Believe it or not, these aren’t just signs of a sinus infection or bad cold. They can be linked to anemia, a bloody troublesome condition if it’s not under control. Most of us hear anemia, and the first thing that comes to mind is an iron deficiency. But there’s much more to anemia.
What is anemia?
It's important to have a good understanding of anemia before trying to pinpoint symptoms. In short, anemia has to do with red blood cells and hemoglobin. If the body does not have enough red blood cells or if the red blood cells do not make enough hemoglobin, it can result in anemia.
Hemoglobin is important because it carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of your body. Furthermore, the body’s organs and tissues cannot work properly without sufficient hemoglobin. Therefore, the body will develop complications if the organs and tissues don't get sufficient hemoglobin due to a deficiency in the red blood cells.
There are many reasons why someone might develop anemia. For example, women are at high risk for anemia because of menstruation. Blood loss can cause anemia, so women with heavy periods are at greater risk.
Another contributing factor for anemia is difficulty producing red blood cells. Without enough red blood cells, the body cannot get the hemoglobin it needs to function well. Similarly, the body may not be able to produce enough red blood cells, and red blood cells may die before the body has a chance to make replacements.
Unfortunately, the risk of anemia is higher if two or more of these occurrences take place at once. Major diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and celiac disease, can lead to anemia.