Statistics say that about half of the Indian population, across age groups, sexes and economic strata, is anaemic. Since anaemia - a condition when a person does not have enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells circulating in the body - affects both the efficiency and endurance of a person, you have to get rid of it if you want to realise your full potential.
The initial symptoms of are vague and non-specific - lack of energy, unexplained mental and physical fatigue, giddiness, headache, low body temperature and pallor. Pregnant woman and children may develop a perverted appetite (pica) with a desire to eat things such as clay, chalk, bricks or ice.
Anaemic women can have stillbirths or small unhealthy babies, and even die during childbirth. Anaemic children are smaller than their peers and have impaired cognition and problem solving skills. They perform poorly in school. They also have frequent respiratory and intestinal infections.
All the organs in the body require oxygen to function efficiently. As the anaemia worsens, the supply of oxygen lessens. Signals are sent to the heart, which has to pump harder to get sufficient oxygen to all organs. This can result in abnormal rhythms and even heart failure.
The most common cause of anaemia is deficiency of iron. Iron is present in lean meat, poultry and seafood. Vegetarians can get iron from lentils, legumes, soya products and nuts. Plants contain relatively less iron and much of it exists in combination with organic compounds called phytates, which making absorption difficult.
Anaemia can also result if there is sudden or chronic blood loss, like in heavy periods, piles or haemorrhoids, gastric or duodenal ulcers, or even worm infestation. In the case of chronic illnesses such as kidney or liver disease or heart failure, the body just may not produce enough red blood cells. This is called the "anaemia of chronic disease". Production may be affected by lack of vitamin B12 or folic acid. Sometimes the bone marrow shuts down and does not produce red blood cells, a condition called aplastic anaemia. This may occur due to radiation, exposure to toxins or as a reaction to certain medications. In some inherited conditions such as thalassaemia or sickle cell disease, the haemoglobin in the red blood cells is faulty.
Anaemia is confirmed with blood tests to determine the haemoglobin levels. Normal values is usually 13.7 g/dl in males, 12 g/dl in females and 11g/dl in children. Sometimes, vitamin B12 or folate levels, a bone marrow aspiration or haemoglobin electrophoresis may be required.
Gita Mathai is a paediatrician and author of Staying Healthy in Modern India . Mail your questions on health issues to yourhealthgm @yahoo.co.in |
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