Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

Anaemia is a blood disorder that is caused by a lack of iron, vitamin B12, folic acid and other nutritional deficiencies.

Anaemia is mostly associated with women. But while women are more prone to the disorder, as they lose iron in their monthly menstrual cycle, men are not immune to the condition.

Dr. Lundi Richards, CEO of the Blood Bank, confirmed that men do get the condition, and not as infrequently as they may believe.

"Men, like women, sometimes are a little bit malnourished and do get anaemia from iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, especially if they are alcoholic and begin to have liver disease or stomach problems," Dr. Richards pointed out.

Other conditions such as haemorrhoids (piles), bleeding ulcers, bleeding from conditions such as liver failure, and more importantly in men, certain cancers of the gut, including colon and stomach cancer, leukaemia, prostate and bladder problems may also lead to bleeding that can cause anaemia.

"Once you see anaemia in a man, you begin to think seriously and investigate it without any doubt," Dr. Richards added.

But how do you know if you have developed anaemia?

Common symptoms

Some of the common symptoms include weakness, tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations (fast heartbeat), pale skin and poor appetite.

However, long-term anaemia caused by iron deficiency can cause a range of symptoms including a burning sensation in the tongue, dryness in the mouth and throat, sores at the corners of the mouth, difficulty in swallowing and brittle hair.

According to Dr. Richards, while there are numerous iron supple-ments around, it is important to have a balanced meal that includes red meat and green, leafy vegetables.

These include meats such as kidney and liver, and vegetables such as callaloo.

In vitamin B12 deficiency, the the stomach cannot utilise the vitamin that is ingested.