Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Stress Causing Anemia

Have you ever felt an intense bout of fatigue overtake you? Or perhaps, a spell of dizziness had your breath come out in short spurts. If you’re familiar with such feelings, you might be suffering from anemia. But, before you let panic override your senses, you should know that stress can cause anemia.

In this blog, we’ll uncover what exactly anemia is, what causes it, and how improving your diet can help treat it.

What is Anemia

Anemia is a blood disease that causes your body to be low in its red blood cell count. Essentially, this lack of hemoglobin leads to a disruption in your blood flow. The oxygen in your blood decreases significantly, which causes plenty of trouble for you and your body.

For instance, as a side effect, you might experience an irregular breathing pattern, heart palpitations, excessive fatigue, pale skin, and a constant headache, among others.

Can Stress Cause Anemia?

Many people wonder if stressing out too much can make your body develop anemia. Since stress is generally harmful, especially when it exceeds the normal dosage, it is highly possible that stress and anemia are related.

A person with anemia is prone to symptoms that resemble a panic attack. Plus, when your body is under a lot of pressure and stress, it can lead to anxiety, hyperventilation as well as severe anxiety attacks. Thus it’s safe to assume that since stress causes anxiety, and anxiety leads to anemia, stress does, in fact, play a hand in the decrease of hemoglobin.

Not to mention, stress affects your body’s vitamin metabolism. Nutrients like magnesium, iron, and hydrochloric acid can decline, which can induce an anemic reaction.

Other Causes of Anemia

When your red blood cells fall below their average count, your body begins to experience problems in its day-to-day tasks. Besides stress, here are some other reasons why you might fall prey to anemia:

• Iron Deficiency
• Vitamin Deficiency
• Acute or Chronic Inflammatory Conditions
• Cancer
• Poor Diet
• Pregnancy
• Menstruation
• Hereditary Genetic Conditions
• Medical History
• Old Age

The Proper Diet to Deal with Anemia and Stress

No matter how you get anemia, the important thing is to recover as soon as you can. Hence, this is why maintaining a good and nutritious diet is essential. In addition, what you eat should be carefully monitored. Simply pair it with stress management techniques, regular exercise, and meditation to regain control over your body. Below is a list of how you can improve your diet to restore the red blood cell count.

• Green Tea
• Matcha Tea
• Swiss Chard
• Kale
• Spinach
• Sweet Potatoes
• Eggs
• Organ Meat (liver, kidney, heart, etc.)
• Seafood
• Red Meat
• Dried Fruits
• Beads and Pasta high in Iron

The Final Word

All in all, if you tend to overstress a lot and are wondering whether stress can cause anemia, the answer is: Yes. That is why it is crucial to take care of your mental as well as your physical health. Moreover, if you experience any anemia symptoms, schedule an appointment with Paramount Family Medical Clinic or call at (281) 372-6892 .