Some people like eating ice very much. That is, they have ice craving. This habit of looking common is not actually normal.
Ice craving deficiency: It is a common thing to eat ice or ice things during the summer season. People consume cold things to get relief from scorching sun and scorching heat. There is no harm in this either. But if you crave the ice repeatedly, it can be a sign of a serious health problem. It is necessary to identify it on time.
Some people like eating ice very much. That is, they have ice craving. This habit of looking common is not actually normal. In medical language it is named ‘Pagofageia’. It is considered an eating disorder, which is quite rare. It is also called pika. This is the situation like someone wants to eat chalk or soil. Pika is common in children and pregnant women. However, this can happen to people of any age.
By the way, there are many reasons for pagophazia. But according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, the biggest reason for this is iron deficiency. That is, this habit can be a sign of lack of anemia. According to a study published in Science Direct, there may be more cases of pagophazia in women during pregnancy, period and breastfeeding. Because during this time the risk of iron deficiency in the body increases.
Along with this, many times due to mental stress, there is a situation of pagophazia. In some cases, stress, anxiety or obese-compulsive disorder may also cause pagophazia. Ice craving can occur even when there is dehydration in the body.
Eating ice sometimes during the summer season is not harmful for health. Ice helps to keep the body hydrated. Sucking a small amount of ice pieces in cold drinks or juice can be fresh. However, chewing ice often causes damage to the outer layer of teeth. Which can cause sensitivity. Chewing hard ice can also cause cracks in the teeth. In such a situation, eating too much ice can spoil your oral health.
When you eat too much ice, there is a fear of stomach temperature suddenly decreasing. It has a direct effect on your digestive system and your digestive system starts to become weak and slow. Sometimes it can also cause a complaint of mild stomach pain or cramps. Along with this, there are some special enzymes to digest food in the body. Cold things like ice weaken them, so that these enzymes are unable to function properly. In such a situation, the digestive process also gets slow.
It is necessary to detect and get ice craving detected and treated. If you have been craving to eat ice for more than a month, then you should contact the doctor. Pagophazia can be detected by blood tests and physical tests.
Treatment of pagophazia is possible. If this is due to iron deficiency or anemia, the doctor may advise you to take iron supplements. On the other hand, if ice craving is causing stress, stress or OCD, then cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful for you. However, the most important for this is to identify ice craving. You can also control this condition by keeping the body enough hydrate. Consuming food rich in iron and vitamin C will be beneficial.
