Massage is fine for mild anemia, but contraindicated for severe anemia.
Certain foods, such as dairy or calcium-rich foods, may prevent the body from absorbing iron. If people have iron-deficiency anemia, a doctor may recommend limiting these foods until their iron levels improve.
Try eating foods rich in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits or juice, peppers, and broccoli. Some foods can make it harder for your body to absorb iron. These include coffee, tea, milk, egg whites, fiber, and soy protein. Try to avoid these foods if you have iron deficiency anemia.
Certain skin conditions, such as open wounds, burns, rashes, or contagious skin infections (like impetigo or fungal infections), should not be treated with massage. Even non-contagious skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema may be aggravated by massage if not handled carefully.
A history of certain infections, blood diseases and autoimmune conditions increases the risk of anemia. Drinking too much alcohol, being around toxic chemicals, and taking some medicines can affect the making of red blood cells and lead to anemia. Age. People over age 65 are at increased risk of anemia.
Take time to rest
As part of anemia treatment, this involves getting enough sleep every night and resting as needed. Anemia can make a person feel fatigued, weak, and dizzy. It can also cause headaches and an irregular heartbeat. For patient safety, always take breaks when symptoms flare up.
Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath. Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness.
Massage is fine for mild anemia, but contraindicated for severe anemia.
One of the first red flags in a massage session is a lack of communication. If the therapist doesn't take the time to ask about your pain points or preferences before starting, that's a sign of trouble.
Certain conditions contraindicate massage, either because of the risk it may pose to the client or to the therapist. For example, if you have a cold, flu, or other contagious viral or bacterial infection, your therapist may decline to work with you because they don't want to catch a cold.
Warning signs of anemia you shouldn't ignore
Persistent fatigue. Weakness. Dizziness. Shortness of breath.
Adults with severe anaemia may be at risk of developing complications that affect their heart or lungs. For example, you may develop tachycardia, which is an abnormally fast heartbeat, or heart failure, where the heart fails to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Fatigue. Tiring easily, and waking up tired even after a good night's sleep, are common and potentially serious symptoms of anemia. This is due to reduced and compromised red blood cells that naturally cannot carry the required levels of oxygen to the organs – which, in turn, cannot function efficiently.
These are areas of the body where deep, sustained pressure should be avoided because of the structures that lie beneath. Those areas are the anterior and posterior triangles of the neck, suprasternal notch, sternum, axilla, spinal column, umbilical area, inguinal triangle, popliteal fossa, and the antecubital fossa.
Forceful and deep tissue massage should be avoided by people with conditions such as bleeding disorders or low blood platelet counts, and by people taking anticoagulant medications such as warfarin (also known as blood thinners). Massage should not be done in any potentially weak area of the skin, such as wounds.
In addition, massage is not advisable on the same day as donating blood or having an inoculation or vaccines.