Anemia

Causes and Symptoms

Anemia is a symptom caused by a myriad of conditions. These conditions include iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, vitamin C deficiency, Vitamin E deficiency, vitamin B6 deficiency, and thyroid disorders.

• Iron deficiency anaemia : The most common form of anaemia which is usually due to nutricial deficiency of iron or chronic blood loss caused by excessive menstruation or accident.
• Pernicious anaemia : a condition in which the body can't make enough healthy red blood cells because it doesn't have enough vitamin B12. People who have pernicious anaemia can't absorb enough vitamin B12 due to a lack of intrinsic factor (a protein made in the stomach). Without enough vitamin B-12, the body will produce abnormally large red blood cells called macrocytes. Because of their large size, these abnormal cells may not be able to leave the bone marrow, where red blood cells are made, and enter the bloodstream. This decreases the amount of oxygen-carrying red blood cells in the bloodstream and can lead to fatigue and weakness.
• Thalassaemia : an inherited blood disorder which cause the body to make fewer healthy red blood cells and less haemoglobin (an iron-rich protein in red blood cells).
• Aplastic anaemia : a blood disorder in which the body's bone marrow doesn't make enough new blood cells. This may result in a number of health problems including arrhythmias, an enlarged heart, heart failure, infections and bleeding.
• Haemolytic anaemia : Haemolytic anaemia is a condition in which red blood cells are destroyed and removed from the bloodstream before their normal lifespan is up. A number of diseases, conditions and factors can cause the body to destroy its red blood cells. Haemolytic anaemia can lead to various health problems such as fatigue, pain, arrhythmias, an enlarged heart and heart failure.
• Sickle cell anaemia : a serious disease in which the body makes sickle-shaped ("C"-shaped) red blood cells. Normal red blood cells are disk-shaped and move easily through your blood vessels. Red blood cells contain the protein haemoglobin (an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red colour and carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body). Sickle cells contain abnormal haemoglobin that causes the cells to have a sickle shape, which don’t move easily through the blood vessels – they are stiff and sticky and tend to form clumps and get stuck in the blood vessels.
• Fanconi anaemia : Fanconi anaemia, or FA, is a rare, inherited blood disorder that leads to bone marrow failure. FA is a type of aplastic anaemia that prevents your bone marrow from making enough new blood cells for your body to work normally. FA can also cause your bone marrow to make many abnormal blood cells. This can lead to serious health problems, such as leukemia.

Home remedies

• Shilajit can be used as treatment for diabetes, gallstones, Kidney Stones (Renal Calculi), Heart Disease, anemia, anxiety, ulcers, asthma, arthritis, epilepsy and jaundice.
• Cherries help treat gout, arthritis, rheumatism and anaemia due to their high iron content.
• Fresh fruits are not really rich in iron, but they are rich in vitamin C
• Bananas contain relatively large amounts of iron which helps in the production of RBCs and in stimulating the growth of hemoglobin in the body which can help in cases of anemia.
• Lentils and beans : On top of the list of beans with iron is the natto bean, where 100 grams of cooked beans can provide 48 percent of the RDA.
• Apple cider vinegar as acts like vitamin C as a reducing agent to increase absorption of iron.
• maca
• Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, rare as it may be, is still a concern. In the past, B12 injections used to be the norm. Vegans were always targeted for B12 deficiency, but those days are long gone. Despite the common source of B12 being found in flesh foods, there are others that never make the mainstream press. Seed yogurts, unboiled miso, sunflower seeds, grapes, seaweed (kelp, arame, dulse, hijiki, etc) and even organic sulfur crystals provide enough B12 to satisfy what the body needs.
• Green vegetables are almost all good sources of iron. Topping the list of green vegetables with high iron content is fresh parsley.
• nuts : Almost all types of nuts have iron content. The best source perhaps is coconut.
• seafood : the highest in iron content are the shellfish.
• Sea vegetables, on the other hand, can provide more than iron. Sea vegetables, such as the sea lettuce, nori, wakame, kelp, arame, agar-agar and hijiki, also has rich source of vitamin C, which can help in the absorption of iron in the body.
• A tablespoon of blackstrap molasses can already provide 20 percent of the required daily allowance for iron.
• There is no doubt that the richest source of iron comes from animal sources, particularly the red meat.

Warnings

There are many things that can lead to a lack of iron in the body. In men and post-menopausal women, the most common cause is bleeding in the stomach and intestines. This can be caused by a stomach ulcer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, or by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Only a General practitioner can make a propre diagnosis.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be substituted for medical advice. Always consult a medical professional regarding any medical problems and before undertaking any treatment or dietary changes.