Effects of anaemia on heart rate.

[Teddy_Tum]

Hello, I've been told that if you are severely anaemic, your heart has to work harder to pump whatever red blood cells you have around your body, but does anyone know if being severely anaemic would make your heart beat faster in order to do this? Thanks TT.

[Lonnie]

I think the answer to your question, must be yes, because the heart has to work harder pump the blood to supply oxygen throughout the system, ergo, if its working harder, it must be going faster.

Its possible that someone with more knowledge than I, can give you a more comprehensive answer, but thats the bare bones of it.

[Eve]

Anaemia is a deficiency of red blood cells which are produced by bonemarrow. Iron and vitamin B12 are needed to make them hence why a lack of them can cause anaemia.

Red blood cells carry oxygen around your body (haemoglobin). As the heart pumps it carries the blood round your body through your arteries, they obtain oxygen in the lungs and carry it to other cells in your body.

The cells use the oxygen to fuel the combustion (burning) of sugar and fat which produces the body's energy (oxidation).

Carbon dioxide is then transported back to the lungs where it is exchanged for fresh oxygen by breathing.

Basically anaemia is the starvation of your body of oxygen hence the paleness, tiredness, shortness of breath and your heart having to beat faster to get what oxygen there is round your body to keep it functioning.

Hope this helps :)