 |
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
More than one billion women suffer, the majority of them unknowingly, from a condition known as pre-anemia-an insufficient amount of iron within the body. "Women in a state of pre-anemia typically find their concentration evaporates before they're able to finish tasks, and their ability to "get things done" has nosedived," says one of North America's foremost experts in women's and children's health, Dr. Cathy Carlson-Rink. "They also find it hard to exercise for any length of time, and may have trouble keeping up with their friends in physical activities." Dr. Carson-Rink says women suffering from poor concentration and poor tolerance for physical activity are often suspected by their physicians of being anemic, so a lab test will be ordered. But when their blood shows normal red blood cell count and normal level of hemoglobin-the oxygen-carrying component found in healthy red blood cells-doctors then rule out anemia. "Because iron deficiency symptoms usually appear before anemia develops, a more sensitive test to check iron stores is usually a good idea whenever anemia is suspected but not found by the physician," said Dr. Carlson-Rink. Dr. Carson-Rink says proper diagnosis of pre-anemia in women in their childbearing years is especially important as studies have shown low iron stores are linked with fertility problems, pre-term labor, and low birth weight babies. "Since most pregnancies are unplanned, women in relationships should ensure they maintain proper iron levels to help guarantee a healthy placenta, a normal delivery, and a healthy baby," she says. "During and immediately after pregnancy, women need double the amount of iron" she adds. Dr. Carlson-Rink says women aren't the only ones affected by pre-anemia. Toddlers and senior citizens are also frequently pre-anemic. Dr. Carlson-Rink says the best way to correct pre-anemia is with dietary change and iron supplements. A recent study at Germany's Heidelberg Women's University Clinic showed that iron levels of 21 pre-anemic women were raised to normal levels within eight weeks by taking a plant-derived iron supplement," says Dr. Carlson-Rink. Dr. Carlson-Rink says plant-derived iron is preferable over iron from animal sources, as plant derived iron doesn't create "iron overload"-an over-saturation of iron in the cells which may lead to other health problems. "Women with low iron levels don't have to feel like they're losing their minds," says Dr. Carson- Rink. "With proper iron supplementation, they should experience an improvement in general well-being and improvement of pre-anemic symptoms within four to eight weeks. Treated in this way, pre-anemia can be completely resolved in three to twelve months. The plant derived supplement I recommend to my patients is Floradix Iron and Herb available in health food stores." |
|
   |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
