"I think I'm anaemic" is a diagnosis my patients often make about themselves when they feel tired, lack energy, and find it hard to cope with the rush of everyday living.
However, not many of them are. Apart from paleness, the symptoms of anaemia include tiredness, swollen ankles or palpitations on exertion, and it is easy to diagnose and easy to treat.
Red blood cells and their iron content is the key to anaemia. You can have too few red cells or the right number with too little iron in them.
Anaemia gradually develops if not enough iron is taken in the diet, as in starvation, anorexia or vegetarian meals. Sometimes there is poor intake of iron, folic acid or vitamin B 12, all of which are essential to the development of red cells in bone marrow.
Teacher: Michael
Many articles taken from 'A word with the doctor', by Dr. John Windsor.
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