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Anemia is a condition caused when the healthy red blood cells in the body start reducing. The low red blood cell count results in a low hemoglobin count. The hemoglobin is the substance that provides protein for the body. It transports the oxygen from the lungs to the full body. Thus bodies which are afflicted with anemia do not get enough blood with oxygen. When the oxygen is low, then the organs and tissues get damaged. Thus the effects of anemia are that the heart works at a harder rate. As anemia symptoms are seen, these signs should be treated well.
Anemia Symptoms – Anemia in Women
It has been found that women face the highest risk of anemia. Women need more iron than men. While women give birth to children, they lose a lot of iron. Besides, during menstruation, women lose a lot of blood iron content. Basic signs of anemia, like fatigue, headaches, are normally neglected by women and they don’t treat these anemia symptoms well. Sometimes this proves fatal when an undiagnosed anemia results in premature delivery, or infertility in women.
Pregnancy and Anemia Symptoms
It has been observed that pregnant women get anemic very fast. Women should know that they should be consuming double iron supplements when they are pregnant. This is to provide for themselves and the child to be born. This is to prepare for the body to be ready even during the loss of blood during delivery. Anemia in pregnant women also causes a lot of weakness. Besides, the woman feels weak, has heart palpitations and shows a level of paleness in her complexion. The woman feels more stressed out than usual. Thus it is advisable that women take an iron content test in their first pre natal visit.
Anemia Symptoms and Diet
It is important that once the woman knows and understands that she is anemic, she should start focusing on her problem and look out for any more signs of anemia. It has been seen that vegetarians fall prey to anemia easily as they do not take meat which is the major provider of iron. But vegetarians could compensate by always including iron containing vegetables like spinach in their diet. Women with menopausal hormone problems should take more iron as this helps to compensate the loss of blood in the body. Sometimes intrauterine devices cause a lot of bleeding and thus cause anemia symptoms. Besides this, any kind of blood loss, like blood loss due to peptic ulcer disease, or colon cancer, should be taken care of immediately. Chronic inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis should be kept under watch. Sickle cell anemia is a disease caused due to inherited effects.
Common Anemia Symptoms
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Dizzy spells
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Numb cold feet or hands
- Pale complexion
- Brittle nails
- Chest pain
- Lack of concentration
- Irritable mood
- Irregular heartbeat
- Desire to eat ice or strange things
- Sexual dysfunction
It is observed that chewing ice is a classic anemia symptom. This is because this abnormal craving for food comes out of iron deficiency. It is called pica. Besides ice, anemic people feel like eating starch, paper, clay etc. This is very
common.
There is no way to find out if the signs of anemia are really related to anemia. So the doctor
asks for a complete blood count test. If the results show that there is anemia, then it is understood that the anemia symptoms were caused due to lack of oxygen. It is advised that such a condition is treated immediately.
Treatment of anemia symptoms includes bringing the hemoglobin level to normal range.
It is possible to bring back the hemoglobin level through blood transfusion. If the blood transfusion isn’t done, then the body should be in a position to manufacture new blood cells. This is possible by supplying the body with the necessary iron supplements thus increasing the capacity to produce red blood cells.
Anemia Symptoms in Children
Signs of anemia are normally diagnosed by the pediatrician in small children when he is performing a routine blood test. This diagnosis normally happens during the check up when the child is nine months old. As the iron is low, the blood counts are low and make the child feel tired, and have a pale skin. The child is irritable and moody. Diet should be given focus for a child with a low hemoglobin count. The child becomes healthier with the consumption of iron.
