Fighting Anemia- low RBC

Symptoms of Anemia
Symptoms of more severe anemia include rapid heartbeat, dizziness, headache, ringing in the ears, irritability, pale skin, restless leg syndrome, and confusion. A vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency may even cause your mouth and tongue to swell. These symptoms may sound scary, but the most common forms of anemia are easily treated, especially if caught early.
Symptoms of mild to moderate anemia:
• weakness
• fatigue
• shortness of breath
Symptoms of moderate to severe anemia:
• rapid heartbeat
• dizziness
• headache
• ringing in the ears
• pale skin (especially the palms of your hands), pale or bluish fingernails
• hair loss
• restless leg syndrome
• confusion
Symptom specific to severe vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency anemia:
• swelling of the mouth or tongue
Symptoms specific to pernicious anemia:
• numbness, tingling
• depression and/or irritability
• memory loss
All types of anemia except pernicious anemia are the result of a nutritional deficiency. It's best to avoid taking an iron supplement, however, unless directed by your physician. Taking iron supplements without medical supervision is potentially dangerous, especially for children; iron supplements also can cause constipation. So what's the best course of action? Look to your kitchen.
Home Remedy Treatments for Anemia
General malaise as well as some more frightening symptoms of anemia like a swollen tongue, and ringing in the ears, could be signs of the illness. Here are some home remedies that might save you a trip to the doctor.
Home Remedies From the Cupboard
Blackstrap molasses. Consider covering waffles or pancakes in a little molasses. Blackstrap molasses has long been known as a nutritional powerhouse. Containing 3.5 mg of iron per tablespoon, blackstrap molasses has been used in folk medicine as a "blood builder" for centuries.
Dry cereal. Fix yourself a bowl of your favorite cereal (go for one without the sugar and the cartoon characters on the box), and you'll be waging a battle against anemia. These days, many cereals are fortified with a nutrient punch of iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid (check the label for amounts per serving). Pour some milk over your flakes, and dig in.
Home Remedies From the Refrigerator
Beef liver. Beef liver is rich in iron and all the B vitamins (including B12 and folic acid). In fact, beef liver contains more iron per serving -- 5.8 mg per 3 ounces -- than any other food. Other animal sources of iron include eggs, cheese, fish, lean sirloin, lean ground beef, and chicken.
Beets. Beets are rich in folic acid, as well as many other nutrients, such as fiber and potassium. The easiest and most flavorful way to prepare beets is in the microwave. Keep the skin on when cooking, but peel before eating. The most nutrient-dense part of the beet is right under the skin.
Spinach. Green leafy vegetables contain loads of iron and folic acid. We're talking dark and green (iceberg lettuce, for example, is mostly water and is of little nutritive value), so choose your leaves carefully. Spinach has 3.2 mg of iron and 130 mcg of folic acid per 1/2 cup.
Do Remember
If you're a vegetarian or have cut way down on your intake of meats, milk, and eggs, you are at greater risk for anemia caused by nutritional deficiency because iron from plant sources isn't absorbed as well as iron from animal sources; also, vitamin B12 is found almost exclusively in animal foods. Be sure that you're getting adequate amounts of iron and vitamin B12 in your diet.
• Eat foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat whole grains, spinach, and legumes. This will increase absorption of the iron in these foods.
• If you drink coffee or tea, do so between meals rather than with meals; caffeine in these beverages reduces iron absorption.
Anemia can be difficult to diagnose because the fatigue associated with it is easily mistaken for a number of other conditions. If your doctor has diagnosed you with anemia, these home remedies can help on your road to recovery.
http://health.howstuffworks.com/home-remedies-for-anemia1.htm

[Trish77]

I think it needs to be pointed out that you treat anemia based on the reason for the anemia.  This article deals with anemia that would come from loss of blood for example, not medication-induced anemia.  Alot of the suggestions here are aimed at raising iron in the blood and that is not our issue with medication-induced anemia and can potentially cause some harm.

Folic acid and B12 help in only about 15% of the cases but I'm taking it, as I'll take whatever boosts my hemoglobin and helps avoid the dosage reductions I don't want and the rescue drugs I want to avoid.  

Iron is NOT something we should be taking on treatment unless the doc says so and the issue with low hemoglobin due to our Hep C treatment drugs is not usually low iron.

Your other post indicates you may have low hemoglobin from your treatment drugs so please be checking with your doctor before adding any iron intake to your health regimen.  I want YOU to get the best care possible as well.

I'm not at my own PC .. ahem .. so have no access to articles to post links to at the moment.  Will do as I can and hope others will post what they have as well.  Good topic.

Trish

[nygirl7]

NO IRON

NO IRON

NO IRON

Unless you want to help the virus replicate in that case........  ;)

Good post Trish.