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RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
What does “iron-deficiency anemia”
mean, and what are the symptoms?
Anemia, in general, means the number of red blood cells, or the amount of
hemoglobin they carry, is low. This results in limited oxygen to the lungs
and other parts of the body. As hemoglobin is the iron-containing
oxygen-transport “metalloprotein” in red blood cells, iron-deficiency anemia
is the most common type of anemia.
Iron-deficiency anemia, for example, can occur due to uterine fibroids in
women. In this case, red blood cells are lost due to excess bleeding. This
causes the deficiency in iron. The symptoms include shortness of breath or
rapid heartbeat and/or chest pains. You may also experience diarrhea and
abdominal discomfort because your stomach acid is low, making digestion
difficult.
Other symptoms include fatigue and depression as well as dry mouth and spoon
like fingernails. Lack of iron also affects the thyroid hormone.
Blood tests can determine whether you have iron-deficiency anemia however,
take note that if not taken care of you can experience neurological
disorders. These disorders affect the central nervous system - your brain
and spinal cord, peripheral and cranial nerves - and/or the autonomic
nervous system. This can result in migraines and tension headaches, sleep
disorders or speech disorders, stroke...and in more severe cases, cerebral
palsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, to name a few.
Once diagnosed, taking a high quality iron supplement can usually correct
this deficiency. Because your bone marrow, which produces red blood cells,
uses vitamin B12 and folic acid, it is also recommended that you supplement
with these products as well. Consult your health practitioner for the
recommended dosages.
It is important to take vitamin C with B12 as vitamin C maximizes the
assimilation of B12. Avoid alcohol and coffee as these inhibit B12
absorption.
If you are experiencing digestive issues, you may want to take a high
quality Acidophilus supplement. This improves the intestinal flora required
to manufacture nutrients. Digestive enzymes are also important as they
maximize digestion.
Aside from supplements, calf liver is an excellent choice for a meal once or
twice a week, and consume plenty of green, leafy vegetables. (Please consult
your health practitioner for more expert advice as this article offers
general information only.)
To have your questions answered by our panel of Experts, email
experts@risingwomen.com
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