What is it?
Anaemia is a drop in haemoglobin and red blood cells. Haemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to every organ; when it is low, the tissues are short of oxygen. The most common type is iron-deficiency anaemia, because iron is the main building block of haemoglobin.
In Uzbekistan anaemia is widespread, especially among women of childbearing age, pregnant women and children. It develops gradually and people often get used to feeling weak. It can only be diagnosed with a blood test (haemoglobin, ferritin), so if you have symptoms, get tested first.
Main symptoms
- Constant weakness, fatigue and drowsiness
- Pale skin and mucous membranes
- Dizziness, vision going dark
- Breathlessness and a racing heart with little effort
- Hair loss, brittle nails
- Unusual cravings for chalk, ice or raw rice
Causes and risk factors
- Too few iron-rich foods (meat, liver, legumes) in the diet
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — the need for iron rises
- Frequent births with short intervals between them
- Poor iron absorption due to stomach or bowel disease
- Drinking a lot of tea with meals (it reduces iron absorption)
Prevention and self-care
- 1
Eat iron-rich foods
Regularly include beef, liver, chicken, fish, eggs, lentils, chickpeas and beans.
- 2
Pair iron with vitamin C
Adding greens, tomatoes, bell pepper or lemon to a meal increases absorption of plant iron several times over.
- 3
Keep tea away from meals
Drink tea and coffee 1–2 hours after eating: their tannins block iron absorption.
- 4
Don't forget B12 and folate
These vitamins are also needed to make blood; folate is especially important when planning a pregnancy.
- 5
Have regular blood tests
Women, pregnant women and children should have a full blood count at least once a year.
- 6
Find the cause
If the cause of anaemia (such as blood loss or a bowel disease) isn't addressed, it will keep coming back.
When to see a doctor
Don't treat yourself in these cases — see a doctor:
- Weakness gets in the way of daily life
- You faint or feel severely dizzy
- Your stool turns black or there are other signs of bleeding
- Your haemoglobin drops during pregnancy
Nutva products to support your body
As a complement to a healthy lifestyle and your doctor's advice. These products are not medicines.
Nutva Immuno
Iron glycinate (a form that is gentle on the stomach), methylcobalamin (B12), 5-methylfolate (B9) and vitamin C support blood formation and iron absorption; copper and zinc are involved in iron metabolism.
For diagnosed anaemia, the iron dose is set by a doctor. Nutva Immuno contains iron — check with your doctor before combining it with other iron supplements.
Which product is right for you?
Our specialists offer free advice and will help you choose a product for your situation.
Call: 1294