Anemia, Lifestyle factors, Support and Prevention

 Introduction

The condition in which there is decreased number of red cells in your blood, is called anemia. It is also defined as reduced capacity of red cells to carry oxygen needed for vital functions of body. In second situation there is deficiency of hemoglobin, the pigment in red cells to which oxygen gets attached for transfer to cells of your body. The situation of such deficiency occurs either due to lack of sufficient production or increased rate of destruction of red cells. It may also arise when the all important red ,oxygen carrying pigment is not normal in structure or concentration.

Anemia is the most common health problem encountered worldwide. In majority of cases of anemia nutrition plays a major role in causing your anemia and bringing improvement. Once you come to know about your situation and the factors responsible, you will easily manage to regain your normal red cells volume. This ultimately brings back your life to normal status. Although there may be many different condition which manifest anemia as one of major concern,  some common life style changes are going to prove positive in all situations. Changes in your diet will stand most important factor in improving your anemic condition to normal.

Ÿ  Iron deficiency anemia needs improvement in your diet constituents. Adding more animal proteins can just help you improve your depleted iron and also prevent its occurrence. Richest sources of iron are fish, organ meat, beef and poultry products. Other good sources are eggs, dairy products, dried beans, peas, fortified cereals, green leafy vegetables, pasta, dry fruits, nuts and seeds.

Ÿ  Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia can be improved with adding dairy products, liver, fortified cereals and fish. These will also provide for folic acid needed for red

Ÿ  Your exercise routine must be reviewed. It always healthy to be active but your anemia may aggravate if you indulge in heavy workouts. Your health care provider will guide you about the degree of physical training you may be allowed until you get better.

Ÿ  Young age women, growing children have to be cared for most if they have anemia. Similarly aging individuals will be needing utmost care for food they eat. Females loosing blood in amounts in excess to normal during menses should be taking high animal protein diet and supplements if advised by health care provider. Parents must be cautious of their toddler’s eating habits. Junk food which don’t have any nutritional value have to be curtailed or stopped altogether.

Ÿ  Pregnancy anemia can impose threat to life of both you and your baby to be born, if you are woman in your reproductive age. Regular ante-natal checks on your red cell and hemoglobin is very important during second and third trimester. Any deficiency detected can easily be corrected before delivery. This will also avoid any growth problem in your developing fetus.

Ÿ  Taking vitamin C in supplement or fruits rich in its source will help in absorption of iron. Citrus fruits, cabbages, broccoli, melons, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C.

Ÿ  Bad habits should be curtailed or given up. Alcohol drinking, smoking, or any narcotic substance taken for recreational purpose is making your anemia more severe. You will feel change in your physical and mental well being once you keep away from health damaging habits.

Ÿ  Your anemia has reduced your mental and physical strength. In situation like this you are advised to take as much rest as possible till you show more improvement in your self. In addition your red cells and hemoglobin will show improvement too.

Prevention

Ÿ  Breast feeding your infant and giving your iron fortified milk will prevent iron deficiency in infants and younger children. In older children risk of anemia is avoided by giving diet rich in iron, vitamin B and C.

Ÿ  Maintaining standard hygiene will avoid parasitic infection, which have proven to be cause of chronic blood loss and iron deficiency anemia. Washing hands regularly before meals and after outside work should be a good habit. This is more to be stressed for women and children as they are more exposed.

Ÿ  Having gap of few years or limiting family two to three children will have long lasting effects on health of women. And it will also be of less burden on household expenditure. These factors may assist in preventing nutritional deficiencies in children and adult members. It will be more effective is parts where socioeconomic restrains are more significant factors. This will also help in risk factor of pregnancy related anemia.

Ÿ  Exposure to lead should be avoided, as this has proved to cause anemia. All safety measure should be taken if you are working at occupation like manufacturing batteries.

Ÿ  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause gastritis and aggravate gastric ulcer. They should be avoided if you have other risk factors for anemia.

Ÿ  Genetically inherited anemia can be prevented by counseling about risk to your coming generation if you had inherited anemia like sickle cell anemia.

Ÿ  If you are residing in malaria endemic country taking regular anti-malarial drugs as prevention, using mosquito repellant, mosquito nets will prevent from bite of infection carrying anopheles mosquito. 

6.0     Natural Treatment For Anemia

Folic acid

Found abundantly in leafy and green vegetables, beans and lentils, citrus fruits, seeds, nuts and carrots, folic acid is essential for overcoming anemia. Important for many cell-related functions and pregnancy, anemia due to the deficiency of folic acid makes a person susceptible to illnesses (J Health Popul Nutr. 2010 Aug;28(4):359-68). This life-altering water-soluble substance cannot be stored in the body for a long period of time, which is why it is necessary to introduce foods rich with it in the daily diet. It is also known as folate. Tiredness, lethargy and the paleness of the skin are common symptoms of folic acid deficiency.

Iron

Abundant in egg yolks, dried fruits, dark leafy green vegetables, mollusks, beans and giblets, iron is vital for safeguarding the body against anemia. Since the most common type of anemia happens to occur due to iron deficiency, it is advisable to keep a check on your blood iron level. It is, however, better to balance your body’s iron level through foods containing iron rather than taking supplements because the body isn’t really good at excreting iron and excessive iron (in the form of supplementation) could lead to poisoning (Better Health Channel, approved by Australian Centre for Blood Diseases). Iron helps in the formation hemoglobin, which takes oxygen from the lungs and distributes it to all the tissues of the body (The MRC Human Nutrition Research).

Selenium

Known to shelter cells from peroxidation of their membrane lipids, selenium is found in meats, seafood, dairy products and Brazil nuts. It’s deficiency is acknowledged to be one of the top factors of anemia (Life Support Syst. 1985;3 Suppl 1:36-40). Selenium is an important enzyme glutathione peroxidase. The enzyme protects oxidative damage to your cell membrane. Hence  it can be concluded that your red cells are also protected from damage if you take supplements containing selenium.

Vitamin B12

The most complex vitamin out there, vitamin B12 is found in seafood, meat, liver, cheese, fortified cereals and eggs. It’s deficiency (pernicious anemia) leads the body’s immune system to attack the healthy cells. Vitamin B12 is required to make red blood cells (RBCs) so they can carry oxygen throughout the body (medical reference from Healthwise).

Vitamin C

This water-soluble vitamin known as ascorbic acid is not created in the body and it’s deficiency leads invariably to anemia (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Iron and Iron Deficiency). Found in fruits such as berries, oranges, bell peppers, strawberries and cantaloupes, vitamin C plays a vital role in the absorption of iron in the body (Englard S, Seifter S. The biological functions of ascorbic acid. Ann Rev Nutr 1986;6:365-406. 1986)

Zinc

Obtained from meat. seafood, beans, yoghurt, lentils and cashew nuts, zinc is essential for the functioning of a hundred enzymes in the body. Many maintenance hemodialysis patience suffer from zinc-deficiency anemia thus the supplementation of zinc helps improve their condition (Ther Apher Dial. 2009 Jun;13(3):213-9). However, zinc should be taken in moderation because even though its deficiency causes anemia, its efficiency may also cause the same (Oktay Ozadam, Setting the Records Straight for Zinc and Anemia). Again, zinc is one of those natural ingredients that the body cannot store thus its daily intake is required.

Although being the most common health problem faced by general population, it is still an easily manageable red cells deficiency. Only and the most valuable measure is taking a diet rich in needed vitamins and minerals for red cells production. In situation where only dietary changes are not enough to bring improvement in your anemia, taking supplement, in consultation with your doctor will bring much quicker effects.