more oxygen and cut down on your weakness, nausea and drowsiness while you are dealing with the other condition.

2. Home Remedies

• A very popular and reportedly effective home remedy in treating normocytic anemia is to take 2 teaspoons of honey along with a ripe banana two times a day. Honey is a very effective product in treating normocytic normochromic because it raises the level of hemoglobin that is in the blood. It also has an abundance of copper, iron, and manganese which add to the production of red blood cells and also helps to promote a healthier output of bone marrow.
• Another mixture that has been proven to work is putting together a combination of tomato juice and apple juice.
• There is another remedy that is supposed to help alleviate the anemia simply by making all your meals in pots that are made out of iron. This has been found to naturally increase the level of iron in your food and increases the iron in your blood.

3. Iron Supplements

If you have a mild case of this type of anemia you may be able to elevate your red blood count by adding iron supplements to your daily regime.You may also need folate and/or vitamin B-12. There are some people who are unable to process vitamin B-12 no matter how much they take. Check with your doctor if this is the case in your situation.

How Do You Live with Normocytic Normochromic?

1. Children and Teens

Try to get young ones to drink milk that has been fortified with iron. This leaves cow’s milk out, especially if your child drinks a lot of milk. Giving them iron supplements and vitamins per your doctor’s instructions can help. Get your teens checked regularly as they have regular growth spurts. Young women who begin to menstruate will lose a lot of iron when they get their periods. If they tend to be anemic, check with your doctor regarding iron supplements for them as well.

2. Pregnant Women

Though many women may develop normocytic anemia while they are pregnant, it may not continue after childbirth. During their pregnancy, they should follow their doctor's orders to reduce the risk of a premature baby or an infant with a low birth weight.

3. Older Adults

Check your diet regularly to make sure you are getting enough iron and vitamins on a regular basis. Don't wait until it is too late to contact your doctor. If you have a history of anemia, try to up your iron intake; if you begin to feel tired much of the time, check with your physician. Sometimes anemia is linked to other more serious conditions.

Your doctor can prescribe erythropoietin which will stimulate your bone marrow so that it can generate additional red blood cells. This would be helpful if your anemia is from kidney problems, cancer, or due to the treatments you are receiving for them. If your anemia is getting out of control you may need a blood transfusion.

Clinical Trials

If you are interested in participating in clinical trials that are in place to advance the knowledge and improve the treatments for diseases such as anemia, check with your doctor on how you can participate. You can also check out the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to find out if they have any upcoming trials in your area you can partake in.