Posted by Joe Baker on December 26, 2001 at 01:04:29:
In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: dark rim around mouth still posted by James McNeil on December 25, 2001 at 21:28:52:
A couple of things I just can't ignore. James, please don't take this personally, but where health is involved wrong information can be very dangerous and must be set right:
1. If you are African-American, your chances of having sickle-cell anemia are only 1 in 600. If you are Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Indian, or Mediteranean, your odds are about 1 in 1800. If you are not (or at least do not appear to be) any of these, the odds are incalculably small.
2. Only a doctor can diagnose sickle-cell anemia.
3. There are MANY causes of anemia, but in a young lady the most common cause is poor diet and - er - 'young lady' stuff.
4. You should DEFINITELY visit your doctor to determine the cause of your anemia and the best course of action. Most anemia can be easily treated, but many courses of treatment have side-effects, or are ineffective for certain causes of anemia.
5. Picky perhaps, but it is the iron itself, not the proteins per se, that carry oxygen. The basic point that your air will improve is correct.
6. Anyone who is considering boosting his/her iron should consider that high iron has its own drawbacks, including higher incidence of certain cancers and damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys. The doctors believe that this was a major contributing factor in my father-in-law's sudden and fatal heart attack, at age 53. Nothing to tinker with at home, boys and girls.
Joe Baker, who is not a doctor but could just about pass for one considering his family's history of anemia and other blood disorders.