Anemia in Spanish

What it means

Anemia is a condition that develops when the blood produces a lower-than-normal amount of healthy red blood cells. With anemia, the body does not get enough oxygen-rich blood, and the lack of oxygen can make a person feel tired or weak. The word covers a group of conditions: there are many types of anemia, and MedlinePlus gives three main causes, which are blood loss, lack of red blood cell production, and high rates of red blood cell destruction. Anemia may come about suddenly or over time, and it can also be chronic, meaning it lasts a long time. A doctor diagnoses anemia with a physical exam and blood tests, and treatment depends on the kind of anemia a person has.

Anemia in Spanish

Spanish term: Anemia
Gender and article: feminine: la anemia
Pronunciation: ah-NEH-myah

Anemia is written the same way in Spanish and English. The Real Academia Española dictionary records it as a feminine noun and defines it as estado patológico producido por una disminución del contenido de hemoglobina en la sangre y, generalmente, de los glóbulos rojos; the same entry gives the Greek origin of the word with the meaning carencia de sangre. MedlinePlus en español and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) both write la anemia.

The names of the types add a second part to the word. NHLBI's Spanish page lists anemia por deficiencia de hierro, anemia por deficiencia de vitamina B12 and anemia hemolítica, and MedlinePlus en español mentions anemia aplásica and anemia falciforme. The Real Academia Española dictionary has the entry anemia de células falciformes. NHLBI describes mild anemia as anemia leve and says anemia can also be crónica, which it explains as lasting a long time.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Clinician	Your blood test shows that you have anemia.	Su análisis de sangre muestra que tiene anemia.
Patient	What kind of anemia do I have?	¿Qué tipo de anemia tengo?
Clinician	We do not know yet; first we need to find out what is causing it.	Todavía no lo sabemos; primero tenemos que averiguar qué la está causando.
Clinician	Have you had dizziness, headaches or the feeling that your heartbeat is irregular?	¿Ha tenido mareos, dolores de cabeza o la sensación de que el corazón le late de forma irregular?
Patient	I feel cold all the time, and I run out of breath when I walk fast.	Siento frío todo el tiempo, y me falta el aire cuando camino rápido.
Clinician	Has anyone in your family had anemia or another blood disorder?	¿Alguien de su familia ha tenido anemia u otro trastorno de la sangre?
Patient	I was told I had anemia during my pregnancy. Is this the same problem?	Me dijeron que tenía anemia durante el embarazo. ¿Es el mismo problema?
Patient	Is my anemia mild, and will it go away?	¿Mi anemia es leve? ¿Se me va a quitar?

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Anemia
Spanish (Español)	Anemia
Chinese (中文)	貧血
Korean (한국어)	빈혈
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Thiếu máu
Filipino (Tagalog)	Anemia
Portuguese (Português)	Anemia
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	โลหิตจาง
Japanese (日本語)	貧血

Where you'll see it

chartEOBmedical recordreferralprescription

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: D64 → Other anemias

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Blood and immune system

All terms in this area: Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.