Feeling tired all the time is so common among women in our villages that many families think it is normal. Often it is not. It can be a sign of anaemia, one of the most common health problems for women in Pakistan, and one of the easiest to check.
What is anaemia?
Anaemia means the blood does not have enough haemoglobin to carry oxygen around the body. The most common cause is not having enough iron. In Pakistan's National Nutrition Survey 2018, about four in ten women of child-bearing age were anaemic.
Signs of anaemia
- Feeling tired or weak all the time
- Pale skin, pale nails, or a pale colour inside the lower eyelids
- Getting short of breath on the stairs or during light housework
- Dizziness or headaches
- A fast or pounding heartbeat
- Cold hands and feet
Many women have no clear signs at all, which is why a simple blood test matters.
Why anaemia matters in pregnancy
During pregnancy the body needs much more iron. Anaemia leaves a mother exhausted and less able to cope with blood loss at delivery, and it is linked to babies being born early or small. Iron and folic acid tablets are a routine part of antenatal care. Take them as your doctor advises, and come for your antenatal check-ups so your blood can be checked.
Foods that help
- Meat, chicken, fish and eggs: the iron in these is the easiest for the body to use
- Daal, chanay, lobia and other beans
- Palak, saag and other dark green leaves
- Add vitamin C: lemon, oranges, amrood or tomatoes with a meal help the body absorb iron
- Move chai away from meals: tea with food reduces how much iron you absorb, so drink it an hour before or after eating
If you are already anaemic, food alone may not be enough, and your doctor may give you iron tablets. Keep iron tablets out of reach of children, because they can be dangerous for them.
A simple blood test, close to home
A blood test (CBC) shows whether you are anaemic and how severe it is. At the Mehar Jana & Amina Foundation in Sarfaraz Khan Village, Mardan, this can be done in our on-site laboratory, with a gynaecology consultation if you need one. It is worth getting checked if you:
- Have any of the signs above
- Are pregnant or planning a pregnancy
- Have heavy or long periods
- Recently had a baby or a miscarriage
Women from Katlang and the nearby villages are welcome, day or night. Call 0302-5766976, send us a message, or get directions.
Come straight in or call if you have chest pain, faint, are very short of breath, or have heavy bleeding, especially during pregnancy.
This article is general health information, not a diagnosis. Please speak to a doctor about your own situation before starting any medicine.
For any danger sign, call or come straight in.