|
|  |
| |
|
| | The Smart Healthy Toxic-Free and Organic/Green Living Network is not currently active and cannot accept new posts | | Iron-Deficiency Anemia | Views: 332 | | Feb 19, 2007 6:22 am | | Iron-Deficiency Anemia | # | 
Connie Clark | |
Our bodies need iron to make hemoglobin which works in red blood cells to make oxygen. Iron deficiency anemia, a condition in which the red blood cells that carry oxygen to tissues are unable to do so effectively, is caused when there is too little iron. The National Institutes of Health wrote, “Iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia. Approximately 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men are iron deficient… Iron is normally obtained through the food in your diet and by recycling iron from old red blood cells. Without it, the blood cannot carry oxygen effectively – and oxygen is needed for the normal functioning of every cell in the body.”
So what causes iron deficiency? There are a number of reasons but I will give the most common ones here:
Too little iron in your diet. Young women and some children are more susceptible to low iron levels because of irregular eating habits, fad diets, and/or lack of iron-rich foods.
Loss of blood. This may be the most common reason for iron deficiency anemia in adults. Women with a heavy menstrual flow can cause anemia since they have smaller stores of iron than men do and lose a lot of blood during their period. Also, internal bleeding from taking asprin or similar medicines for a long time, ulcers, or even cancers can also account for low iron levels.
Pregnancy. Pregnant or breastfeeding women need to eat more iron-rich foods or take iron supplements. They need more than two times the amount of iron as men do to serve their own increased volume of blood as well as for their growing child.
The good news is that iron deficiency anemia is a very treatable condition! With changes in your diet and iron supplementation (according to your physicians recommendations), blood counts can return to normal within a couple of months. But the best way to treat this form of anemia is through prevention. Included are some healthy tips below that may help.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
Symptoms:
Pale skin
Drowsiness, fatigue
Soreness/inflammation of the tongue
Headaches, lightheadedness
Brittle nails
Accelerated heartbeat
Cold hands and feet
Poor appetite (especially in children)
Shortness of breath
Restless leg syndrome (an uncomfortable tingly sensation in your legs)
Odd food cravings
* note: If iron deficiency anemia is mild you may not notice any symptoms.
Foods Rich in Iron:
Meat (easily absorbed by the body)
Seafood
Dried fruits (prunes, raisins, apricots, etc.)
Nuts and seeds
Beans (especially lima beans)
Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach or broccoli (less easily absorbed by the body)
Whole-grains
Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas.
HEALTHY TIPS
If you believe you might have iron deficiency anemia consult your doctor to find the cause of the deficiency.
Iron supplements are usually needed during pregnancy and lactation.
Incorporate the foods rich in iron (listed above) into your diet.
Children need extra iron during growth spurts for their muscle development. A healthy diet helps to ensure this.
If you are vegetarian you may need additional iron supplements/pills because grains/vegetables are not as readily absorbed into the body as meats are.
Important: iron pills should only be taken under doctor supervision. Too much iron can damage your liver and have other negative side affects.
Take daily multivitamins containing iron.
Vitamin C tablets or in citrus juices helps your body absorb iron from both animals and plants.
Avoid foods that block iron absorption such as coffee, tea, egg yolk, milk, fiber and soy proteins.
RESOURCES
familydoctor.org
http://familydoctor.org/009.xml?printxml
MayoClinic.com
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=DS00323
Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000584.htm
Warmly,
Connie
Private Reply to Connie Clark | | |
| |
| |
