What Are The Symptoms Of Sideroblastic Anemia?

Heart Palpitations

Frequent heart palpitations can be a symptom indicative of sideroblastic anemia. Heart palpitations are best described as when an individual feels like their heart is beating too fast, too hard, fluttering, or skipping beats. This sensation can occur in the individual's neck, chest, or throat. While heart palpitations may occur in healthy individuals after the consumption of certain substances or engaging in intense physical activity, frequent episodes while at rest or engaging in normal movement can be a warning sign of sideroblastic anemia.

The reason for this manifestation in affected individuals is due to the same mechanism that causes breathing difficulties. The brain detects poor oxygen delivery to bodily tissues, and it signals both the heart and lungs to work faster and harder to oxygenate the blood better and quicker. When the heart is beating abnormally fast, it is commonly felt in the form of heart palpitations. Because this homeostatic reaction does not actually compensate for the shortage of hemoglobin in the blood, it is a symptom that frequently occurs until the deficiency of hemoglobin is corrected.