Anemia is a condition wherein there is a decrease in hemoglobin (red coloring and oxygen carrier of the blood) per unit volume of blood below the established normal level for a certain age and gender.
The World Health Organization description for anemia is below 12 gm Hb/dl of blood for women and below 14 gm Hb/dl for men; and a hematocrit below 34%
Problem Causes
• Iron deficiency-nutritional anemia
• Loss of blood-hemorrhagic anemia
• Deficiency of Vitamin B12 or folic acid-pernicious anemia
Having greater risk of developing anemia are those with increased iron requirement such as:
• frequent blood donor
• a woman having one pregnancy after another
• a woman with heavy menstrual bleeding
Note: Infections must be treated as these can easily depress blood formation.
• Weakness
• Easy fatigability
• Pallor (Paleness)
• Breathing difficulty on exertion
• Palpitation
• Headache
• "Deadtired" feeling
• Thin and brittle fingernails
Iron Deficiency Symptoms click here
Note: The diagnosis of anemia is based on analysis of blood constituents.
Helpful Dietary Management
• Eat high-protein diet with emphasis on other nutrients that aid red blood cell formation including iron, vitamin C and B-complex vitamins.
• Provide supplementary foods which are iron-rich for infants as early as 4 to 6 months.
No comments:
Post a Comment