Feeling tired or generally exhausted are key
symptoms of anemia. Other common indicators of anemia are:
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you feel particularly tired after exercising
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you may also have a malabsorption problem (Crohn's
disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease), which can cause internal
bleeding and anemia
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you are more prone to catching colds, infections
and the flu
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you may often feel cold and look pale or generally
unwell.
This list contains some of the more common
symptoms associated with anemia.
How does anemia contribute to tiredness?
Most people think that anemia indicates a
deficiency of the mineral iron. This is partly true and partly untrue.
The actual term 'anemia' means that your blood
doesn't have enough 'hemoglobin'. Hemoglobin helps red blood cells carry
oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. As oxygen is a crucial
energy-giving nutrient for all cells, anemia always results in chronic
tiredness.
Iron-deficient anemia is the most common
type of anemia. It's caused by a deficiency of iron in the diet as well as an
inability to store iron within the body's tissues. However, having low levels
of iron doesn't always mean that you will have anemia. And, low levels of
other nutrients (mainly vitamins B12 and folate) can also cause anemia to
occur.
Low iron levels are however, the most common cause
of anemia. There are a number of reasons for having low iron levels. You may
be eating a diet that is low in iron-rich foods (for a free report on
iron-rich foods, scroll to the bottom of this page). You may have problems
absorbing iron from your food due to low levels of vitamin C in the diet or
malabsorption problems. Another common reason is that you have chronic
undetected bleeding in the digestive tract (often caused by Crohn's disease or
ulcerative colitis).
Other types of anemia include -
Megaloblastic anemia is the name given to
anemia that is caused by low levels of the vitamins B12 and folate. Again,
this can be caused by a poor diet or malabsorption problems. B12 deficiencies
are particularly caused by digestive problems as B12 can be made by a part of
your digestive system called the Intrinsic Factor. Reduced levels of folate in
the body are often due to a diet low in green leafy vegetables, taking the
oral contraceptive pill and smoking.
Sickle Cell anemia is an inherited type of
anemia. Instead of having normal red blood cells that move through blood
vessels easily, sickle cells are hard and have a curved edge. These cells
cannot squeeze through small blood vessels and block the organs from getting
blood. Your body destroys sickle red cells quickly, but it can't make new red
blood cells fast enough. This causes anemia.
Aplastic anemia is a rare problem that
happens when your body doesn't make enough red blood cells. Since this also
affects the white blood cells, there is a higher risk for infections and
bleeding that can't be stopped.
Hemochromatosis - while not a type of
anemia, it's a disease that occurs when the body stores too much iron. In a
sense it's the opposite to anemia, but it's worth mentioning as it can lead to
severe chronic tiredness. Symptoms also include weakness, weight loss,
abdominal pain, joint pain, arthritis, shortness of breath, liver disease,
heart disease and abnormal skin colour (grey, bronze). This disease is often
genetic and diagnosis needs to be made early on to avoid the complications of
liver, heart and pancreas failure.
Now you know a bit more about anemia and the
different types, as well as the role it may be playing in the tiredness that
you are experiencing.
So what can you do about it?
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Did you know that there are standard pathology
tests that can determine your exact type of anemia?
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Did you know that there are some simple ways to
check for your iron status at home?
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Did you know that certain groups of people are at
higher risk for developing iron-deficient anemia? The good news is that they
can do something about this.
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Did you know that treating anemia usually requires
more than just taking iron tablets or increasing red meat?
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Did you know that there are alternatives to the
inorganic iron tablets that cause constipation, nausea and blackening of the
stool?
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Did you know that the way you combine your foods
can increase your absorption of iron?
You can find out all about these tests and
remedies as well as a full list of the symptoms linked to anemia in our e-book Why
Do I Feel Tired?
Written by naturopath/nutritionist Alison Cassar
and professional health writer Michelle Fahy, this e-book examines over 16
conditions (including anemia) that may be contributing to your tiredness. The
book explores each topic in detail and helps you to discover the underlying
causes of your tiredness so you can reclaim your energy and live the life you
were meant to live.
Most people are unaware of how good they are
capable of feeling. There's no need for you to be one of these people. Find
out what may be behind your tiredness and get off the merry-go-round of
chronic tiredness.
Click here
to learn more about this comprehensive e-book and to order your copy.