Doctors Reveal Why Women Are More at Risk of Anemia

JAKARTA - Women, especially adolescent girls and pregnant women, must be more alert to the threat of anemia that lurks in their health.

This health problem is not a trivial matter because it has a direct impact on productivity and daily quality of life, especially for those in the productive age.

Based on data from the Indonesian Health Survey (SKI) 2023 from the Ministry of Health, the prevalence of anemia in adolescents aged 15-24 years in the country reached 15.5 percent.

This means that about one in six adolescents in Indonesia is anemic.

Meanwhile, the number of cases in pregnant women is much higher, reaching 27.7 percent.

Seeing the urgency, dr. Ricky Purnomo from Siloam Hospital Purwakarta confirmed the higher vulnerability in the female group.

According to him, biological factors are the main cause of why women are more prone to anemia than men.

"That's right. In general, women do have a higher risk of anemia than men. The main cause is regular blood loss during menstruation," said Dr. Ricky Purnomo in a health seminar at Helens Night Mart Karangsari, Bandung, Saturday, June 13.

"In addition, the need for iron in women increases during pregnancy and breastfeeding because the body must support the growth and development of the fetus and baby," he continued.

Furthermore, he explained that a body that is deficient in iron will not be able to produce hemoglobin optimally.

"If the intake of iron is insufficient or blood loss is quite a lot, the iron reserves in the body can decrease and eventually lead to anemia. Therefore, women, especially adolescent girls and pregnant women, are among the groups that need to pay more attention to their iron status," he explained.

Anemia itself is a condition when the body is deficient in red blood cells or hemoglobin which serves to transport oxygen throughout the body. If left untreated, this condition can interfere with daily activities.

The most common early symptoms of anemia include fatigue, weakness, pale face or inner eyelids, frequent dizziness, headaches, difficulty concentrating, palpitations, and shortness of breath when exercising. In some people, cold hands and feet can also appear.

To anticipate this, Dr. Ricky advised the public to recognize first aid and implement a diet rich in iron.

Consumption of lean red meat, liver, fish, eggs, and green vegetables such as spinach is highly recommended for daily consumption.

In addition, the public is urged to avoid the habit of drinking tea or coffee at the same time as eating because it can inhibit the absorption of iron by the body.

The education regarding the dangers of anemia was held in conjunction with a free health examination initiated by Holywings Peduli.

Hundreds of residents of Pasteur Village, Bandung, appeared to crowd the event location to take advantage of mass health checks which include blood pressure, blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and uric acid.

Holywings Group President Commissioner and Head of the Holywings Peduli CSR Program, Andrew Susanto, emphasized his commitment to continue to be present in the community through programs that have a direct impact on the health sector.

"We hope that this activity will not only provide benefits through health checks and education regarding anemia, but also help meet the needs of facilities that can be used by the community in various social activities and health services. Public health is one of the important aspects that need to be given joint attention," concluded Andrew.