The 10 Causes of Anemia That Many Ignore!

The 10 Causes of Anemia that Many Ignore can be very important for an effective treatment against Anemia . In addition, Anemia  is generally defined as a decrease in the amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood . It can also be defined as a decrease in the blood ‘s ability  to carry oxygen. When Anemia  is slow-onset, symptoms are often vague and may include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, or decreased ability to exercise  .

When it comes on quickly, symptoms are more evident, including a state of confusion, feeling light-headed, loss of consciousness, or increased thirst. Only when disease progression  is significant does pallor become evident. The remaining symptoms depend on the underlying cause of the Anemia .

Causes of Anemia that Many Ignore:  The reasons for anemia  due to iron deficiency, in relation to children and pregnant women, are determined in a basic way, the insufficient intake of foods  that are sources of iron, and / or with low bioavailability.

In pregnant women, anemia can also be caused by  preconceptional low iron stores and high mineral requirements  due to the formation of maternal and fetal tissues. Anemia occurs when the blood does   not have enough red blood cells. This can happen if:

• The body  does not produce the necessary amount of red blood cells.
• Bleeding causes red blood cells to be lost faster than they can be replaced.
• The body itself  destroys red blood cells.

The body produces 3 types of blood cells , white blood cells to fight infection, platelets to help the blood clot, and red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, an iron –  rich protein that gives blood  its red color.

Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen from their own lungs to all parts of the body  and to carry carbon dioxide from other parts of the body to the lungs so that it can be exhaled.

Most blood cells , including red blood cells, are regularly produced in the bone marrow itself, a red, spongy material found within the cavities of many large bones. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, the body  needs iron , vitamin B12 , folate, and other nutrients from the food  consumed.

Anemia is can have several causes such as iron deficiency ,  vitamin deficiency , anemia of  chronic disease  , aplastic, those associated with  bone marrow disease , hemolytic, sickle cell,  Diamond Blackfan anemia, and others . Among the various types of Anemia , there are 3 main ones:

• Aplastic Anemia: This   very rare life-threatening anemia is caused by a reduction in the bone marrow’s ability to produce red blood cells. The causes of aplastic anemia  include infections, drugs and autoimmune diseases  .
• Hemolytic Anemias:  This group of Anemia  develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them. Some blood disorders  can cause increased destruction of red blood cells. It is possible to inherit a Hemolytic Anemia  or it is possible to develop it later in life.
• Diamond Blackfan anemia:  This is a congenital erythroid aplasia that usually presents in childhood. And it causes low red blood cell counts, anemia , without substantially affecting the other blood components , which are usually normal.

Symptoms of Anemia:  The signs and symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia   are nonspecific, requiring laboratory tests ( blood ) to confirm the diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anemia . The main signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia   are:

• generalized fatigue
• Anorexia (lack of appetite)
• Pale skin  and mucous membranes (inner part of the eye, gums)
• Less willingness to work
• Learning difficulties in children
• Apathy (very “still” children).

Treatment for Anemia:  Iron can be supplied to the  body by foods of animal and plant origin. Iron from animal sources is better used by the body.  Red meatsare the best sources of iron , especially liver of any animal and other viscera (offals), such as kidney and heart ; poultry and fish, raw seafood.

Contrary to what many people think, milk and eggs are not important sources of iron . However, there are already iron-enriched milks on the market, which help fight Anemia .

Among the foods of vegetable origin,  dark green leafy vegetables (except spinach), such as watercress, cabbage, parsley, taioba  , stand out as a source of iron ; legumes (beans, fava beans, chickpeas, peas, lentils); whole or enriched grains; walnuts and chestnuts, cane molasses, brown sugar, brown sugar. Foods  enriched with iron  such as wheat and corn flours, breakfast cereals, among others, are also available on the market .

The presence of ascorbic acid, available in citrus fruits , and protein  -rich foods  in the meal improves the absorption of iron from plant products such as: broccoli, beets, cauliflower and others.

On the other hand, there are some factors (phosphates, polyphenols, tannins, calcium ) that can inhibit the absorption of iron , present in coffee, tea, mate, whole grains, milk and derivatives. It is noteworthy that breast milk is considered a protective factor against iron deficiency anemia   due to the high bioavailability of existing iron  .

Studies show an association of Anemia  in children who had a short time of exclusive breastfeeding, prolonged feeding with cow’s milk and with the introduction of early complementary feeding.