Anemia
Iron Deficiency, Pernicious
Anemia has a plethora common symptoms, such as
overall weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, ringing
in the ears, cramping legs and difficulty in sleeping.
Blood consists of both a liquid called plasma and
cells. Floating within the plasma are three types of blood cells:
White blood cells. These blood cells
fight infection.
Platelets. These blood cells help
your blood clot after a cut.
Red blood cells. The red blood
cells carry oxygen from your lungs, by the use of the bloodstream,
to the brain and the other organs and tissues. The body needs a
supply of oxygenated blood to function. Oxygenated blood helps give
the body its energy.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin — a red,
iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin enables
red blood cells to carry oxygen from the 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, are formed regularly in the bone
marrow — a red, spongy material found within the cavities of many
of large bones. To produce hemoglobin and red blood cells, the body
needs iron, protein and vitamins from the foods which are ingested.
Anemia is a state in which the number of red blood
cells or the hemoglobin in them is below normal.
Complications
Complications from anemia can range from loss of productivity due to
weakness and fatigue to coma and death. Some neurologic changes
caused by anemia are irreversible. Pregnant women need three or four
times as much iron as normal. A folic acid deficiency during
pregnancy can result in infants being born with neural-tube defects,
such as spina bifida
Pre-Disposing Factors / Common Causes:
1. Excessive menstrual bleeding
2. Internal bleeding
3. Decreased red cell production by the bone marrow
4. Low immunity
5. Mineral deficiency
6. Poor Diet or assimilation of food
7. Lupus
Lifestyle
Eat Dark green leafy vegetables
Sleep at least 8 hours a night
Fresh air
Sunshine
Drink Fresh water
Yoga to reduce stress
Review medications to insure they are not the underlying cause
Eat a balanced diet
Supplements that may help:
Supplement
Property of Supplements
References:
Be Your Own Doctor by Ann Wigmore
Healthy Healing by Linda Page
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