Tag Archives: anemia

The Truth About Your Diet During Pregnancy

One of the assumptions I made about pregnancy prior to becoming pregnant is I’d have a diet-related Get out of Jail Free card.  I knew that there are certain foods it’s best to avoid, but I thought at least I’d have a free pass to eat, well, not quite as much as I wanted, but to feel a bit more guilt-free about evening ice cream binges. That turned out not to be the case at all.  First off, the whole “eating for two” thing isn’t true.  At most, you should eat for one and a quarter.  In addition to that, … Continue reading →

What Is Sickle Cell Disease?

Sickle cell disease (also known as hemoglobin S disease) is a group of disorders that affect hemoglobin — the part of a red blood cell that delivers oxygen throughout the body. The disease gets its name from abnormally shaped red blood cells caused by abnormal hemoglobin molecules. Symptoms of sickle cell disease usually begin in early childhood, and can include: Low red blood cell count, also known as anemia. Repeated infections. Periodic episodes of pain. Intensity of symptoms varies from one person to another. Some people have very mild symptoms; others may be hospitalized for serious complications from pain and … Continue reading →

Anemia in Pregnancy

Anemia is more common during pregnancy than when you are not pregnant. The reason is the increased volume of blood in your body. Iron is needed to make hemoglobin to carry oxygen in the red blood cells. Your growing baby and the placenta also need iron to grow properly. A deficiency in iron is the main cause of anemia. Anemia can have several affects on your baby and your body. If you are anemic, you are at a higher risk of having preterm labor or a low birth weight baby. The baby’s iron level may also be low at birth … Continue reading →

Causes of Anemia

There are several different types of anemia, with a wide range in causes. It is important to understand the type of anemia you may be facing in order to understand and/or get adequate treatment for it. Anemia caused by loss of blood If you get severely hurt and loose a lot of blood you generally receive donated blood to make up for it. There are however conditions that result in chronic bleeding which can go undetected for a long period of time, and as such cause blood loss related anemia. These conditions include ulcers, hemorrhoids, gastritis and cancer. Women can … Continue reading →