KNOW YOUR HAEMOGLOBIN - REASON, CAUSES, AND PREVENTION OF ANAEMIA

Red blood cell contain a dark red chemical called haemoglobin which gives red color to the pale color blood. It gets combined to the oxygen in the blood and forms oxyhaemoglobin.  When blood travels through the body and this oxygen is being used up, oxyhaemoglobin releases the oxygen and turns back into haemoglobin.  Haemoglobin concentration can provide information about the severity of iron deficiency.  If haemoglobin level falls below the normal range, it is called anaemia. 

 Haemoglobin requirement varies from person to person according to -

• Age
• Gender
• Residential Elevation above sea level
• Smoking Habit
• Different Stages Of Pregnancy

CAUSES OF ANAEMIA

Not all the anaemia is caused by Iron Deficiency.  Other reasons include -

Iron or other nutritional deficiency (including folate, vitamin B12  and vitamin A).

 

Acute and chronic inflammation.

Parasitic infections.

Inherited or acquired disorders that affect haemoglobin synthesis, red blood cell production or red blood cell survival.

There is a change in iron level in the pregnant women which is a result of increase in blood volume and the iron needs of the foetus.  The concentration starts decreasing in the first three months and reaches the lowest during 4th-6th months of pregnancy (concentration level decreases upto 5 g/l during this period).  The level of iron starts increasing again during the last three months of pregnancy.

Smokers  have higher  value of  haemoglobin  concentration  than  non-smokers.  Smokers inhale carbon monoxide that combines with haemoglobin to form carboxyhaemolobin, which has no oxygen carrying capability. 

SYMPTOMS OF ANAEMIA

Depending on the severity, the symptoms of anaemia may include:

• Pale skin
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Tiredness
• Breathlessness
• Drop in blood pressure when standing from a sitting or lying position (orthostatic hypotension) – this may happen after acute blood loss, like a heavy period
• Frequent headaches
• Racing heart or palpitations
• Becoming irritated easily
• Concentration difficulties
• Cracked or reddened tongue
• Loss of appetite
• Strange food cravings.

IRON DEFFICIENCY AND ANAEMIA 

Lack of mineral iron in the body which is required to produce haemoglobin results in iron deficiency.  Anaemia is the third stage of this deficiency. 

In the first stage, there is an insufficient supply of iron, which causes iron stores in the bone marrow to be depleted. This stage generally has no symptoms.

In the second stage, iron deficiencies develop and begin to affect hemoglobin production.

In the third stage, hemoglobin production declines to the point where anemia develops.

If you are suffering from anaemia and the cause is iron deficiency than your doctor will recommend iron rich food and iron supplements.  A healthy diet provides the required amount of iron ( 1 mg of iron each day).  Requirement of iron intake increases at the time of menstruation in women (2 mg each day).

HOW TO DEAL WITH IRON DEFICIENCY 

Iron can be taken in two forms. 

Heme Iron

Non-Heme Iron

Heme Iron- These are the best source of iron.  This diet will help you in increasing  or maintaining healthy iron levels.  Such foods include (in decreasing order of iron-richness) clams, oysters, organ meats, beef, pork, poultry, and fish.  Animals are the suppliers of heme iron.  They are better absorbed than non-heme iron.

Non-Heme - Eggs, dairy products, and iron-containing vegetables have only the non-heme form. Such vegetable products include dried beans and peas, iron-fortified cereals, bread, and pasta products, dark green leafy vegetables (such as chard, spinach, mustard greens, and kale), dried fruits, nuts, and seeds.  Meat helps in absorbing non-heme iron better.  60% of the iron in the meat itself is in the non-heme form.  There are certain measures you can take to absorb non-heme iron in the food -

1) Meat and fish helps in absorbing non-heme iron.  They are also the best source of heme iron.

2) Vitamin C rich food are healthy and helps in absorbing non-heme iron.  Include broccoli, cabbage, citrus fruits, melon, tomatoes, lemon and strawberries  in your diet.

3) Riboflavin (vitamin B2) dairy products, liver, and dried fortified cereals helps in absorbing non-heme iron.

4) Cook in cast iron pans to increase iron content in food.

5) Vitamins B12 and folate are important for the prevention from anaemia and for good health.  The only natural dietary sources of B12 are animal products, such as meats, dairy products, eggs, and fish (clams and oily fish are very high in B12).  Folate is found in avocado, bananas, orange juice, cold cereal, asparagus, fruits, green leafy vegetables, dried beans and peas, and yeast.  The synthetic form, folic acid, is now added to commercial grain products. Vitamins are usually made from folic acid, which is about twice as potent as folate. 

6) Tamarind leaves are excellent source for raising haemoglobin. 

7) Iron blockers like tea, coffee, milk etc. should be avoided while taking iron supplements.

We tried to provide some general information about ANAEMIA and some dietary measures to increase your iron intake.  Iron deficiency is more common among women than men.  Women should take care of their diet especially during menstruation.  Taking balance diet will take care of all the vital nutrients in the body.  If it doesn't affect, visit your doctor and take advice.  Sometimes only diet may not be sufficient to balance your iron level, your doctor can prescribe you some iron supplements.  It is important to visit a doctor regularly, to make sure that the levels of hemoglobin in the body are within the normal range.

EAT HEALTHY AND STAY HEALTHY

References

cdc.gov.in

who

umm.edu

nhs