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    Consultancy Corner: Anaemia is a growing concern among Tamil Nadu women

    Low iron levels in the blood leads to Iron-deficiency anaemia. Iron is an extremely essential mineral for normal body functioning, especially among women.

    Consultancy Corner: Anaemia is a growing concern among Tamil Nadu women
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    Dr Jaishree Gajaraj

    Chennai

    Without iron, the red blood cells become low in haemoglobin, a protein that helps carry oxygen from lungs across the body. Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) has been a widely under-diagnosed and unappreciated women’s health issue, affecting women of all ages. Despite IDA being easily diagnosed and treated, it continues to be a major public health issue. The World Health Organisation estimates 30% of non-pregnant and more than 42% of pregnant women have anaemia1. 

    Nutritional anaemia is particularly of concern in a developing country like India. Prevalence of maternal anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia continues to be high, despite planned interventions and government initiatives. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2015-16, among all women in India (15-49 years), 50.8% from urban areas and 54.2% from rural areas were found to be anaemic. Among non-pregnant women (1549 years), 50.9% from urban areas and 54.3% from rural areas were found to be anaemic. Among pregnant women (15-49 years), 45.7% from urban areas and 52.1% from rural areas were anaemic2. 

    In Tamil Nadu, IDA is one of the most common health issues among women. According to NFHS data on Tamil Nadu (2015-16), among all women (15-49 years), 53.4% from urban areas and 56.8% from rural areas were reported to be anaemic. Among non-pregnant women (15-49 years) in Tamil Nadu, 53.9% from urban areas and 56.9% from rural areas were anaemic. Among pregnant women (15-49 years), 37.2% from urban areas and 52.1% from rural areas were anaemic3. 

    The common causes of IDA in women include excessive, heavy menstruation, iron-deficient diet, low iron absorption capacity, childbirth, pregnancy and lactation and frequent blood donation. Therefore, IDA is commonly observed among adolescent girls, pregnant women and women of child-bearing age. These groups require higher iron intake, compared to others. It is critical to understand the root cause and work on the right approach towards treating anaemia along with the doctor. One can increase the iron levels by having an iron-rich diet. 

    Some iron-rich foods include pomegranate, broccoli, spinach, oats, soy beans, lentils, citrus fruits, jaggery. It is also critical to keep in mind that there are a lot of factors that affect iron absorption. Tea, coffee, calcium tend to block the absorption of iron and hence should not be taken immediately after meals. Depending on the gravity of the IDA, one can also resort to iron supplements after consulting a specialist. 

    Noticeable symptoms of IDA include fatigue, pale skin, dizziness, brittle nails, headache, muscle pain, irritability. These symptoms are often ignored or mistakenly viewed as part of the daily hectic lifestyle, because of which IDA is not detected. Severe IDA can lead to fatal implications such as breathlessness, rapid heart rate, depression, blood pressure, heart attack, pregnancy complications, cardiac failure, stroke and even death. It is therefore important to get checked and treated if you are suffering from any of the symptoms of IDA, to avoid further complications. 

    The writer is MD DGO FRCOG (UK) FRCS(Ed), Apollo Specialty Hospital & Mangai Women’s Health Exclusive Clinic

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