Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
  • English
    • Hindi
    • Bengali
Narayana Health Care
  • Cardiology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Nephrology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Book An Appointment
    • Video Consultation
    • Physical Consultation
  • English
    • Hindi
    • Bengali
Home > Blog > Gynaecology > Women & Anaemia
Gynaecology

Women & Anaemia

by Narayana Health September 3, 2020
written by Narayana Health September 3, 2020
Women & Anaemia | Narayana Health

Iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia across the world. It is caused by the lack of red blood cells or haemoglobin. Women are especially susceptible to iron-deficiency anaemia for the simple reason that they lose blood every month during their menstrual cycle. Let’s probe further into the condition and how it affects women.

Women between the age of 12 and 49 loose blood during menstruation each month. Hence, they need more iron to replace the lost blood. Women who bleed for longer periods and very heavily are at a higher risk. Women also lose iron from uterine fibroids that bleed at a slow pace or bleeding caused by intrauterine devices used for birth control.

Pregnancy & Anaemia:

In addition to these, women develop anaemia during pregnancy. The main reason for this is that they require 50% more iron during pregnancy. That is instead of the 18 mg a day routine to 27 mg a day. Moreover, during childbirth women lose a lot of blood too. Therefore, women need to plan pregnancy, understand the symptoms of iron-deficiency anaemia, and talk to the doctor.

Remember, anaemia can be mild or severe. In case if it’s severe, leaving it untreated would lead to serious complications including preterm delivery. While iron-deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia found in women, during pregnancy they may also get foliate-deficiency anaemia and anaemia that occurs as a result of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Both these result in complications such as neural tube abnormalities and low birth weight of the neonate.

Who are in the higher-risk group?

While all women are at risk of being anaemic during pregnancy, certain groups are at an increased risk. Let’s take a look at them:

  • Women who are pregnant with more than one baby
  • Women who have back-to-back pregnancies
  • Those who experience a severe form of morning sickness and vomit a lot
  • Pregnant teenagers
  • Those who didn’t take sufficient amount of foods which are rich in iron
  • Those who already have anaemia

The symptoms of anaemia during pregnancy:

Most of the symptoms of anaemia a pregnant woman experiences are similar to the ones experienced by anyone who is anaemic. They are fatigue, dizziness, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, trouble concentrating, pale skin, lips and nails.

Tests to detect anaemia in pregnant women:

During the first prenatal consultation with the doctor, you will be advised to undergo a haemoglobin test as well as a hematocrit test.

To have low levels of haemoglobin or hematocrit means to have anaemia. Even if you don’t have anaemia, your doctor will ask you to do the tests at periodic intervals.

The treatment:

If you are found to be anaemic you would be required to take both iron and folic acid supplements in addition to the prenatal vitamins. If it’s a case of vitamin B-12 deficiency, your doctor will prescribe you those tablets.

In addition to these, you can also add meat, eggs, and dairy products in your diet to combat the deficiency.

Remember, prevention is always better than cure. By eating right, you can make sure that you don’t turn anaemic during pregnancy and you enjoy the most beautiful period in your life to the fullest. By including the following foods in your diet, you can win over anaemia during pregnancy:

  • Lean red meat, poultry, and fish
  • Leafy, dark green vegetables
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Beans and lentil
  • Citrus fruits
  • Strawberries
  • Kiwis
  • Tomatoes
  • Bell peppers
  • By eating right and getting checked yourself regularly, you can stay healthy and keep off anaemia.

Dr. Sapna Raina, Senior Consultant – Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Narayana Multispeciality Clinic, Electronic City – Niladri Road, Bangalore

AnaemiaAnaemia in pregnant womenAnaemia in womenfatigueIron deficiencymenstruationpregnancysymptoms of anaemiatreatment of anaemia
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestWhatsapp
previous post
Protecting the heart
next post
Diabetes and Covid-19 risk: Do’s & Don’t

You may also like

Pregnancy Test: When To Take, Types & Accuracy

November 21, 2023

Symptoms of Pregnancy – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment...

November 20, 2023

High Testosterone Levels in Women – Causes, Symptoms...

