Anemia is condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells in it or is decrease in the number of Hemoglobin cells. Blood contains the main type of cell called Red blood corpuscles (RBC). RBC takes oxygen to all the cells and body tissues. In fact Hemoglobin which is found inside RBC carries the inhaled oxygen from lungs to all the body tissues. Hemoglobin is a complex mixture Protein-Iron.
In general the amount of Hemoglobin in blood is
- Men -13 percent
- Woman - 12 percent
- Pregnant women – 11 percent
- Children from age 6 months to 6 years – 11 percent
- Children from age 6 years to 11 years – 12 percent
To form the right amount of Hemoglobin the body Iron, Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid are needed.
Symptoms of Anemia
If you have some of the symptoms, it is recommended to get checked for Anemia. By default all pregnant women become anemic.
- Gradually increasing tiredness in the body
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Eyes, Lips and Tongue becoming white
- Mouth rashes, Genital Rashes
- Delay in menstrual cycle without any proper reason
- Weakness and frequent mood changes and anger
- Miscarriage and premature birth of the bay with weight loss
- Breathing problem
- Fainting along with vomiting and Drowsiness
- Jaundice
- Stomach ache and increase perspiration
- Ulcers which take a long time to heal
- And frequently becoming ill
- Trouble while swallowing food
- Constant headache without any reason
- Palpitation
- Hand and leg pain
- A confused mind
How is Anemia Diagnosed?
Different types of test are available to find out the degree for Anemia.
- RBC count
- Hemoglobin count
- Total serum Iron, serum Ferritin, serum Transferrin.
- Hemoglobin electro phoresis, finding amount of low quality Hemoglobin presence.
- Bone marrow biopsy
- Liver scan
Anemia is medically caused of different reasons, few of them being
- Defect in manufacture of RBC
- Iron deficiency
- Vitamin B12,Folic acid deficiency
- Blood loss
Home and Siddha treatment for Anemia. Doctors generally prescribe Iron supplements if the RBC and Hemoglobin count is too low and for pregnant women. For others, they advise an increase in the intake of Iron rich foods. Below are some of the Iron rich foods
Iron rich foods for Anemia
- Pulses - All Pulses,Wheat,Ragi, Jowar, Fried gram, Soyabeans, Peas.
- Fruits - Watermelon,Banana,Strawberry,Pomegranate,Custerd apple, Pineapple.
- Dry fruits - Dry Grapes, Dates, Walnut.
- Juices - Apple juice, Tomato juice, Orange juice, Pineapple juice.
- Vegetables - Drumstick leaves, Spinach, Cauliflower, Bitter-gourd, Beans,
- Meat- Liver, Fish, Goat meat, Broiler
Things which help in absorbing iron
- Meat, Fish, Chicken
- Orange, Grapes, Strawberry, Banana
- Tomato, Potato
- Vitamin C rich foods
Things which are against absorbing iron are Coffee and Tea
