Anemic and life

My neice just got told she's anemic three months ago and has been battling it since, but recovering from anemia can be far more complicated than just taking iron supplements.

 

Anemia is a common blood disorder that occurs when your blood doesnt have enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.  Most commonly, anemia is caused from iron deficiency either caused from poor eating, blood loss, pregnancy, or growth spurts, and chemotherapy.

 

Symptoms can include:

Often, no symptoms

Paleness

Feeling tired

Unusual shortness of breath during exercise

Fast heartbeat

Cold hands and feet

Brittle nails

Headaches

It can take years of eating an iron deficient diet for a person to become anemic as iron is stored in the liver and can be taken from there.

Things you should know about taking iron supplements.  Like other vitamins andminerals iron works with other vitamins and minerals to be properly absorbed and utilized in the body.  Both B12 and Vitamin C are essential to absorbing and utilizing Iron so deficiency in one may contribute to deficiency in the other. However, vitamin C should not be taken at the same time as your iron supplements and should be taken on an empty stomach. Also, some foods inhibit the absorbtion of iron such as dairy products, tea, coffee, ice cream, alcohol, and chocolate and should be avoided as much as possible.

 

It can take up to two months for a person to get back to feeling normal after starting iron supplements but it can take 8-12 months for stores of iron in the liver get back to normal.

 

Anemia if severe and untreated can lead to heart failure and pregnancy problems (if your pregnant of course) such as premature delivery and amnion rupture.

 

Foods High in Iron:

Liver and other meats

Seafood

Dried fruits like apricots, prunes and raisins

Nuts

Beans, especially lima beans

Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli

Blackstrap molasses

Whole grains

Iron-fortified breads and cereals (check the label)