November 14, 2023

Ovulation Bleeding – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

November 13, 2023

Robotic Hysterectomy Surgery – Procedures and Advantages

October 20, 2023

Cervical Polyps: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment Options

October 18, 2023

Cervical Insufficiency: Causes, Risk Factors, and Management

October 18, 2023

Intramural Fibroid – Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

October 18, 2023

Heart Problems During Pregnancy: What You Need to...

October 5, 2023

Robotic Assisted Hysterectomy: Procedure, Risks & Recovery

September 22, 2023

QUICK LINKS

Book an Appointment

Find a Doctor

Hospitals

Medical Services

About NH

Narayana Health

Narayana Health is headquartered in Bengaluru, India, and operates a network of hospitals across the country, with a particularly strong presence in the southern state of Karnataka and eastern India, as well as an emerging presence in northern, western and central India. Our first facility was established in Bengaluru with approximately 225 operational beds and we have since grown to 23 hospitals, 7 heart centres, 19 primary care facilities across India and an international hospital in the Cayman Islands.

Keep In Touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Linkedin Youtube Telegram

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Boosting your Immune System against Coronavirus: How to minimize the risk of...

    April 2, 2020
  • 2

    How to maintain a Balanced Diet

    September 3, 2019
  • 3

    Coronavirus Testing – How to Test for Coronavirus? – Different Types of Tests

    March 13, 2020
  • 4

    Importance of Balanced Diet in a Healthy Lifestyle

    November 22, 2019

Categories

  • Aids (5)
  • Bengali (1)
  • Blood Pressure (4)
  • Bone Marrow Transplant (12)
  • Breast Cancer (28)
  • Cancer (48)
  • Cardiac Surgery (23)
  • Cardiology (249)
  • Coronavirus (110)
  • Dental Sciences (2)
  • Dermatology (19)
  • Diabetes (37)
  • E. N. T – Paediatric (7)
  • E. N. T. (9)
  • ECMO (1)
  • Endocrinology (16)
  • Gastroenterology (126)
  • General Health (143)
  • General Surgery (4)
  • Gynaecology (94)
  • Haematology (14)
  • Health Nuggets (44)
  • Healthy Life (4)
  • Hepatology (16)
  • Hindi (7)
  • Infectious Diseases (4)
  • Kidney (5)
  • Liver (30)
  • Medical Oncology (2)
  • Mental Health (4)
  • Narayana Health (856)
  • Nephrology (105)
  • Neurology (177)
  • Neurosurgery (30)
  • News (6)
  • NH services (7)
  • Nutrition and Diet (27)
  • Oncology (168)
  • Organ Donation (1)
  • Orthopaedics (165)
  • Paediatric Cardiology (12)
  • Paediatric Liver Transplant (1)
  • Paediatric Oncology (3)
  • Paediatric Surgery (7)
  • Paediatrics (78)
  • Pain & Palliative Care (4)
  • Pregnancy (9)
  • Psychology (5)
  • Pulmonology (47)
  • Radiation Oncology (9)
  • Rheumatology (4)
  • Services (3)
  • Spine Surgery (31)
  • Stroke (7)
  • Swine Flu (1)
  • Transplant (1)
  • Urology (54)
  • Vascular Surgery (11)

Follow us

QUICK LINKS

Find a Doctor

Book an Appointment

Make an Enquiry

Feedback

Hospitals

Blogs

Privilege card

Heart Rhythm Disorder

NH CARES

Hernia

Lung Cancer

Brain Tumour

Liver Cancer

Heart Attack

Urinary Problems

Heart Transplant

Kidney Transplant

Bone Marrow Transplant

Pulmonary Hypertension

CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE

Liver Transplant & HPB Surgery

Cardiology

Cardiac Surgery

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Orthopaedics

Robotic Surgery

Vascular Surgery

Nephrology

Radiation Oncology

MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

Academics

Clinical Research

NH Colleges

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe to our Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

About Narayana Health

|

Stakeholder Relations

|

News & Media Relations

|

Awards and Accreditations

|

Leadership

|

Careers

|

CSR

|

Sitemap

© Narayana Hrudayalaya Ltd | All rights reserved
NPPA Implant Pricing     Terms & Conditions     Privacy Policy     Disclaimer

Book Online Consultation