'6 in 10 women suffer from low haemoglobin'

The survey conducted by Metropolis Healthcare in 36 cities in the country showed that low haemoglobin levels is affecting more than 50 percent women due to poor nutritionand deficiencies.

A total of 17 lakh samples of girls and women for about a period of two years were tested across the country as part of the study. In Chennai, about 2.27 lakh sampleswere tested.

Medical experts say that anaemia is a condition that develops when there is lack of healthy red blood cells or haemoglobin in the blood and its incidence is reported the highest among those in the 20-50 age group. Doctors state that the prevalence among them is because women in the age group aremenstruating.

“Menstruating girls and women are more deficient due to the monthly blood loss. The most common signs to watch out for anaemia would be lethargy, unexplained fatigue, pale skin and pale eyes. In children, a more severe form of anaemia is characterised by a behaviour called as pica where the child develops a tendency to eat dirt, clay and other unusual substances. This is not a harmful behaviour and disappears once anaemia is cured,” said Dr Anita Suryanarayanan, chief of laboratory services and vice presidentat Metropolis.

The medical condition can be taken care of with supplements and good nutrition, Dr Anita added.