KARACHI:
People often tend to crave non-food items such as dirt, ice, clay, flaking paint, glue, etc. We refer to this craving as ‘pica’, which is a compulsive eating disorder wherein people consume non-food items. 68% of pregnant women experience pica. The prevalence of pica in children is 18.5% and 10% in children older than 12 years old.
Those with iron deficiency anaemia often experience compulsive ice eating. According to research, people with iron deficiency anaemia chew ice to increase blood transmission to the brain. The more blood in the brain, the more oxygen it receives. The brain is used to being deprived of oxygen, so this spike in oxygen can increase alertness and clarity of thought. A common cause of pica is iron deficiency anaemia followed by malnutrition and pregnancy. Pica is a sign that the body is trying to correct significant nutrient deficiencies. In many cases, medications or vitamins can be used to treat this deficiency.
If iron deficiency anaemia is left untreated it can become severe and cause other health problems. Some of these include diabetes, heart problems i.e., enlarged hearts and heart failure, problems during pregnancy including premature birth and low birth weight, and physical and developmental growth disorders in infants and children. If you or someone you know suffers from pica, you should get your iron levels checked. In recent years, the number of people suffering from iron deficiency has grown in the country. More than 50% of women are iron deficient and should take supplements regularly prescribed by their doctors to overcome it. Health authorities should improve awareness about iron deficiency anaemia and encourage people to monitor their iron levels.
Aisha Usman
Karachi
Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2022.
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