Anemia- Are you at risk?

Looking pale? Feeling weak and tired? There’s a quick blood test available to assess whether anemia is to blame – and if so, whether it’s caused by iron-poor blood or something else.

Anemia is a condition in which there is a shortage of red cells in the blood or a deficiency of hemoglobin (the pigment that carries oxygen) in these cells. When anemia occurs, the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, and weakness and fatigue result. Although symptoms may not appear – or may be very mild – for a long time, the condition can be life threatening, if left undiagnosed and untreated.

Before taking medication to correct anemia, one needs to determine the underlying cause of the condition. Anemia can be a result of deficiency of either of the following nutrients:

• Iron
• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B12

Iron deficiency, is the most common cause of anemia. It usually results from a gradual, prolonged blood loss, which depletes the body’s iron reserves. Without enough iron, hemoglobin levels fall.

Though largely diagnosed in menstruating women, particularly those whose periods are heavy, both men and women can develop this problem as a result of any condition that causes slow and prolonged bleeding.

Less common is anemia that results from a deficiency of Vitamin B12 or folic acid. As both these nutrients are essential in production of red blood cells, deficiency of either can cause anemia. Alcoholics, smokers, people with certain digestive disorders, vegetarians, those over the age of 50, pregnant or lactating women are most likely to be at risk because of poor nutrition or an inability to absorb these nutrients properly.

Symptoms

• Weakness, fatigue, dizziness, irritability or mental confusion.

• Paleness, especially of the gums and eyelids or under the nails.

• Palpitations; shortness of breath.

• Sores in the mouth or tongue; unusual bruising or bleeding.

• Numbness and tingling of the feet or legs.

• Nausea and diarrhea.

The most common and simple way to deal with anemia is to eat foods rich in Iron (such as dried beans, liver, red meat, dried fruits, nuts and shellfish);Folic acid (citrus fruits, asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, liver, soybeans, and wheat gram); and vitamin B12 (liver, shellfish, lamb, beef, cheese, fish and eggs).