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What is Anemia?

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Anemia is a condition where you have a shortage of healthy red blood cells in your blood. These cells carry hemoglobin, which transports oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. If you're low on hemoglobin or red blood cells, your body doesn't get enough oxygen, which can really mess with your health.

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Iron Deficiency Anemia

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As the name suggests, this type kicks in when your body is running low on iron. The most neglected area is the one that is usually the worst offender and this is nutrition. In the present generation where people hardly find time to prepare their meals and most of the time rely on the fast foods or processed foods, that is not rich in iron.

Good sources of iron include red meat, leafy greens, and beans. If these aren't part of your regular diet, you might end up with an iron shortage. Another common cause is blood loss, maybe from an accident or surgery. And some people also have trouble absorbing iron due to issues with their intestines. It can also lead to this type of anemia.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia

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This type is all about deficiency in vitamin B12, which is very vital in the production of red blood cells. If a person has low levels of B12, red blood cells do not develop normally and therefore the person is anemic. Some meds can also interfere with B12 absorption and compound the problem.

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Sickle Cell Anemia

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This one is a genetic disorder that is characterized by the abnormality in red blood cells and therefore is different from other anemias. It is a lifelong disease in which the red blood cells are distorted to be crescent or 'sickle' shaped. These cells can thicken and clot the blood vessels which means that your organs and tissues do not get enough oxygen.

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Symptoms of Anemia

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Feeling tired all the time is a classic sign of anemia. It feels like you've got zero energy to do anything because your muscles and organs aren't getting the oxygen they need. When things are really serious, you may get dizzy, get headaches, or in severe cases even have problems with breathing.

Anemia does not only drain you of energy, but it also overloads the heart. To compensate for the low oxygen levels, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, and this may result to complications such as; irregular heart beats, heart failure among others.

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Diagnosing Anemia

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Doctors usually spot anemia through specific blood tests that check levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin. The most common test is the Complete Blood Count (CBC), which looks at different components of your blood. Low levels of RBCs and hemoglobin are a dead giveaway for anemia.

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Preventing Anemia

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Here are some tips and dietary changes that you need to follow to prevent anemia.

• Chow down on iron-rich foods like red meat, spinach, and lentils.
• Add vitamin C-rich foods to your meals to help with iron absorption.
• Opt for fortified cereals and bread.
• Skip the tea or coffee during meals—they can hinder iron absorption.
• Include folate-rich foods like beans, peas, and citrus in your diet.
• If your doctor says so, take iron supplements.
• Eat B12-rich foods like eggs, dairy, and fish.
• Keep an eye on your hemoglobin levels with regular blood tests.
• Stay hydrated with plenty of water throughout the day.
• When eating iron-rich meals, go easy on calcium-rich foods because calcium can interfere with the absorption of iron.

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Conclusion

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The best thing that can be done is to diagnose the anemia and its cause early enough to prevent complications. Adherence to doctor’s instructions, routine blood tests, alteration of diet, and all other measures assist in controlling anemia and preventing severe complications.

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I trust that you found the information in my article to be valuable. 😊

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^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 02-Jul-2024 | Achievement 1}