Anaemia
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Anaemia occurs most commonly when there is a lack of red blood cells in the bloodstream. It also occurs when the red blood cells become less efficient at carrying oxygen.
Red blood cells contain a protein called haemoglobin, which carries oxygen around the body.
When the quantity of red blood cells in the bloodstream decreases, the amount of oxygen reaching muscles and tissues around the body also decreases. Without enough oxygen, the body will not function as well as it should do. This is why anaemic people often feel fatigued and drained of energy.
Other general and common symptoms of anaemia include:
- shortness of breath (known as dyspnoea)
- heart palpitations (irregular beat)
- tinnitus- this is when you think you hear a constant whining or ringing in your ears
- loss of appetite
- feeling of faintness.
There are a number of different types of anaemia that are categorised by the route of their cause. These include:
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Megaloblastic anaemia- this includes B12 deficiency anaemia and folate deficiency anaemia
- Sickle-cell anaemia- this form of anaemia is hereditary, so an adjustment of dietary habits is unlikely to help.
How is anaemia diagnosed?
If you think you are anaemic, it is advisable to consult your GP.
The GP will conduct an initial assessment. This will involve him or her asking you a number of questions about your symptoms, lifestyle and medical history to get an idea of your suspected condition.
After the initial assessment, you may be asked to have a blood test. The results will reveal whether or not you have anaemia based on the levels of haemoglobin. If the levels are below normal for your gender, then you will be suspected to have anaemia.
How can a nutritionist help with anaemia?
Feeling tired and drained of energy on a daily basis can have a real impact on the quality of your life.
As we have seen, food plays a major role in preventing and living with anaemia.
A nutritionist will relieve some of the pressure you might feel when it comes to choosing food. A nutritionist will apply expert advice to a meal plan tailored to your specific needs. Eating the right foods could alleviate some of the symptoms of anaemia and generally improve the quality of your life. If you would like to find a nutritionist, please feel free to use our search tool found on the Nutritionist Resource homepage.
References
1NHS, Anaemia, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
--All content displayed on Nutritionist Resource is provided for general information purposes only, and should not be treated as a substitute for advice given by your GP or any other healthcare professional. Whilst some people have benefited from nutritional therapy, no claims can be made to treat, cure or heal specific conditions, and we strongly advise individuals with any health problem to seek independent medical advice from their GP before considering nutritional therapy.