As a child, maybe around the ages of eight to twelve years, I dabbled a little bit in pica. As I recall, it was only at my grandparents' house; I don't think I ever did it at home. But maybe I never got in trouble for it at home or my mother never noticed. But my Grandma Helen would really get after me: "Don't chew on ice; you'll become anemic." She was one of the world's great worriers. Most of the time her fears were pretty groundless, but on the ice-chewing stuff, as I found out in one college class that had something to do with my zoology major, she was rather close to being right. Chewing on ice, one form of pica, may be a symptom of anemia. (Pica also manifests as chewing on hair, dirt, grass, sand, pebbles, and other non-food items. I never did any of those things.) Of course, as in my case it may also be absolutely nothing.
There are numerous types of anemia, many of which cannot be prevented and will not be able to be identified without functioning medical laboratories, so they will not be covered here. In general, the causes for anemia can be broken down into three classes:
- blood loss--major trauma and gastrointestinal bleeding;
- increased breakdown of red blood cells (diseases like malaria and sickle cell anemia and autoimmune diseases--these have symptoms of bone deformities and leg ulcers); and
- decreased blood cell production (iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency; thalassemia--a genetic disease; and tumors of the blood, lymph, or bone--symptoms include jaundice).
This post will focus on the mild to moderate iron deficiency and anemia that is due to inadequate dietary intake or absorption.
Anemia is a common blood disorder affecting about 1/3 of the population
worldwide. Anemia stemming from iron deficiency afflicts about one
billion people worldwide and accounts for approximately 200,000 deaths
each year. In the developing world about two-thirds of women and
children are iron-deficient; one-third of these are severely deficient
or anemic. In the United States, 12% of all women of
child-bearing age are iron-deficient, while this is true for only 2% of
men in the same age group. Up to 20% of African-Americans and Hispanics
are deficient in iron as well.
Anemia is a condition marked by a decrease in the number of red blood
cells circulating in the body. Hemoglobin, which is what makes red
blood cells red, is composed of iron. Without enough iron or hemoglobin
in the blood, the red blood cells can't bind oxygen. Without adequate
oxygen, we fatigue easily and the body is unable to carry out many
essential functions.
Iron deficiency is the most common
nutritional deficiency worldwide. While most cases of iron deficiency
anemia
are mild, the consequences are far-reaching because mild to moderate
deficiency results in poor school performance and lower IQ. In the US,
the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is bleeding, especially
from the gastrointestinal tract. Worldwide, the most common causes are
parasitic in nature--whip worms, hookworms, schistosomiasis, and
amebiasis.
A severe iron deficiency results in anemia, and if left untreated, can
retard growth in
infants and children and can cause heartbeat irregularities and
complications in
pregnancy for others. Iron deficiency can also lead to fatigue,
dizziness, hair loss, muscle twitches, and irritability. In severe
anemia, there may be increased cardiac output, as well as palpitations,
angina, and symptoms of heart failure.
Unfortunately, symptoms of anemia are common to many conditions and
illnesses. Fatigue, weakness, diminished ability to exercise, and
shortness of breath characterize anemia that develops slowly. Anemia
that comes on quickly is marked by confusion, lightheadedness, thirst,
and loss of consciousness. Interestingly, anemia must be rather
significant before a person actually looks pale.
In iron deficiency anemia, the sclera (white) of the eye may take on a bluish tinge; spoon nails (normally convex nails become
flat or concave) may also develop.
Iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient dietary intake which is
essential to compensate for gastrointestinal bleeding, heavy menstrual
bleeding, or frequent blood donations. Iron deficiency anemia may also
be due to inadequate folate (vitamin B9) and/or cyanocobalamin (vitamin
B12) intake or absorption which can be attributed to a wide variety of
causes--age, autoimmune diseases, gastric bypass, hypothyroidism, or
alcoholism. Inadequate folate intake/absorption does not normally
produce neurological symptoms, while insufficient intake/absorption of
B12 normally does.
Chronic iron-deficiency anemia may cause behavioral problems in children
who as infants lacked adequate iron. It results in reduced academic
success in school-age children, and it causes restless leg syndrome in
adults.
Risk factors for developing anemia due to iron deficiency include
inflammatory bowel disease, untreated celiac disease, gluten
sensitivity, Helicobacter pylori infections and stomach ulcers, Crohn's disease, vegetarianism, pregnancy, and being over the age of 65.
Foods high in iron include red meat, lentils, beans, poultry, fish, and leafy green vegetables. The
bioavailability of iron (the ability of the body to absorb iron) is
increased when iron is consumed at the same time as vitamin C.
There are some foods to avoid to increase iron absorption: excess
sugar, coffee, black tea (herbal is fine), soda, and dark chocolate.
Sad.
Supplement use is generally acceptable in pregnant women, women with
heavy menstrual bleeding, and those who frequently donate blood.
Otherwise, supplemental iron should not be used unless the specific
cause of anemia has been ascertained and supplementation is warranted
and recommended by a physician.
Related posts:
Vitamin C deficiency
Calcium deficiency
Magnesium deficiency
Vitamin D deficiency
Hypothyroidism
For further information (all articles accessed 6 March 2019):
https://draxe.com/anemia-symptoms/
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/anemia/article_em.htm#anemia_causes
https://www.healthline.com/health/iron-deficiency-anemia
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/anemia
https://www.medicinenet.com/anemia/article.htm
1 may 2019
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