Why are women more prone to anemia?

Anemia is when hemoglobin present in the blood falls below normal levels. The rate of anemia is significantly higher among women than men all over the world, especially in developing countries. Anemia makes women more prone due to menstruation, lactation, or breast milk production and pregnancy. The estimate from WHO is that 30 percent of all women aged 15 to 49 are anemic, as are 37 percent of pregnant women.

Iron deficiency anemia can take place when there is a shortage of iron in the blood that lies down raw material for making hemoglobin. Furthermore, anemia is caused by several other reasons like vitamin B and folic acid derangement, chronic diseases, malignancy, bone marrow problems, problems associated with the thyroid, and premature destruction of blood cells or thalassemia.

Deficiency of iron is one of the most important causes of anemia in women. Loss of Blood during menstruation ranges from 30 to 80 milliliters and, in some cases, is much greater and lasts longer than normal. Thus, it leads to iron deficiency because of the heavy bleeding. Increased amounts of iron are sought after particularly during pregnancy.

Failure to meet this additional nutrient demand would have repercussions on the health of both the mother and the child; apart from this, other causes of iron deficiency can include malnutrition, worm infestation, stomach ulcers from long-term use of painkillers, uterine tumors, and bleeding through stool causes like constipation, piles, and other reasons.

A deficiency of folic acid happens when pregnant women should add a supplement. Folic acid is included in some green and colorful vegetables. Many women nationwide do not find out whether they have mild genetic blood diseases like thalassemia or hemoglobin E trait. They remain a little later on with lower hemoglobin all their lives. This can detect by a test known as hemoglobin electrophoresis.

General signs of anemia include extreme weakness and fatigue, pale skin and lips, shortness of breath, slight exertion, dizziness or fainting, and palpitations or shortness of breath.

Prevention:

Once an individual is diagnosed with anemia, one of the first priorities is severity assessment followed by treatment as necessary. Secondly, determining the etiology for anemia will warrant taking adequate measures after consulting a physician.

To nip anemia in the bud, people are asked to eat iron-rich foods. Iron is abundant in green-leaved vegetables, spinach, liver, raw bananas, and dates. Sometimes it is impossible to make up for loss just through foods; hence it becomes necessary to use iron supplements. Blood transfusion may also be required on such occasions.

FAQs:

1. What is anemia?

Anemia is a condition in which the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia.

2. Why are women more likely to develop anemia than men?

Women are more prone to anemia due to menstruation, pregnancy, and higher iron needs. These factors can lead to increased iron loss or demand, which, if not met through diet or supplements, causes anemia.

3. How does menstruation contribute to anemia?

Monthly menstrual bleeding causes a loss of iron, especially in women with heavy periods. Over time, this can deplete iron stores and lead to anemia.