Good Lifestyle

Food desires can occur for a range of physical, mental and emotional reasons. And while some desires can represent a sudden and intense but passage Desire for a specific food, the others are the way in your body to alert you to a more persistent underlying condition. Experts say that a specific example of this is the need for ice, as it can report a Vitamins deficiency .

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The thirst for ice can be associated with an iron deficiency.

The thirst for ice by a hot day is both normal and common. But if your desire is persistent and does not seem to be linked to heat or thirst, it may be due to a iron deficiency .

From a iron deficiency This often means that your body is unable to produce enough healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen through your body, it often turns into a condition called anemia. This can put additional pressure on your organs, especially your heart, "which must now pump stronger and faster to compensate for the lower number of red blood cells", " Daniel Landau , MD, oncologist and hematologist for The center of mesothelioma , previously explained to Best life .

A lasting desire to chew or suck in ice is called pagophagy, according to Mayo clinic . Their experts explain that pagophagy is a form of "Pica", a condition in which people are looking for and chew "substances that have no nutritional value - like ice, clay, soil or paper".

Although the exact cause of the desires of ice is not clear, a study have found that chewing ice could increase vigilance in people with iron anemia. Another study noted that, anemic participants, 16% had a pagophagy.

But why the ice?

"There are various hypotheses", " Helen Evans-Howells , a specialist in the general practitioner and allergies, said Initiate of Business .

The first is that the ice soothes the dry tongue and the fiery mouth which often accompanies an iron deficiency. Another is that chewing ice can increase blood flow to the brain, which is slowed down due to a lack of red blood cells.

However, Evans-Howells said: "The most likely reason is that this unusual desire is the way the body tries to emphasize that there is a nutritional deficiency."

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These are other symptoms of iron ferres anemia.

Iron deficiency can affect anyone, but it tends to affect women more frequently than men. You can be at high risk of iron deficiency if you have heavy menstrual periods, whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or you have recently given birth, have a low iron diet, have certain gastrointestinal conditions or have undergone certain surgical procedures.

Individuals with iron anemia Often feel tired, weak or breathless. If you are developing the state, you can also feel chest pain, a quick heart rate, bad appetite, headache, dizziness or dizziness. Some people with anemia can develop pale skin, hair loss, cold hands and feet, inflammation of the tongue, agitated legs or brittle nails.

Because these symptoms are not specific to anemia and could suggest a range of conditions, it is important to attract them to your doctor's attention if you notice them.

Mayo Clinic adds that you should never "self -tackle or treat" iron deficiency suspected by food changes or with nutritional supplements.

"Body overload with iron can be dangerous, because an excess iron accumulation can damage your liver and cause other complications." In rare cases, iron anemia can be the result of internal bleeding, and your doctor may wish to exclude this possibility before dealing with the problem.

According to the American Society of Hematology, your doctor will most likely start his assessment by administering a Complete blood count (CBC) . They can also check your serum iron rates by measuring the quantities of ferritin and transferrine in the blood. This can help reveal if your body is carrying and storing iron properly - a crucial index in the diagnosis of iron anemia.

Whether you cannot stop ice desire or feel tired and out of breath, your doctor may be able to help you.