Living With Anemia: Can It Be Prevented Or Avoided?

You cannot avoid anemia caused by a genetic disease. You often cannot avoid it due to blood loss. If your blood loss is from heavy periods, receiving treatment can help prevent anemia. If your body can’t absorb certain nutrients, such as iron or vitamin B12, talk to your doctor about taking a supplement. This can help manage your levels and prevent anemia.

A balanced diet can help prevent some types of anemia. Eat the foods below to prevent a deficiency.

Foods high in iron include:

·         red meat

·         seafood

·         organ meats, such as liver

·         whole grains

·         dried fruits

·         nuts

·         beans, especially lima beans

·         dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli

·         iron-fortified foods, such as breads and cereals (check the label).

Vitamin C can help your body absorb iron. Try eating foods, such as citrus fruits or juice. Some foods can make it harder for your body to absorb iron. These include coffee, tea, milk, egg whites, fiber, and soy protein. Try to avoid these foods if you have iron deficiency anemia.

Foods high in vitamin B12 include:

·         meat and poultry

·         organ meats, such as liver

·         fish and shellfish

·         eggs, milk, and dairy products

·         some fortified cereals, grains, and yeasts (check the label).

Foods high in folic acid (folate) include:

·         dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli

·         asparagus

·         beans

·         peas

·         lentils

·         bananas, oranges, and orange juice.

Pregnant women may be tested for anemia or take an iron supplement to help prevent it. However, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has insufficient evidence to assess the benefits and risks of screening pregnant women for iron deficiency anemia or having them take an iron supplement.

Evidence also is lacking to measure the benefits and risks of screening children ages 6 to 24 months. To help prevent your child from getting iron deficiency anemia, you can:

·         use iron-fortified formula

·         use iron-fortified cereal starting around 4 months of age

·         limit your child to less than 24 oz. (3 cups) of cow’s milk per day (after 12 months of age)

·         introduce foods high in iron starting around 12 months of age.

Warning: Keep all products with iron stored out of reach of your child. Iron can be toxic if taken in large amounts.

Anemia treatment

There are many treatment options for anemia. They vary based on the type, cause, and severity, as well as your overall health. The first goal of treatment is to create more healthy red blood cells that can carry enough oxygen to your body. Often this is achieved by increasing your red blood cell count and/or hemoglobin. The other goal is to treat the cause, if possible. For example, if anemia results from losing too much blood, your doctor will need to treat the cause of your blood loss.

If you have a type of anemia caused by a deficiency, make changes to your diet. This can increase your nutrient levels or help your body absorb nutrients.

In some cases, your doctor can prescribe medicine to help your body produce more red blood cells. Examples include:

·         Erythropoietin shots to treat normocytic anemia. These can help your bone marrow produce more red blood cells.

·         Hormone medicines to treat heavy periods.

·         Antibiotic medicines to treat infections.

·         Medicines to help prevent your body from damaging or destroying red blood cells.

Other forms of anemia require intense treatment. You may need surgery to stop blood loss or have your spleen removed. Other treatments include a blood transfusion or a blood and bone marrow stem cell transplant.

Talk to your doctor about how to manage a chronic disease or other health problem that causes anemia.