Iron deficiency anaemia, an underlying threat to health

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Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition in which there is a decreased in total iron body content which causes a decrease in the number of red blood cells or the amount of haemoglobin in the blood thereby resulting in diminished oxygen carrying capacity of the blood. It occurs when iron deficiency is sufficient enough to cause development of anemia. This means that an individual may be iron deficient but not anaemic and there are mild to moderate forms of iron deficiency . Which, although anaemia is absent tissues are still not functioning well, even as we know that many Nigerian women are of knowledge about food sources rich in iron and it's benefit, but the consumption of iron rich food is still low and iron deficiency anaemia is still prevalent.
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According to the nutritional society of Nigeria,one in two Nigerian women of child bearing age suffers from anaemia which depicts a huge burden of anaemia among those women and their children. Iron deficiency is seen as the culprit as it continues to be the top ranking cause of anaemia globally. It is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world affecting more than one quarter of the worlds population. About 90% anaemia have iron deficiency as a contributing factor and it is more common in women than men. The victim of iron deficiency of anaemia are mostly women of reproductive age,pregnant women,teenage girls and children (infant below 5) which makes it a major cause of maternal and child deaths which screams the need for long lasting intervention.
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Causes

The major causes of iron deficiency anaemia range from increased need for iron due to blood loss which is a direct consequences of

• menstruation

• pregnancy

• failure of iron absorption

• haemorrhage during childbirth repeated pregnancies

• bleeding connected to the use of intrauterine devices for birth control.
  
  others are deficient absorption for infants and children and low bioavailability of iron in diet,shortage in quality of dietary iron available compared to the needs in specific life stages.
  
  

  Symptoms

• Tiredness

• weakness

• pale skin

• chest pain

• shortage of breadth,

• headache

• dizziness

• coldhand

• missed mensral cycle

• fragile nails

• soreness of tongue

• heart palpitation
  
  

  Food rich in iron

• Liver

• Fish

• meat

Iron fortified breakfast like

• cereals and bread
• Egg
• Vegetables such as pumpkin, green etc.
  
  
  Increase your iron intake today and enjoy needed productivity and better health quality.