Anemia

If you find yourself extremely fatigued and napping or eating ice chips, you may have iron-deficiency anemia. It is a condition that occurs when the blood doesn't get sufficient hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of anemia, which affects 1 in 5 women, include feeling tired, unusual shortness of breath during exercise, fast heartbeat, cold hands and feet, brittle nails and headaches. Doctors says sometimes there are no symptoms, or the symptoms may be subtle or unusual, such as a craving for ice chips, a condition known as pica.

While there are several types of anemia, a greater number of African-American women suffer from iron-deficiency anemia. Doctors says that may be because Black women are more likely to have fibroid tumors, which can result in extremely heavy or prolonged menstrual periods. Another cause of anemia is a diet that lacks iron-rich foods. To prevent the condition, some doctors recommend an increase in your intake of red meat, liver, seafood, dried fruits, green leafy veggies and iron-fortified cereals in order to get the necessary daily dose of iron, which is 15 mg for menstruating women.

A blood test can determine if a patient has anemia. Depending on the cause of anemia, a doctor may prescribe iron pills, such as ferrous sulfate, which, when taken with Vitamin C, absorbs more quickly into the bloodstream.

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