Why Do Anemic People Eat Ice

Chewing ice doesnt mean youre anemic or deficient just that we tend to see that behavior more often in people who are.

Why do anemic people eat ice. Medical science has not yet 100 sure why people with anemia seem compelled to chew ice but suspect the coolness of the crunchy cubes may soothe the oral inflammations often caused by iron deficiencies. To continue reading this article you must log in. And in some individuals pica is a sign of emotional problems such as stress obsessive-compulsive disorder or a developmental disorder.

A general condition called Pica describes people who consume non-edible foods such as chalk coal clay sand ice etc. If playback doesnt begin shortly try. Research suggests ice may soothe the discomfort of tongue inflammation in patients with anemia.

For many people after diagnosis and proper treatment for iron deficiency the desire to eat ice. Craving and chewing ice is a form of pica and is known as pagophagia. Compulsive ice eating is often associated with a common type of anemia called iron deficiency anemia.

A common symptom of iron deficiency anemia is pica and specifically the strong urge to eat ice. Compulsive ice chewing is increasingly considered to be a symptom of anemia particularly iron deficiency anemia there are more than 400 types of anemia. Occasionally chewing ice is a sign of emotional distress.

Compulsive ice eating is often associated with a common type of anemia called iron deficiency anemia. Anemia occurs when your blood doesnt have enough healthy red blood cells. Anemia is a medical condition in which your blood doesnt carry enough oxygen to the rest of.

Pica is disorder in which people crave and eat non-food items or items with no nutritional value such as dirt paper or ice. By constantly chewing on ice youre putting pressure on your teeth and you risk wearing down the enamel the thin outer coating that protects the delicate internal tissue. Its been theorized that some ice eaters may like the cooling relief that the ice brings to any mouth inflammation or fissures symptomatic of this form of anemia although some individuals with the condition report they feel compelled to satisfy their need to chew on crunchy icy things.