A person with anemia has thin blood. This happen when blood is lost or destroyed faster than his body can replace it. Blood loss from large wounds, bleeding ulcers or dysentry can cause anemia.So can the monthly bleeding (menstrual period) of women, if they do not eat the food their body need.
A diet lacking meat, dark green leafy vegetables, and other foods rich in iron can cause anemia or make it worse.
In children anemia can come from not eating foods rich in iron. It can also come from breast feeding or bottle feeding after 6 months without giving other foods too. Other common causes of anemia include malaria, hookworm, chronic infection such as diarrhea or sickle cell disease.
The signs of anemia are:
- Pale or transparent skin
- Pale insides of eyelids
- Pale gums
- White fingernails
- Weakness and fatigue
- If the anemia is very severe, face and feet may be swollen, the heartbeat rapid, and the person may have shortness of breath.
- Women and Children who like to eat dirt are usually anemic.
Treatment and prevention of anemia:
- Eat foods rich in iron. Meat, fish, chicken and eggs are high in iron. Liver is especially high. Dark green leafy vegetables, beans, peas and lentils also have some iron.
- If foods rich in iron are hard to get, or if the anemia is severe, the person should take iron (ferrous sulfate) pills. This is especially important for pregnant women who are anemic. For nearly all cases of anemia, ferrous sulfate tablets are much better than liver extracts or vitamin B12. As a general rule, iron should be given by mouth, not injected, because iron injections are dangerous.
- If the anemia is caused by dysentry (diarrhea with blood), hookworm, malaria, or another disease, this should also be treated.
- If the anemia is severe or does not get better, seek medical help. This is especially important for a pregnant woman.
Many women are anemic. This is often because they do not eat enough foods rich in iron to replace the blood they lose during menstrual periods or with child-birth. Anemic women run a greater risk of miscarriage and of dangerous bleeding in childbirth. For this reason it is very important that women eat beans, dark green vegetables, and as much meat, chicken, and eggs as possible, especially during pregnancy. Family planning-allowing 2 to 3 years between pregnancies-lets the woman regain strength and make new blood.
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Health Tips
Non-FictionContains lot of important notes that would teach readers alot about health Medical issues. A very helpful book indeed. Adapted from 'Where there is no Doctor'.
