Anemia in Women: Self-Help and Treatment
Author: Joan Gomez
Many women are unaware that they have anemia. Its symptoms — fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, headaches, and poor concentration — are often attributed to stress rather than iron deficiency. Using case studies, Joan Gomez discusses the prevention and treatment of anemia during childhood, adolescence, and menopause.
Library Journal
While many consumer health books discuss iron-deficient anemia (the most common form of anemia and the type generally found in women of child-bearing age), few are devoted specifically to the topic. British psychiatrist Gomez has published numerous books and articles in the psychiatric literature, as well as a variety of books on consumer health topics. Originally published in England in 1998 as How To Cope with Anemia, her book is definitely easy to read, if repetitive, with a plethora of "feel good" case studies. In 14 chapters, she covers topics ranging from various populations (girls, the elderly, menopausal women, and babies) to basic information about blood, signs and symptoms of anemia, dietary do's and don'ts, the meaning of various blood tests, and types of anemia other than iron-deficient. However, neither sickle cell anemia nor thalassemia (Cooley's anemia) is mentioned. There are some lapses: the author warns readers about drinking "too much" or "too strong" black tea or coffee, but she doesn't say how much is too much or too strong; she advises that "good brands" of herbal remedies are available over the Internet, but she fails to provide any names or explain that herbal medicines may vary in strength and quality from brand to brand; and she makes some unfortunate references to "health freaks." For large public libraries and comprehensive consumer health collections. (Illustrations, appendixes, and index not seen.)-Martha E. Stone, Massachusetts General Hosp. Lib., Boston Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Table of Contents:
Contents
Introducing Anemia....................1
How Does Someone Become Iron Deficient?....................3
How This Book Can Help....................4
Chapter 1: Could You Be Anemic?....................6
A Spot Check....................6
Vague Symptoms....................7
When to Test for Iron Deficiency....................9
Dangerous Diets....................12
Isobel's Story: A Nightmare with a Happy Ending....................13
Chapter 2: All about Your Blood....................14
What Blood Is Made Of....................14
Where Blood Cells Come From....................17
The Raw Materials....................18
Human Hemoglobin from Tobacco?....................23
Chapter 3: Symptoms, Signs, and Tests....................24
Symptoms and Signs of Pre-Anemia....................26
Symptoms of Anemia....................27
Signs of Anemia....................28
Emergency Symptoms....................29
Tests....................30
Chapter 4: Iron-Deficiency Anemia....................33
Spot the Enemy: How to Detect Iron-Deficiency Anemia....................35
Anemia in Children....................40
Tests....................42
Causes of Iron-Deficiency Anemia....................43
Treatment....................49
Chapter 5: Anemia Due to Shortage of Vitamin B-12....................52
Symptoms and Signs of B-12 Deficiency....................53
Causes of B-12 Deficiency....................57
Tests....................60
Treatment....................60
Chapter 6: Pernicious Anemia....................63
Causes of PerniciousAnemia....................64
Characteristics of the Pernicious-Anemia Sufferer....................65
Signs and Symptoms....................66
Tests....................67
Look-Alike Anemia....................69
Treatment....................70
Chapter 7: Other Types of Anemia....................72
Folate-Deficiency Anemia....................73
Causes of Folate Deficiency....................73
Symptoms....................78
Tests....................79
Treatment....................79
Preventing Folate Deficiency in Pregnancy....................80
The Body's Needs....................81
Foods Providing Folates....................82
Aplastic Anemia....................84
Causes of Aplastic Anemia....................84
Treatment and Outlook....................85
Chapter 8: Babies and Toddlers....................87
Bottle or Breast?....................88
Guidelines for Breast-Feeding....................90
Weaning....................93
Fussy Feeders....................95
Chapter 9: Preadolescent and Adolescent Girls....................96
Lifestyle Risk Factors in Adolescence....................97
Anemia in Teenage Girls....................100
Chapter 10: Pregnant Women....................103
Food and Diet in Pregnancy: Increased Demands....................105
Weight Gain....................110
The Annoyances of Pregnancy....................111
Chapter 11: Menopause....................114
The Mechanism of Menopause....................115
Menopause or Anemia?....................116
Perimenopause....................118
The Decade of Menopause....................120
Psychosocial Aspects of Menopause....................125
Chapter 12: The Senior Years....................128
What Makes Older People Especially Vulnerable?....................129
Other Food Substances Needed to Prevent Anemia....................131
Symptoms of Anemia That Are Easily Missed in the Elderly....................132
Red Alert for People over Seventy....................133
Chapter 13: How to Avoid Anemia....................136
Protein....................136
Iron....................138
Vitamin B-12 and Folic Acid....................139
Vitamin C....................140
Dietary Don'ts....................140
Watch Your Alcohol Intake....................141
Could You Be Losing Blood Without Realizing It?....................142
Is It in Your Genes?....................143
Medicines That May Trigger Anemia (But Usually Do Not)....................144
Warning Signs....................145
Sensible Eating....................145
Chapter 14: Herbal Medicines and Anemia....................149
Iron-Deficiency Anemia....................150
Anemia Associated with a Lack of B-12, Including Pernicious Anemia....................153
Additional Dietary Recommendations....................154
Afterword....................155
Bibliography....................156
Resources....................157
Index....................159
New interesting textbook: Sanar a traves de la oracion or Everything Parents Guide to Childhood Illnesses
Masaje, rapido y facil
Author: Nitya LaCroix
Fast and effective massage techniques that can be practiced at the drop of a hat--either alone or with the help of a friend--are introduced in this authoritative, step-by-step guide. Also presented is a series of daily exercises designed to relieve tension before side-effects like pain and discomfort have the chance to surface. Though most of the quick strategies can be practiced anytime and anywhere, several relatively elaborate techniques, such as scalp, face, and neck messages and extended relaxation methods, are best suited to the comfort of home.
