Expert Raises Health Alert on Anemia in Filipino Women

In line with their on going efforts to improve the state ofred blood cells perinatal healthcare in the Philippines, The Perinatal Association of the Philippines recently invited one of the world’s most respected authorities on Anemia, Dr. Nils Milman, to raise the alert on the real global threat that Anemia poses. Dr. Milman has been engaged in research on human iron metabolism for over 30 years, and has written over 100 papers on the different aspects of human iron metabolism. Iron deficiency is the leading cause of Anemia, and Dr. Milman’s expertise is of particular importance to pregnant women, as they are most prone to both iron deficiency and anemia.


Alarming Number of Anemic Filipino Women

Much of Dr. Milman’s talk will be on the rather disturbing statistics on anemia in the world, and particularly in the Philippines. The WHO reports that 42% of Filipino women of reproductive age suffer from Anemia, while 44% of pregnant women suffer from the affliction. While the global numbers on Anemia are disturbing, the Philippines lags behind, and the numbers here are even more alarming. Although the number of women who suffer from Anemia in Southeast Asia has been on the decline over the last 10 years, the decline has been neither fast nor steady, which is why there are now more efforts to raise awareness on the disease. Practically every other Filipino woman has Anemia, making the issue that much more urgent here.


Anemia: Synonymous to Weak or Frail

Anemia is a disease many are familiar with; the word anemic has become virtually synonymous to weak or frail.  Anemia’s most common visible symptoms are the reason it has become another word for weakness. Women who are anemic often experience diminished physical capacity, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations and irregular menstrual periods.

Pregnant women have proven far more prone to anemia, to make things worse, when a mother has Anemia, her baby is also usually born anemic.

 

Click here to learn more on the causes of iron deficiency, how it develops and its consequences for women.

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Read on to learn more about the causes of iron deficiency, how it develops and its consequences for women.

 

Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Southeast Asia

According to Dr. Milman, Southeast Asian women are particularly prone to being iron deficient because of the following factors:

• low dietary iron intake
• low bioavailability of dietary iron
• high incidence of parasitic infections leading to pathologic blood loss
• poor absorption of iron

 

How Anemia Develops

Anemia occurs when the red blood cell count is low. Red blood cells contain the bulk of hemoglobin in the human body, and hemoglobin is responsible for oxygenating the whole body. The direct consequence of low hemoglobin is that oxygen cannot be properly distributed throughout the body, hence the weakness and fatigue so closely associated with the disorder. Hemoglobin contains iron, and the iron in hemoglobin is essential to its oxygen binding function, iron is also essential to the body’s production of hemoglobin, which is why iron deficiency is by far the most common cause of anemia.

Yes there are many nutrient deficiencies that can lead to Anemia, but by far the most common is iron deficiency, it is so common that it accounts for far more anemia cases than all the other factors combined.  The typical diet of a Filipino woman quite simply does not contain an adequate amount of iron to meet the recommended daily intake.

Iron Deficiency Anemia: The Consequences for Women

So what happens when a woman is diagnosed as iron deficient? What are its consequences on her health?

• Psychologic changes (impaired brain function, emotional instability, erratic behavioral patterns, depression, insomnia)
• Restless legs
• Malfunction of hair, skin, nails, tongue and mouth
• Frequent infections

 

Click here to read on to learn more about how pregnant women and their babies are affected by anemia.

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How Pregnant Women and their Babies are Affected by Anemia

If a pregnant woman is anemic, her pregnancy may be affected. It may result in a preterm birth, low birth weight for the baby, complications during delivery and moreover, even death of the mother prior to childbirth.

Iron, a vital material to help develop the fetus's brain, helps complete metabolic processes for cognitive functions. Inadequate amounts of iron in the pregnant woman's body may result in the permanently impairment of the intelligence and psychomotor development of the child. A good amount of iron in the mother's body paves the way for adequate amounts of iron reserves in the newborn.

Iron deficiency also affects the baby after birth by affecting the quality (note: not the quantity) of the mother's breast milk.

 

Ways to Prevent Anemia Early On

For Filipino women, iron supplements are a must. While Anemia remains a dangerous disease, it can be prevented and even treated by taking the correct recommended dosage of iron supplements such as Iberet daily. Taking iron supplements regularly ensures that the body has enough iron to produce the needed amount of hemoglobin, this in turn ensures that your blood and body are adequately oxygenated.

Given the lack of iron availability in the Philippines and in reproductive women's diets, It is highly recommended that women take in iron supplements as early as 3 months prior to getting pregnant.

 

Continue Iron Supplements Postpartum? Yes.

It takes at least a year for iron in a woman's body to be replenished, so it is strongly advised tro continue taking iron supplements after giving birth.

Photo from flickr.com