Anaemia is a condition that develops when our blood does not contain enough healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin.
These cells are important for carrying oxygen around the body. Anaemia is caused by iron deficiency. Other conditions such as folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin A deficiencies, chronic inflammation, parasitic infections, etc. can also cause anaemia.
It can cause fatigue, weakness, dizziness and drowsiness. According to World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that one-third of all women of reproductive age group are anaemic. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable to suffering from anaemia.
Forty percent of pregnant women are anaemic. An estimated over 40 percent of children under 5 years of age are anaemic.
Red blood cell levels are low due to one of the following reasons:
– Your body cannot make enough red blood cells or hemoglobin.
– Your body makes hemoglobin, but the hemoglobin doesn’t work correctly.
– Your body breaks down red blood cells too quickly.
The most common cause of anemia is low levels of iron in the body. This type of anemia is called iron-deficiency anemia. Your body needs a certain amount of iron to make hemoglobin, the substance that moves oxygen throughout your body. However, iron-deficiency anemia is just one type.
Other types are caused by:
– Diets lacking in vitamin B12, or you can’t use or absorb Vitamin B12.
– Diets lacking in folic acid also called folate, or your body can’t use folic acid correctly.
– Inherited blood disorders like sickle cell anemia or thalassemia.
– Conditions that cause red blood cells to break down too fast.
– Chronic conditions cause your body to not have enough hormones to create red blood cells. These include hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, advanced kidney disease, lupus, and other long-term diseases.
– Blood loss; related to other conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, or gastritis.
Symptoms
– Tiredness, lethargy, lack of energy
– Shortness of breath
– Dry nails A pale complexion
– Feeling itchy
– A sore or abnormally smooth tongue.
– Difficulty in swallowing
– Painful ulcers (open sores) on the corners of your mouth
Preventive Measures
– Provide food that contains more iron.
– Provide green leafy vegetables like spinach regularly. Spinach contains a lot of iron.
– Different types of beans, fish, meat, liver, eggs also help to provide iron.