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Some women feel tired even before the day has begun. It could be a missed breakfast, a late night spent watching television or even partying with friends and family.
The whole day lies ahead but there is hardly any energy left to even think clearly. The fact is that lots of women feel tired everyday. And with the demands of the family, career and other activities, it is easy to understand why.
But then, there could be another reason why they are so exhausted: ANEMIA.
Understanding anemia
Anemia is the condition in which the number of red blood Cells in the blood is low.
When the number of red blood Cells are low, hemoglobin (Hb) count is also reduced, causing low-oxygen carrying capacity of the blood, resulting in physical exhaustion.
Hemoglobin levels in anemia
Hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen to various parts of the body. Anemia is often measured by the level of hemoglobin in the blood. The hemoglobin levels of normal and Anemic women (in grams per deciliter of blood) are follows:
- Normal Hb levels: 12.3–15.3 g/dL
- Mild anemia: 10.0–11.9 g/dL
- Moderate anemia: 7.0–9.9 g/dL
- Severe anemia: <7.0 g/dL
Click here to view an animation on nutrients required for the formation of red blood Cells.
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 Microscopic view of blood sample showing normal amount of red blood cells  Microscopic view of blood sample of Anemic person showing low levels of red blood cells |
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Causes of anemia
Anemia can occur due to a variety of causes; the major ones of them are:
- Blood loss: In general, women are at greater risk of anemia than are men. This is because women lose blood—and with it, iron, protein and other vital nutrients—each month during menstruation.
- Undernutrition: Poor eating habits, snacking and fast food consumption and inadequate diet due to a fast paced life can result in deficiencies of several vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C and folic acid along with protein, all of which can cause anemia. Deficiency of above mentioned nutrients can affect the number of red blood Cells produced. It can also reduce the life expectancy of red blood Cells.
- Pregnancy: The developing child in the womb needs additional blood Cells for healthy growth. The mother may not be able to produce enough red blood Cells for herself and the growing baby, which can result in anemia.
- Others: The other causes of anemia include worm infestation and chronic diseases like AIDS, cancer or kidney disease, cancer treatment, and hereditary diseases like sickle cell anemia or Thalassemia.
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Symptoms of anemia
The most common symptom of anemia is tiredness. Other signs and symptoms of anemia include:
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Brittle nails
- Dizziness
- Irritability
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Some women feel tired even before the day has begun
Apart from the above-mentioned signs and symptoms, other symptoms include numbness or coldness in hands and feet, troubled breathing, fast or irregular heartbeat, headache, lack of concentration, depression, decreased work performance, irregular menstrual cycle, loss of sexual drive, decreased immune function, impaired wound and tissue healing.
Iron plays a major role in regulating the body’s temperature and hence iron deficiency anemia makes one intolerant to cold.
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Diagnosing anemia
Anemia is diagnosed using a person’s medical history, physical examination and diagnostic blood tests.
Anemia: A cause for concern in women
If left undiagnosed, anemia can lead to:
- Infertility in women of child-bearing age.
- Premature delivery in pregnant women.
- In case of severe anemia, fainting and mental confusion in women of any age can occur.
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However, anemia is generally mild in women. Mild anemia, may have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, and hence most women are unaware of the symptoms or tend to attribute such mild symptoms to the stresses of modern life.
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Why nutrition is important in preventing anemia?
Nutritional anemia is the most common cause of anemia, of which iron deficiency is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency. In addition to iron, there are other nutrients that prevent or reduce anemia and these include vitamin B6, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, vitamin C, folate and protein. These nutrients are actively involved in the process of blood formation (hemopoiesis) and are termed as hemopoietic nutrients.
Click here to view an animation on hemocal nutrients. |
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| Hemopoietic nutrients |
How they help you |
How much you need daily |
Where you can find? |
Non pregnant
woman |
Pregnant
woman |
Breastfeeding
woman |
| Iron (mg/kg) |
Crucial for the formation of hemoglobin |
30 |
38 |
30 |
Eggs, green leafy vegetables, cereals, meat, nuts, peas and whole grains |
| Vitamin C (mg) |
Helps the body absorb iron |
40 |
40 |
80 |
Vegetables and fruits, especially citrus fruits. |
| Vitamin B12 (µg) |
Vital for red blood Cells
|
1 |
1 |
1.5 |
Dairy products, eggs, fish and meat. |
| Folate (µg/kg) |
Essential in hemoglobin synthesis |
100 |
400 |
150 |
Green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole-grains. |
| Calcium (mg/d) |
Helps in blood formation and in blood clotting |
400 |
1000 |
1000 |
Dairy products | |
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Source: Indian Council of Medical Research | |
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Eating a balanced diet that contains all these nutrients is the simplest way to ensure that you have the nutrients to make healthy blood and reduce the chances of mild anemia. However, diet alone may not provide all the vital nutrients.
Taking a regular dose of nutritional supplements containing all the essential hemopoietic elements may be appropriate to meet the daily requirement of these nutrients. An ideal supplement is one that contains all the hemopoietic nutrients along with other nutrients needed for the daily functions of the body. |
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