2023-11-01 11:00:00
When experiencing momentary dizziness, most people think of ‘anemia.’ Of course, if you have anemia, you may feel dizzy, but if you only understand dizziness as a symptom of anemia, you may miss early diagnosis and treatment. We asked Hidoc experts about the causes and symptoms of anemia.
Dizziness is not the only symptom of anemia | Source: Getty Image Bank
Q. Why does anemia occur?
Anemia literally means lack of blood. Medically, it refers to a condition in which the number of red blood cells in the blood decreases and the concentration of hemoglobin, the hemoglobin that carries oxygen, decreases below normal levels. There are many factors that affect the development of anemia, and there are different types of anemia.
Types of anemia include iron deficiency, hemolytic, aplastic, megaloblastic, and secondary anemia. Among these, iron deficiency anemia is the most common and occurs when iron intake is insufficient or there is bleeding. Hemolytic anemia can occur when red blood cells are destroyed, and aplastic anemia can occur when the bone marrow’s ability to produce blood declines. Megaloblastic anemia is caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid, and occurs mainly in patients who have undergone gastrectomy due to stomach cancer. Secondary anemia occurs when accompanied by cancer, autoimmune disease, or chronic renal failure.
– Director Kim Jun-hyeon, Hidoc Internal Medicine Consulting Physician (Good Gangan Hospital, Eunseong Medical Foundation, a medical corporation)
Q. Are there any other symptoms of anemia other than dizziness?
Usually, dizziness is considered the only symptom of anemia, but there are various symptoms that accompany anemia. In the early stages of anemia, there may be no symptoms, but as it progresses slowly, fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath appear. In addition, △dizziness, △headache, △tinnitus, △decreased concentration, △decreased sensation such as tingling in hands and feet, △hypersensitivity to cold, △reduced libido, △lack of appetite, △constipation, and △nausea are also symptoms that accompany anemia. In particular, you need to be careful because if your appetite decreases and your iron intake decreases, anemia can get worse.
– Professor Seo Min-seok, Consulting Doctor, Hidoc Family Medicine (Catholic University Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital)
Q. Can anemia cause dry mouth?
Anemia can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth refers to a condition of lack of moisture in the oral cavity due to decreased salivary gland function or decreased secretion due to various causes such as anemia, diabetes, nutrient deficiency, dementia, and drug side effects. This can cause problems such as oral inflammation, dental caries, and esophagitis. It is a disease that causes inconvenience in daily life and eating and affects overall oral health.
– Director Jaewook Jeong, Hidoc Dental Consultant (Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic)
Q. Is chewing ice frequently a symptom of anemia?
Frequent chewing of ice is one of the characteristics of iron deficiency anemia. The condition of eating things that are not food but have no nutritional value (dirt, paper, glass, etc.) is called pica, and constantly chewing ice is called ice ingestion or cyanophagia. Patients with iron deficiency anemia are more likely to develop ice ingestion than healthy people. Of course, anemia does not necessarily cause ice consumption, and ice consumption does not necessarily cause anemia. However, if you are experiencing pale, dry skin, headaches, dizziness, etc., it is recommended to suspect iron deficiency anemia and supplement iron.
– Professor Seo Min-seok, Consulting Doctor, Hidoc Family Medicine (Catholic University Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital)
Q. Is it difficult for women with chronic anemia to get pregnant?
Anemia is a symptom that occurs when the ability to supply oxygen is insufficient. Anemia causes dizziness and easily exhausts energy, making you tired. If you become pregnant in that condition, you may feel more physical and mental burden than an ordinary mother without anemia.
I believe that the key to determining whether a woman with chronic anemia can become pregnant is the cause of the chronic anemia. If there are lesions in the uterus or ovaries, such as uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, uterine polyps, or ovarian cysts, anemia may occur due to abnormal bleeding and excessive menstruation. Additionally, female diseases can deteriorate the environment of the uterus and ovaries and cause infertility and infertility, making pregnancy difficult. Please identify and treat the fundamental cause of chronic anemia.
– Hidoc Obstetrics and Gynecology Consulting Doctor Choi Dong-seok (Choi Sang Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic)
Q. Can anemia relapse even after treatment?
Even if anemia is treated, it can occur again. Women with heavy menstruation require ongoing treatment for anemia. Additionally, in case of recurrent anemia, it is necessary to check whether there are any gastrointestinal problems.
– Professor Hwang Hee-jin, Consulting Doctor, Hidoc Family Medicine (International St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University)
Q. Is there a diet to prevent anemia?
Anemia refers to a condition in which the amount of hemoglobin, which carries oxygen and nutrients in the blood, or the size or number of red blood cells is insufficient. For this reason, some patients with anemia take iron supplements. Iron is not absorbed alone in the body, but its absorption rate can be increased through interactions with various vitamins and proteins. Therefore, rather than focusing only on the intake of specific nutrients, it is recommended to prevent malnutrition by consuming a balanced diet that contains sufficient calories, protein, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B1, and folic acid.
Dietary remedies to improve anemia are as follows:
– Consume enough calories to suit you. It is about 1700 kcal and consists of 2/3 to 1 bowl of rice, 1 to 2 fish and meat side dishes, and 2 to 3 vegetable side dishes for each meal.
– Eat protein-rich foods at every meal. High-quality proteins such as meat, fish, tofu, eggs, and beans are good sources of iron.
– Eat foods rich in iron. Lean meat, seafood, eggs, beans, and green vegetables contain large amounts of iron.
– Eat enough vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamin B, vitamin C, and folic acid, which help build blood.
– Limit the intake of beverages containing caffeine (tea, coffee, soft drinks). Tannin, phosphorus, caffeine, etc. bind to iron and interfere with its absorption.
– Hidoc nutrition counseling nutritionist Jihye Lee
* This article is a reconstructed response from a Hidoc expert.
Help = Hidoc consulting doctor Manager Kim Jun-hyeon (internal medicine specialist at Good Gangan Hospital, Eunseong Medical Foundation), Hidoc consulting doctor Professor Seo Min-seok (family medicine specialist at Catholic University of Incheon St. Mary’s Hospital), Hidoc consulting doctor Director Jae-wook Jeong (dentistry specialist at Gangnam Saero Dental Clinic) medical doctor), Hidoc counseling doctor Choi Dong-seok (obstetrician and gynecologist at Choi Sang Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic), Hidoc consulting doctor Professor Heejin Hwang (family medicine specialist at Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital), Hidoc nutritional counseling Jihye Lee (nutritionist)
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