Anemia and COPD

My father has stage II COPD and experiences major effects from loss of energy due to anemia.  What treatments are available for this combination of diseases?

[National Jewish Health]

Oxygen uptake and transfer to the tissues is often impaired by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even when the COPD is characterized as not severe.  When blood oxygen levels are low, the body's normal physiologic response is to increase the number of red blood cells (RBCs) in the circulation.  The last thing a person with COPD should have, is a lower than normal level of red blood cells, which is called anemia.

COPD does not cause anemia.  Your father should have a careful evaluation of his anemia by an internal medicine doctor, ideally one who specializes in hematology.  Once the cause of his anemia is determined, it can be effectively treated, in the majority of cases.  For those whose bodies, for whatever reason, cannot increase the production of RBCs with conventional therapies, there is Erythropoietin (EPO).  Finally, when this is ineffective, blood transfusions can be part of the solution.

Do arrange for your father to see an anemia specialist and do not delay.  His condition can be improved.

[nana68]

A related discussion, asthmatic bronchitis? was started.