In 90% of cases, anemia is caused by iron deficiency. Find out what signals the body gives and the risks of the health problem
Anemia is characterized by a low amount of hemoglobin in the blood. It can be caused by hereditary reasons or autoimmune diseases. But it is usually the result of an unbalanced diet deficient in nutrients, especially iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and protein. It is estimated that the vast majority of anemia cases (about 90%) are caused by a lack of iron in the body.
According to the Ministry of Health, children, pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and adult women in the reproductive stage are the groups most affected by the disease. Though men — of all ages — can also develop the condition.
“Anemia is not exactly a disease, but a complication usually accompanied by one or more pathologies. That’s why we usually call it anemic syndrome, and the correct diagnosis is essential to define the treatment, including the preventive one”, explains Dr. Ronald. Sergio, doctor of the HSANP hospital and Master in Hematology at the USP.
symptoms of anemia
Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency are non-specific. Therefore, it is necessary to perform laboratory blood tests that can confirm the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia. According to the Ministry of Health, the main signs and symptoms are:
- Generalized tiredness;
- Lack of appetite;
- Pallor of the skin and mucous membranes (inside of the eye and gums);
- Less willingness to work;
- Learning difficulties in children;
- Apathy.
Aftermath
The Ministry of Health warns about the main consequences of anemia:
- Decreased learning ability;
- Decrease in productivity at work;
- Growth retardation;
- Apathy (morbidity);
- Significant loss of cognitive abilities;
- Low birth weight and perinatal mortality.
Furthermore, it may be the leading cause of one in five deaths in pregnant women or be associated with up to 50% of deaths. These physical and mental health effects affect quality of life, productivity, and several factors can be the cause of disease, such as:
- In pregnant women: inadequate nutrition, non-use of prophylactic iron supplements, nutritional complications, parasites.
- During labour/delivery: early clamping of the umbilical cord, lack of breast milk in the first hour of life, parasites.
- In the first 6 months of life: absence of exclusive breastfeeding, early introduction of food and other milk, parasites.
- From 6 months: inadequate complementary feeding, low intake of heme iron, failure to use prophylactic iron supplements, high iron requirement, parasites.
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
