• Extreme fatigue: Severe anemia can make you so tired that you can't complete everyday tasks.
• Pregnancy complications: Pregnant women with folate deficiency anemia can be more likely to have complications, such as premature birth.
• Heart problems: Anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When you're anemic your heart pumps more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen in the blood.
• Death: Some inherited anemias, such as sickle cell anemia, can lead to life-threatening complications. Losing a lot of blood quickly results in acute, severe anemia and can be fatal.
Prevention:
Many types of anemia can't be prevented. But you can avoid iron deficiency anemia and vitamin deficiency anemias by eating a diet that includes a variety of vitamins and minerals, including:
• Iron: Iron-rich foods include beef and other meats, beans, lentils, iron-fortified cereals, dark green leafy vegetables and dried fruit.
• Folate: This nutrient, and its synthetic form folic acid, can be found in fruits and fruit juices, dark green leafy vegetables, green peas, kidney beans, peanuts, and enriched grain products, such as bread, cereal, pasta and rice.
• Vitamin B-12: Food’s rich in vitamin B-12 include meat, dairy products, and fortified cereal and soy products.
• Vitamin C: Food’s rich in vitamin C include citrus fruits and juices, peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, melons and strawberries. These also help increase iron absorption.
Courtesy: Mayo Clinic
