Iron deficiency anemia one of the top causes of disability in India
Iron needs are higher in women than in men
Many people are unaware of the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia
New Delhi, 08 September 2017: As per recent reports, about 48% women in India in the age group 15 to 49 years have hemoglobin concentrations lower than 120g/L (12g/dL) and are diagnosed with anemia. Analysis also show that iron-deficiency anemia has remained the top cause of disability in India for 10 years now. The IMA indicates that anemia can have serious consequences such as fetal deaths, abnormalities, pre-term and underweight babies in pregnant women.
Anemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells or their oxygen-carrying capacity is insufficient to meet physiologic needs, which vary by age, sex, altitude, smoking, and pregnancy status. Hemoglobin, a pigment present in red blood cells, binds oxygen and delivers it to various cells in the body. Menstrual bleeding causes loss of iron in women of reproductive age, and thus, iron needs are higher in women than in men.