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What Causes Anemia? How to Treat Anemia and Spot the Symptoms

anemia

What is Anemia?

Anemia is a medical condition associated with iron deficiency. Many people with iron deficiency experience low energy, shortness of breath, headaches and dizziness – symptoms that develop when your red blood cell count (or hemoglobin) is lower than normal.

Hemoglobin is an iron-rich protein that enables red blood cells to take oxygen from your lungs and deliver it to the body’s vital tissues and organs. Not getting enough oxygen can lead to fatigue, weakness and other serious health complications. (x)

What Causes Anemia?

The most common cause of anemia is low iron levels in the blood. Without iron, red blood cells become low in hemoglobin, which prevents oxygen circulation throughout the body.  

When your body is severely iron deficient, it can’t produce hemoglobin, which in turn means that hemoglobin can’t transport carbon dioxide from body tissues to the lungs, leading to a host of health problems. (x)

For some people, anemia is a symptom of more serious illnesses like chronic bleeding in the stomach, kidney issues, cancer, or autoimmune diseases. (x)

Signs of Anemia

It’s easy to overlook the signs and symptoms of anemia because they mirror so many other conditions. In fact, most people don’t know they have anemia until they take a blood test.

Symptoms of anemia include:

Dangers of Anemia

Anemia is the result of an underlying condition and is a red flag for more serious health issues..

Iron deficiency anemia can cause more severe health issues related to organ damage and heart disease. Decreased oxygen levels put a heavy strain on your cardiovascular system, and force your heart to work harder to make up for the lack of red blood cells. Over time, this could damage or weaken your heart, potentially causing a heart attack, angina, or tachycardia (an irregular heartbeat) (x).

 Anemia is also common in pregnant women. Left untreated, it could result in premature birth, low birth weight, and possibly infant death. (x)

Types of Anemia

There are many different types of anemia, all with different causes and treatments:

Supplements for Anemia

While research is ongoing, scientists have identified several supplements that could relieve anemia symptoms, specifically by improving circulation and oxygen flow:

Iron Supplements for Anemia

Iron plays a role in energy production, immune function and more, making it a vital mineral for overall health.

Incorporating iron-rich foods in your diet can help alleviate iron deficiency anemia, but if your anemia is severe, you might need to add iron supplements to your nutrition routine. Iron rich foods include: sweet potatoes, beef, turkey, chicken, shrimp, spinach, broccoli, and kale.

Talk to your doctor before taking iron supplements to determine the best dosage for you, especially if you have a history of anemia.

Iron Suppement Powder

Iron Supplement Side Effects

When starting iron supplements, some people report an upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea, and black stools. To combat these side effects, try taking the iron supplement with food. Wait at least two hours after taking an iron supplement before drinking milk or eating other calcium-rich foods, or before taking antacids.

The Bottom Line

Think of anemia as your body sending a warning signal: it’s a sign that oxygen isn’t flowing to your organs, and could be indicative of a serious health condition. If you think you may have anemia, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible: the sooner you treat anemia’s underlying cause, the better you’ll feel.

Make sure you’re getting enough iron in your diet to reduce the risk of developing anemia, and if needed, try taking iron supplements to stay healthy. With sound nutrition and a doctor’s supervision, anemia is easy to treat.

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