How to Know if You Are Anemic
By eHow Health Editor


If you are constantly tired you might be anemic.

Anemia is a decrease in the number of your red blood cells, and while there are a number of causes, the most common is iron deficiency. You may not have symptoms if you are mildly anemic, and even if you do, they may go undetected or be mistaken for something else.

Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Things You’ll Need:
* Iron Supplements

Step1
Examine your skin tone. Do you have very pale skin color? Even if you have a dark complexion, your lips may be pale and your skin may appear "washed out."

Step2
Consider whether you are fatigued or irritable all of the time. These are common symptoms of anemia.

Step3
Ask yourself whether you have frequent headaches or loss of appetite. These are usually early signs of anemia.

Step4
Consider if you've been constipated - also an early symptom, and may occur without any change in dietary habits.

Step5
Consider whether it is difficult for you to concentrate. This can affect your work and/or school performance.

Step6
Ask yourself whether you're craving unusual foods. This is called pica, and you may find yourself craving very bizarre non-foods, such as soil and paper.

Step7
Take note of your moods. Anemia can bring on feelings of depression.

Step8
Consider whether you've been short of breath. Red blood cells are a vital part of the respiratory process, and this symptom may occur when anemia is moderate to severe.

Step9
Take note of whether you feel a sense of coldness in your extremities. This may be caused by poor circulation as a result of anemia.

Step10
As yourself if you've been feeling weak and/or dizzy. In severe cases, you may feel too weak to get out of bed, and dizzy when you do get up.

i've tried taking iron supplements just to boost my vegetarian diet a little. i was warned that iron makes you itchy...and they were right! i felt like i had ants in my pants after taking that stuff! have there been any improvements with that?

Anxiety said:

eat foods with iron in them.

like nuts, avacados, tofu..i don't pills,cause i am horrible with pills, i take one them forget i have them lol. but yeah, some veggies have iron in them, like eat lotus root, very good in iron. alot of the asian veggies tend to have iron in them. also eat seaweed good source of iron.

baroque said:

i eat most of that stuff. i used to pass out a lot during my college years, i think because i was a veggie and all i'd eat was ramen and spaghetti. i could probably use a supplement these days, but i cook a lot with tofu and nuts. i don't know if i could eat seaweed regularly. a little goes a long way.

Anxiety said:

You probably know this already but in case you don't, kale is rich in iron too. I cook it alot with my greens or I eat it in salads.

baroque said:

i eat most of that stuff. i used to pass out a lot during my college years, i think because i was a veggie and all i'd eat was ramen and spaghetti. i could probably use a supplement these days, but i cook a lot with tofu and nuts. i don't know if i could eat seaweed regularly. a little goes a long way.

heybaby said:

i didn't know that about kale. and it's some good stuff, too.

Im anemic but personally Ive NEVER craved soil or paper

chillichocaholic said:

me neither

Im anemic. I found I was when I was 19 or 20.

I passed out in the bathroom-SPLAT! on my face. My mom rushed me to the hospital.
I have to take iron regularly. If I dont I get dizzy and weak.