I was diagnosed with anemia years ago. The doctor who diagnosed me* said I could easily treat it myself. I just needed to know how to recognize the symptoms, and then take some iron supplements until the symptoms improved. For many people, anemia comes and goes periodically throughout their lives, and isn’t at all difficult to treat. But my first doctor didn’t tell me how to tell if you have anemia.
How to tell if you have anemia
Some doctors just tell people vaguely that they should take iron whenever they’re feeling stressed or down. I don’t think that’s the best advice, given that those symptoms could belong to depression or any number of other ailments. It seems to me that if you’ve been diagnosed and advised on how to self-medicate, you need to be sure whether your symptoms are actually from anemia or not. I’ll share exactly what my doctor told me to look for. First, a few things about anemia.
Stressed? Exhausted? Could be anemia
Feeling lethargic and unable to cope, needing more sleep and not feeling rested when you get it – those are my typical anemia symptoms. Oh, and I also sometimes get headaches, cold feet and hands, and dizziness. But I’ve observed over the years that periods of great stress tend to lead to anemia – apparently, stress can cause your body to consume more minerals than usual. What often happens to me is that I think I’m stressed and maybe even slightly depressed because of it, and I don’t even realize that I’ve become anemic until the stress lessens a bit, but I still feel miserable. That’s why it’s essential to have these simple tests to determine if you’re anemic or not.
You may also want to read up on some foods to avoid if you have anemia.
Self-testing for anemia
Here are the tests my doctor told me to use to determine if I’m actually anemic at any given time. Remember: get diagnosed by a professional! This information is intended for people who have been diagnosed and advised to monitor their own condition.
If you know for sure you’re anemic, and you need a good iron supplement, try Solgar Gentle Iron. It’s chelated, which helps you absord it better without any stomach upset or constipation. I’ve taken it off and on for years, and it works very well.
- Check your eyelids. Look in the mirror, and get up close to it so you can see your face very well. Quickly pull your lower eyelid down and look at the skin inside that eyelid. It will start off a very pale whitish color and then become more pink (close to the color of raw chicken). The switch to pink should happen very quickly. If it takes a few seconds – or seems not to be happening at all – chances are, you’re anemic. And because I’ve been asked: yes, this tip works for people of all colors, as the inner eyelid goes through the same process in everyone. (The doctor who taught me this trick was African American.)
- Check your lips. Anemia tends to make you pale, and this is often most obvious at the lips. If your lips seem paler than usual, that’s an indicator of anemia. This tip also works for people of all skin tones.
- Check your nails. Your nail beds (the little half-moon near the cuticle) can also turn pale blueish when you’re anemic. This tip is considered a bit less reliable for dark skinned people, but if you know what color your nail beds are normally and notice them becoming paler or leaning more toward blue, that’s a sign of anemia.
These indicators may mean that you’re mildly anemic and need to follow your doctor’s instructions for what to do in that case (probably eat more iron-rich foods and take iron supplements as directed).
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