A hot summer is here, and many people might be tempted to suck or chew on ice. Moreover, others may find pleasure in popping an ice cube or two in their mouths once in a while or after enjoying a cold drink. Yearning for ice once in a while, especially in a hot climate or in case you're thirsty, is nothing to be stressed about. It is when craving becomes an obsession, both in terms of the amount of time and energy devoted to thinking about eating ice and actually doing it, that it becomes a cause for concern. This condition is called Pagophagia, particularly when ice is chewed. Yearning for ice and/or ice-cold drinks is frequently related to iron deficiency. The reason for this association isn't totally clear. In any case, as iron deficiency can cause weakness, a few analysts guessed that the urge to eat ice or drink cold refreshments may begin as a subliminal way to keep alert as the low temperature of ice can give an energy boost.
Pagophagia is characterized by an addiction-like compulsion to suck, eat, or chew ice and/or drink ice-cold beverages. The contrast between just enjoying consuming ice and Pagophagia is that the latter becomes a prolonged, unrelenting longing rather than a simple wanting. A few people with ice desires may need particular sorts of ice or crave to consume it in specific ways. In some cases, a few individuals may gravitate towards compulsively drinking ice cold drinks, whereas others focus on chewing ice. Sometimes, people eat ice coated in sugary syrups. Others focus on slurping or mouthing the ice similar to candy until it melts. A commonality is a constant consumption and desire for ice. It can also be a sign of a mental health issue, which may also indicate a more serious underlying condition.
If you have Pagophagia you might likely have some of the following symptoms:
- Pale and dry skin - Pallor, also known as pale complexion, is an uncommon lightness of skin color once compared with your typical complexion.
- Fatigue - is a feeling of continuous fatigue or weakness and can be physical, emotional, or a combination of both.
- Headache - is a pain in your head or face. This ache can be continuous, sharp, or dull.
- Sore tongue - Biting or scorching your tongue with hot or cold food or drink can cause aching and inflammation.
- Rapid heartbeat - is a complaint in which the heart beats faster than normal rates.
- Depression - is a common and serious health illness that destructively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you perform tasks.
- Dizziness - is used to define a variety of sensations, such as a sense of faintness, lightheaded, frailness, or trembling.
The symptom appears to be related to iron deficiency and is completely resolved with amounts of iron less than those required for the management of anemia or replenishment of iron stores. The facts on the rates of repair of mucosal cytochrome and blood-cell hemoglobin coincide with the temporal connection between the treatment of Pagophagia and the alteration of iron-lack anemia.
Doctors utilize the term "pica" to portray a longing for and chewing substances that have no nutritional value — such as ice, clay, soil, or paper. At least one shows that ice chewing might manifest alertness in people with iron deficiency. Less commonly, other nutritional issues may cause you to crave and chew ice. And in some individuals, pica could be a sign of emotional problems, such as stress, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or a developmental disorder. A thorough medical evaluation can help determine if ice pica is due to an underlying medical condition. If the cause of ice pica is an emotional or developmental issue, cognitive behavioral therapy may be helpful.
PNFP- Karla P. Calapardo, RND
References:
1. What Does It Mean if You Are Craving Ice?
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-does-craving-ice-mean-5105045
