Why Anemia in Adolescent Girls Can Not Be Left Unchecked

Medical Video: Anemia symptoms and treatments - Signs of being anemic

Anemia is still a health problem in Indonesia that has not been fully addressed. The prevalence of anemia in female adolescents in Indonesia is still high, amounting to 22.7%.

In your mind, maybe anemia is a disease that is not too heavy, but you are not wrong. Anemia that is not treated properly, especially for young women, can have a long-term impact on her and her child later. Yes, women will become pregnant and have children, during this pregnancy, adolescents who are already suffering from anemia can develop more severe anemia during pregnancy because their nutritional needs during pregnancy increase. If it is not immediately addressed, it can endanger him and his baby.

Why are young women at risk for anemia?

Adolescence is a period in which growth occurs quickly, so that nutritional needs during this period also increase. One nutrient that needs to increase is iron. Iron is needed in all body cells and is the basis of physiological processes, such as the formation of hemoglobin (red blood cells) and the function of enzymes.

Women need higher iron intake compared to men. The Nutrition Adequacy Table (RDA) table says that the iron needs of girls aged 13-29 years are 26 mg, this figure is much higher when compared to men of their age.

Why? In women, iron intake is not only used to support growth, but is also used to replace the iron that is lost through the blood that comes out every time she experiences menstruation every month. Because of this very high female iron requirement, women are at risk of developing iron deficiency, which can later develop into anemia.

Some risk factors that can cause anemia in adolescents are:

Fast growth
Insufficient intake of iron-rich foods or food sources of vitamin C
Do a vegan diet
Do a diet that limits calorie intake
Often skip meals
Like doing heavy exercise
Lots of blood loss during menstruation

What is the impact of anemia on adolescent girls?

The impact of anemia may not be immediately visible, but can last a long time and affect the lives of subsequent adolescents. Anemia in adolescent girls can have a long impact on her and also for the child she is born later. Ensure that teenage iron needs are met at this time to achieve optimal growth.

The impact of anemia is:

Disruption of growth and development
Fatigue
Increases susceptibility to infection because of a decreased immune system
Reduces function and endurance
More susceptible to poisoning
Impaired cognitive function

Iron deficiency or anemia that continues into adulthood and until the woman becomes pregnant, can pose a risk to her baby. Young women who are already pregnant and suffering from anemia can increase the risk of premature birth and give birth to babies with low weight.

Therefore, adolescent girls are advised to take iron supplements before becoming pregnant. This iron supplement helps meet iron requirements which are higher during pregnancy.

How to prevent anemia?

Anemia can be caused by unmet iron requirements. Therefore, to prevent anemia, you are advised to fulfill your iron needs by eating foods with balanced nutrition every day. So, if you are on a diet, you should still pay attention to your nutritional needs, yes.

You can start from breakfast that contains iron-based foods, such as fortified cereals with iron, bread, or green leafy vegetables. It is important for you to eat fruits and vegetables 5 servings per day to meet your vitamin and mineral needs. Complete your menu with food sources of protein, such as red meat, eggs, beans, which are also rich in iron.

You are also advised to eat foods rich in vitamin C along with food sources of iron so that the body can absorb iron optimally. Avoid consuming tea along with foods that contain iron, because the content of tannins in tea can reduce the body's ability to absorb iron. Also, with milk, because milk can also interfere with the absorption of iron in the body.

For those of you who are preparing to get pregnant, maybe taking iron supplements is needed to prevent anemia during pregnancy. It is best to treat it immediately if you have signs of anemia, such as weakness, fatigue, lethargy, pale skin, and others. Anemia is a disease that is easy to treat if you immediately meet your iron needs.

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