Anemia
An estimated 20 percent of all American women suffer
from anemia, making it one of the most common health problems affecting
women. Anemia occurs when you don’t have enough red blood cells,
or enough of the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin).
Thus, your cells don’t get enough oxygen, critical for turning food
into energy. Without enough energy, critical processes, such as
muscle activity and cell building and repair, slow down and become
less efficient. Bottom line: you feel exhausted. But anemia carries
with it a wide range of symptoms beyond fatigue, including:
 |
Dizziness | |
Abdominal pain |
|
General weakness | |
Sore tongue |
|
Paleness | |
Yellowish skin |
|
Loss of appetite | |
Loss of coordination |
|
Brittle and ridged nails |
|
Tingling in hands and feet |
|
Diarrhea |
Anemia occurs in any woman at any age. Take the
quiz to see if you are especially at risk.
To read more about anemia, click on the appropriate
topic:
Quiz: Are You at Risk for Anemia?
Causes
of Anemia
Nutritional Treatments for Menorrhagia
and Anemia