Having sudden wishes to eat certain foods or substances is more common than you think, but when desire persists it can be a warning of the body for a mineral deficiency. According to News to the MinuteExperts point out that the insistent will of chewing ice may be associated with an iron deficiency, which in more severe cases can evolve into anemia.
When the body gives signs
Wishing ice on a hot day is normal. However, if the impulse is frequent and is not related to heat or thirst, an iron deficit may be at stake. The lack of this mineral compromises the production of healthy red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen, overloading organs such as the heart, which needs to pump faster to compensate for the failure.
Oncologist Daniel Landau explained, quoted by the same source, that this symptom is often linked to the so -called pagophagia, a condition characterized by the desire to ingest nutritional value, such as ice, clay, earth or paper.
Why does the ice become so appealing?
According to the same source, researchers have sought to understand this connection and some studies indicate that chewing ice increases alertness in people with iron deficiency anemia.
British doctor Helen Evans-Howells, cited by Business Insider, adds that ice can relieve symptoms associated with lack of iron, such as dry tongue or inflammation in the mouth. Another hypothesis is that chewing stimulates cerebral blood flow, decreased by red blood cell scarcity. However, the expert stresses that the most likely explanation is simple: the body finds a way to highlight nutritional deficiency.
Symptoms to be in attention
Iron deficiency affects men and women, but is more frequent in females. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, abundant menstrual losses, poor iron diets, gastrointestinal problems or previous surgeries increase the risk.
The most common signs, according to, include tiredness, weakness, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, loss of appetite, dizziness and headaches. Other evidence may be pale skin, hair loss, cold hands and feet, inflamed tongue, restless legs or brittle nails.
The risk of self -medication
Despite the frequency of this problem, you should not advance to supplements without medical evaluation, as referred to in the same source. Excess iron can be as harmful as it is lacking as accumulation in the body damages the liver and causes additional complications.
In some cases, deficiency anemia of this mineral may result in internal bleeding, so it is essential to exclude this possibility before starting any treatment. Medical advice is therefore fundamental to ensure a correct diagnosis and a safe approach.
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