What are the signs of anemia? Anemia itself is a deficiency of hemoglobin (the oxygen carrying component of the red blood cell) in the blood. This deficiency can be due to a low red blood cell count due to excessive blood loss or some type of disorder causing destruction of red blood cells at a rate quicker than their production. Hemoglobin deficiency can also be caused by a lack of iron – a component needed for hemoglobin production.

Since anemia is the lack of the oxygen-carrying component of the blood – signs of anemia tend to be similar to those shown when the body isn’t getting enough oxygen.

Signs of Anemia include:

• Headache – Like all part of the body, the brain requires oxygen to function properly. Any lowering of oxygen level in the brain can cause a swelling of the arteries of the area, causing headaches.

• Feelings of breathlessness – Your body gauges the rate of your respiration based on the levels of oxygen in your blood. As a natural response to low oxygen levels in your bloodstream, your body tells you that you need to breathe more, hence breathlessness.

• Weakness – You body needs oxygen to function. Without enough oxygen, your body cannot function at “full power.”

• Fatigue – For the same reasons that you would feel weak, you would also experience fatigue.

• Excessive thirst – The reason for excessive thirst isn’t necessarily known, but has been reported by some with anemia.

• Dizziness – Associated with lack of oxygen

• Fainting - Associated with lack of oxygen 

• Rapid or irregular pulse – When your organs are not getting the oxygen required, you body may try to increase blood flow by increasing your heart rate.

• Difficulty concentrating – Usually associated with the brain not getting the required amount of oxygen.

• Ringing in the ears – Can be due to a change in blood pressure and lack of oxygen

• Difficulty sleeping - When your body is not functioning properly is can be difficult to sleep.

• Pale complexion - Associated with lack of oxygen

• Abnormal menstruation – Anemia is a physiological stressor, which can affect the menstrual period.

What Causes Anemia?

The most common cause of anemia is a lack of iron. This deficiency is usually due to a poor diet lacking in the vitamins, minerals and proteins that the body requires to function properly. However, issues that are more serious can also be at the root of the problem. Conditions such as kidney disease, autoimmune disorders, congenital disorders or an issue with the body being able to absorb the nutrients ingested.

What to Do When You Experience the Signs of Anemia

Anemia due to a lack of nutrients can usually be solved with a simple iron supplement.
However, due to the seriousness of other issues that could be at the root of the problem, a visit to your doctor is highly recommended.

Your colon: that important part of your digestive system that you really didn’t know was that important. If most people were asked, “What does the colon do?” many wouldn’t have a clue how to answer. Even fewer would be able to tell you the problems that an unhealthy colon can cause. To maintain good health, you body has to be able to properly process food and eliminate harmful toxins from itself. Enter the colon.

The colon’s main job is:

• To extract the last bit of water from your food
• Absorb nutrients
• Absorb electrolytes
• Dispose of toxins
• Remove body waste

The technical stuff

You colon forms the lower part of your Gastrointestinal tract – the large intestine, rectum and anus. It starts at the cecum (where your small intestine connects to the large intestine) rectum. It’s comprised of the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon and sigmoid flexure. The first part of the colon is responsible for absorbing nutrients and electrolytes while the latter part is for excreting body wastes.

So what happens when my colon is unhappy?

When your colon isn’t functioning as it should, your body isn’t able to absorb nutrients and dispose of toxins as well is it should be able to. This can cause a whole host of problems ranging from bloating and constipation to things as serious as colon cancer. When the colon ain’t happy, ain’t no body happy.

Take care of your colon.

If you don’t, you may have to visit one of these guys…

So go pour yourself a tall glass of prune juice get on a nice colon cleansing diet and make a toast to a clean colon and a long happy life!