[ad_1]
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anemia, especially in pregnant women and undernourished people.
Iron deficiency anemia can be treated successfully with the right supplements and the right diet.
Your doctor can easily diagnose anemia by means of a blood test.
Anemia, however, often remains undiagnosed and untreated, with far-reaching, even life-threatening consequences. Here is what happens to your body when you leave untreated anemia:
1. Your heart takes effort
When you suffer from anemia, your body is unable to produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to your vital organs. As a result, your heart must work overtime to provide the body with the oxygen it needs.
A lack of oxygen imposes a huge burden on the heart. An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) may occur or expand your heart. You can even have a fatal cardiac arrest.
2 Your quality of life is compromised
The most common symptom of anemia is extreme fatigue. This type of fatigue is not the weird sleepiness that we could all experience from time to time. Fatigue is defined as extreme exhaustion and can have a considerable impact on your overall health if it is not treated.
Chronic fatigue puts a strain on your body – it affects the functioning of your immune system, leads to sleep deprivation, headaches and low blood pressure and can affect your mood, cognitive skills and productivity. You may even cause an accident or hurt yourself if you do not remain alert. Constant fatigue can also affect your mental health in the long run.
3 Your lungs are tired
As the level of oxygen in the body decreases, the capacity of your lungs suffers as well. Sometimes you may feel short of breath, especially if you are physically active. If you exercise regularly and like to stay in shape, decreasing lung capacity can cause difficulties for high intensity workouts.
4. Your organs can not function as they should
When oxygen is transported throughout the body, it is provided to your most vital organs, such as your heart first. If the rest of your organs, such as kidneys and liver, receive less oxygen than normal, this can impair their functioning and lead to health problems, such as poor digestion.
What should you do if you suspect anemia?
If you have been tired for a while, anemia may be the cause. Here's what you should do:
- Visit your doctor. Clearly indicate your symptoms and duration, as well as your current diet and workout routine, as this may affect your iron levels.
- If an iron supplement is prescribed, take it as directed and do not stop when your iron levels return to normal. You must build up reserves.
- Eat foods rich in iron. If you are strictly vegetarian or vegan, it is more difficult to incorporate iron-rich foods into your diet. You can work with a dietician to help you reach your optimal levels of iron.
- Include short aerobic workouts in your day, but do not overdo it, and report any sudden chest pain during exercise to your doctor.
Image credit: iStock
Marelize Wilke
[ad_2]
Source link
