Demystifying anemia: 7 lesser-known causes to be aware of

Anemia is a growing illness, observed in women. Characterised by fatigue, skin pallor, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness or a fast heartbeat, anemia happens when the number of red blood cells in the body reduces. Dr Anura Kurpad, Professor & Head of Physiology at St John's Medical College and Senior Advisor for the Nutrition Portfolio of Tata Trusts, shared his insights with HT Lifestyle, and explained, “Understanding what’s driving the condition allows for targeted interventions, making it possible to effectively manage and often reverse anemia.” he added that while iron deficiency is one of the driving causes, there are other lesser-known causes that can trigger anemia. Overindulgence in alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to anemia by impairing the production of healthy blood cells and causing premature destruction of red blood cells. Exposure to pollution and chronic inflammation: Another potential contributing factor to anemia is air pollution exposure, particularly PM 2.5, which has been shown to increase systemic inflammation, reduce iron absorption and affect red blood cell formation in the bone marrow.