hair loss and anemia??
Posted by emmzach on Jun 04, 2008 · Member since Apr 2007 · 77 posts
Hi there, I have not been very active on vegweb recently,(except for looking up recipes!!!) but I remember someone posting about having some hair loss and it being linked to anemia. I looked for the thread but could'nt find it. Anyway, I am having some hair loss and have been quite tired lately. I have a checkup scheduled for the end of july but I am looking for advice or tips from anyone. On a side note this past weekend was my one year vegan anniversary. I definately wouldn't have made the switch if i hadn't found this site. Thank you VegWebbers!!!! :)>>>
Have full bloodwork done...hairloss, constant tiredness and a feeling of cold are all symptoms of thyroid disease. I have Hashimoto's Disease, and these are some of the symptoms. Ask your Dr to check for antithyroid antibodies...I think they're called TS3 and TS4, or maybe I mean TH3 and TH4.
(Sorry, no sleep last night...)
That might have been me! I had some problems which led to an unusual dip in my iron, causing anemia. My hair was falling out like mad! It thinned noticeably, but after I took some iron pills it is back to normal. There are tons and tons of baby hairs regrowing, and five million strands don't fall out every time I brush my hair. Now my iron is just fine without the supplements.
If you're tired, anemia is a good bet. Go get some bloodwork done. They can also check for thyroid disorders like yabbit said.
Happy Veggiversary!
thanks KissmeKate and Yabbit. I definately will have all the bloodwork done. Do you think I should try to move up the appt? Or wait and try to up my intake of iron?? Thanks for your responses!!
If it's easy, you might want to try to schedule an earlier appointment (either move your checkup or JUST go in for the bloodwork, if you can). Just for peace of mind. You don't want to be tired for the next two months!
Are you sure you're getting enough B12. I was watching the video "Maximum Nutrition" by Dr. Michael Greger
http://www.veganoutreach.org/enewsletter/20031008.html#review
and he went into great detail how important B12 is and how even a lot of omnivores are deficient in it. There's a lot of other great info in there too.
If you have $7 plus S&H, that's a great video to buy: http://www.veganoutreach.org/catalog/
I found this on WebMD:
The symptoms of anemia vary according to the type of anemia, the underlying cause, and any underlying health problems. Anemia may be associated with other medical conditions such as hemorrhage, ulcers, menstrual problems or cancer -- and specific symptoms of those conditions may be noticed first.
The body also has a remarkable ability to compensate for early anemia. If your anemia is mild or developed over a long period of time, you may not notice any symptoms.
Symptoms common to many types of anemia include the following:
Easy fatigue and loss of energy
Unusually rapid heart beat, particularly with exercise
Shortness of breath and headache, particularly with exercise
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Pale skin
Leg cramps
Insomnia
Other symptoms are associated with specific forms of anemia.
Anemia caused by iron deficiency:
Hunger for strange substances such as paper, ice, or dirt (a condition called pica).
Upward curvature of the nails referred to as koilonychias.
Soreness of the mouth with cracks at the corners.
Anemia caused by vitamin B-12 deficiency:
A tingling, "pins and needles" sensation in the hands or feet.
Loss of sense of touch.
A wobbly gait and difficulty walking.
Clumsiness and stiffness of the arms and legs.
Dementia
Hallucinations, paranoia and schizophrenia.
Anemia caused by chronic lead poisoning:
A blue-black line on the gums referred to as a lead line.
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Vomiting
Anemia caused by chronic red blood cell destruction:
Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
Brown or red urine
Leg ulcers
Failure to thrive in infancy
Symptoms of gallstones
Sickle cell anemia:
Fatigue
Susceptibility to infection
Delayed growth and development in children
Episodes of severe pain, especially in the joints, abdomen and limbs
Anemia caused by sudden red blood cell destruction:
Abdominal pain
Brown or red urine
Jaundice (yellow skin)
Small bruises under the skin
Seizures
Symptoms of kidney failure
Call Your Doctor If:
Call your doctor if you notice any of these signs or symptoms of anemia.
Persistent fatigue, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, pale skin, or any other symptoms of anemia
Poor diet or inadequate dietary intake of vitamins and minerals
Very heavy menstrual periods
Symptoms of an ulcer, gastritis, hemorrhoids, or colorectal cancer
Concern about environmental exposure to lead
A hereditary anemia runs in your family and you would like genetic counseling before having a child
Women considering pregnancy -- your doctor will likely recommend that you begin taking supplements, especially folate, even before conception. These supplements benefit both mother and baby.
http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-anemia-symptoms
Wow, I didn't have any of the iron deficiency symptoms. I sure wasn't craving dirt. ???
But yeah, B12 supplements are important, even if you don't have a deficiency right now. I take a supplement once a week for it (because I don't think my nutritional yeast has it).
Also found this:
Common causes of hair loss
Male pattern baldness
Trauma
Chemicals
Medications such as allopurinol (Zyloprim) and warfarin (Coumadin)
Poor nutrition
Stress, for example, during a major illness
Uncommon causes of alopecia (hair loss)
Poor blood flow
Infections such as syphilis
Skin diseases such as lupus
Cancers
Hormone problems
Kidney failure
Liver failure
If the following symptoms occur at the same time as hair loss, you may have a serious medical condition and you should see a doctor right away.
Confusion
Poor appetite
Constipation
Diarrhea
Trouble breathing
Weight loss
Vomiting
Fever
Pain
Skin problems
There is no reason to seek emergency medical care for hair loss.
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/hair-loss/hair-loss
There doesn't seem to be a connection between enemia and hair loss. But this is WebMD, who knows how accurate that is.
Well, that's definitely what mine was. I'm really surprised they don't list it. I guess it falls under "poor nutrition," yeah?
Pica doesn't happen til you're reallllly low, like getting a transfusion low. I used to have a handful of patients with it, very odd stuff they craved.
thanks for the info! I had thought about a B-12 deficiancy. I think I will try to move up the appt, and be more diligent in taking my multi vitamin. Thanks again!!
Mom's taking me to the doctor tomorrow because I have had random bruises showing up all over my body ( even my face!) she thinks that it might be lack of iron.... but I dunno.
I went back to my DR because my hair has started falling out again, really noticeable, and she is going to check my iron as well as my thyroid again...my hairdresser wanted to put placenta extract on my hair! Blergh!!
thanks KissmeKate and Yabbit. I definately will have all the bloodwork done. Do you think I should try to move up the appt? Or wait and try to up my intake of iron?? Thanks for your responses!!
Have your thyroid, B12 and iron checked. Do not take iron supplements until your iron is checked. Too much iron is not a good thing.
B12 deficiency can create some anemia. I don't absorb B12.
Try to get to the doctor sooner than later.