Breathless VB

Posts Tagged ‘anemia’

If there is a shortage of healthy red blood cells, the amount of oxygen carried through the circulatory system sufficient to meet the needs of the body. This is called anemia. The disorder affects women more than men at least twice. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, dizziness, depression and dark thoughts. Since these symptoms are many other possible causes, anemia often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Although some people think that anemia affects as a “disease of young women,” women after menopause, too. In fact, more and more severely affected by anemia, the risk for cognitive disorders (such as problems, to take the drugs or pay the bills) physical impairment (eg, difficulty getting up from a chair, walking or maintaining balance) Hospital and death. How to protect yourself.

IRON all important : Among the various causes of anemia, iron deficiency is the most common. Iron is important for the production of hemoglobin, a protein needed to form healthy red blood cells. Pre-menopausal women are particularly susceptible to iron deficiency anemia due to iron in menstruation and pregnancy discharge. But: Many women who enter menopause with an iron deficiency is not diagnosed anemic – because their iron stores are not adequately replenished. Other anemic after menopause due to loss of blood – as a gastrointestinal problem. Self-defense: If you have signs of persistent fatigue or other types of anemia (see box), ask your doctor for a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to a level to be measured with hemoglobin. At the same time, which requires that the blood will be tested for ferritin, the major storage form of iron in the body. Although the CBC is normal, the most sensitive test can reveal a lack of ferritin iron.

Trap: The so-called “normal” levels of ferritin in women is 12 nanograms per milliliter (ng / mL) at 150 ng / ml – a range so wide that it is almost useless.
Recommended: If ferritin levels below 50 ng ml /, to act.
You might think that the solution to eating red meat for iron-rich, leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. Give you about 3 milligrams (mg) to 10 mg of iron per serving, these healthy foods helps women, the recommended daily dose of 18 mg of iron per day before menopause (or 27 mg during pregnancy) and 8 mg after menopause .
But for a patient’s anemia, which is almost impossible to get enough iron from food alone – because it takes a lot of iron to replenish depleted reserves.
Protocol: For my patients with anemia of women, I recommend a daily iron supplementation at a dose of 2 mg to 3 mg per kilogram (2.2 kg) of body weight. For a woman of 135 pounds, for example, is 123 mg to 184 mg of iron daily. After three months I try again to see if ferritin normalized.

Problem: ferrous gluconate and other commonly prescribed iron supplements often cause nausea, digestive disorders and / or constipation. Worse still, less than half the iron in food supplements actually absorbed by the body.
Better: Some studies show that a form of chelation – combines with iron amino acid – reduces the discomfort of the stomach and increases the absorption.
For optimal absorption, take iron with orange juice or another source of vitamin C. Do not take iron within 30 minutes of drinking tea, coffee or red wine – which contain tannins, substances that block the absorption of iron. Iron can interact with and / or reduce the absorption of some drugs, so the doctor will tell you when to take each dose.
Important: If you are past menopause and to treat iron deficiency, your doctor should check the underlying causes.
Examples: hemorrhoids, polyps and ulcers cause occult bleeding leading to anemia.
Warning: if a diagnosis of iron deficiency, the upper limit of normal 45 mg of iron daily. Iron supplements should be taken only with the consent of a doctor – in people with genetic disease hemochromatosis, excess iron can cause damage to the joints and organs.

One problem with vitamins : The second most common type of anemia is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B-12. The elderly are particularly at risk because aging lowers the intrinsic factor, a substance found in the lining of the digestive tract, the absorption of vitamin B-12 helps you to find. Up to 15% of people over 60 are vitamin B-12 anemia. Blood tests can confirm the diagnosis. Food sources of vitamin B-12 is based on fish, salmon, red meat, eggs and dairy products. But usually not the diet alone will not correct this type of anemia … and many oral vitamin B-12 supplements are not well absorbed by the body. Some doctors recommend a weekly intramuscular injections of B-12, continues indefinitely, in some cases.

Pain-free option: daily sublingual supplements – pills to dissolve under the tongue – the B-12 can be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.
Good brand: physio logical Sublingual B-12 (800-765-6775).
Dose: 2,500 micrograms (mcg) per day normalized to the level B-12, or indefinitely if necessary.
Test your anemia
Anemia, a shortage of healthy red blood cells can lead to …
Cold hands and feet feel numb and
Concentration and memory problems
The cracks in the corners of the mouth
Depression
Dizziness
Fatigue
Leg cramps or muscle
Nails that seem carved out of
Pale
Pica (abnormal hunger, undrinkable, such as dirt or paper)
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Difficulty breathing
Gait and balance disorders.
Self-test: look in a mirror, pull your lower lid and check the color on the inside … Then check the lining of the cheek. While it is white instead of pink, anemia. If you are not “pink”, or if you have any of these symptoms, consult your doctor.