Imagine this if you will, your body is gasping for oxygen and struggling to keep going, sort of like a two propeller airplane flying with one propeller.
Well guys that is pretty much what happens to you if you have anemia.
This would be either because you have too few blood cells to carry enough of your oxygen through your body or your blood cells lack sufficient hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries your oxygen.
Because of this problem your daily life may become double the effort due to your fatigue.
Anemia may also lead to headaches, cold hands and feet, and you may have pale skin (remember if you have anemia-it is your blood that puts the color in your cheeks).
You will find that in most cases anemia is caused by iron deficiency which is most times brought on by loss of blood.
To help you understand this, think of you having bleeding ulcers or a heavy menstrual period.
Another type of anemia may be caused by a deficiency of your vitamin B12 which you need in order to make red blood cells.
Those of you that are getting along in years are at a risk for this because of your age, your body's ability to absorb vitamin B12 from your food tend to lessen.
You also need folic acid for your red cell production, so if you do not get enough, you just might develop folic acid anemia.
Those of you that are alcoholics, smokers, people with digestive disorders, vegetarians, over fifty years old or if you are pregnant or nursing a baby are at the highest risk for folic acid and pernicious anemia.
In order to correct this problem you may need a prescription from your doctor and if you suspect you have anemia be sure to see your doctor.
But once you have anemia under control you should be able to control further attacks with what I call a varied and robust diet.
As always you must eat well to be well.