Fat people can also suffer from anemia! Don’t take these 4 potential diseases lightly!

Fat people can also suffer from anemia! Most people think that only thin women are prone to anemia. However, a young man with a slightly plump figure went to donate blood with enthusiasm a few days ago. Unexpectedly, when he was doing a blood test before donating, he was told by the nurse that he could not donate blood due to "insufficient hemoglobin". He was surprised! Nutritionists say that anemia in obese people is more likely to be ignored than in thin people. Even if they look healthy, they may have four major potential diseases in their bodies.

Lack of disease awareness makes anemia more dangerous for obese people

Anemia refers to a disease in which the total amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood is insufficient, resulting in a decrease in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, insomnia, and inattention. It is generally more common in women or thin people. However, Hong Ruopu, a nutritionist at the Zhongxiao branch of Taipei City United Hospital, said that everyone may have anemia problems, and obese people are more at risk. They often think that their physical constitution is not as weak as that of thin people, and lack a sense of crisis, not realizing that their health may be in danger!

Common underlying diseases that cause anemia in obese people include hemorrhoids, malnutrition, cirrhosis, and severe renal impairment.

1. Hemorrhoids: For many obese people, especially young obese people, the cause of anemia is often due to long-term heavy bleeding from hemorrhoids, which causes a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. Patients often have bloody stools and stools like hemorrhage. Hemorrhoids refer to the abnormal expansion or enlargement of the veins inside the anus. These include: sitting or standing for long periods of time, excessive force during bowel movements, staying up late, overwork, improper diet, or frequent drinking, etc. These are the main reasons for hemorrhoids in young people today.

Sitting or standing for long periods of time, excessive straining during bowel movements, staying up late, and overwork are the main reasons why young people today develop hemorrhoids.

2. Malnutrition: Most obese people prefer high-calorie, high-sugar, high-oil, and high-salt foods. They love to eat meat and eat less high-fiber fruits and vegetables. This will not only increase the risk of hemorrhoids, but also cause malnutrition. Once there is a lack of too much nutrients such as iron and vitamin B12, the body cannot produce blood normally, and symptoms of anemia are likely to occur. Long-term anemia not only makes people feel tired, but also affects myocardial function, and in severe cases may lead to heart failure.

If malnutrition persists for a long time, the body will not be able to produce blood normally, which can easily lead to symptoms of anemia.

3. Cirrhosis: The liver is one of the main hematopoietic organs in the human body. Nutritionist Hong Ruopu said that modern people have an abnormal diet and often smoke and drink, which can easily cause liver overwork and damage. Although in the trilogy of liver disease, hepatitis will not affect the hematopoietic function, but if the liver disease develops to the stage of cirrhosis, the micro-vessels will become hard and brittle, affecting the blood circulation of the liver and forming portal hypertension, which will increase the portal vein pressure and cause esophageal varicose veins to rupture and cause heavy bleeding; in addition, it will also affect the liver's hematopoietic function and will be significantly weakened, which will lead to anemia in the long run.

4. Kidney disease: Healthy kidneys can sense the oxygen-carrying status of the blood. If hypoxia occurs, they will automatically produce erythropoietin (a hormone), which stimulates the hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, thereby increasing oxygen supply. However, when the kidneys become diseased and atrophy, the destruction of red blood cells increases and their lifespan decreases (the lifespan of red blood cells in normal people is 120 days; the lifespan of red blood cells in patients with uremia is 90 days), and the hematopoietic function of the bone marrow will also decline. Clinically, it is common to see patients with chronic kidney disease in stages 4 and 5 suffering from anemia due to severe renal damage.

Nutritionist Hong Ruopu emphasized that anyone may have anemia problems. If it is physiological anemia caused by excessive consumption of blood oxygen due to exercise, just like anemia in pregnant women, it is temporary anemia and can usually be improved by getting enough rest and supplementing with foods rich in iron and folic acid. However, if anemia persists for a long time, it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible to find out the cause of the anemia and provide symptomatic treatment and improvement.