What are the causes and symptoms of folic acid deficiency anemia?
This condition usually results from a diet lacking in foods with high folic acid content, or from the body’s inability to digest foods or absorb foods having high folic acid content. Other factors that increase the risk of developing folic acid deficiency anemia are: • age • alcoholism • birth control pills, anticonvulsant therapy, sulfa antibiotics, and certain other medications • illness • smoking • stress Fatigue is often the first sign of folic acid deficiency anemia. Other symptoms include: • anorexia nervosa • pale skin • paranoia • rapid heart beat • sore, inflamed tongue • weakness • weight loss Source: The Gale Group. Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
