Health Issue? Why My Sudden “addiction” to Chewing Ice All the Time?

Question by Kim Y: Health Issue? Why my sudden “addiction” to chewing ice all the time?
As a teen, I did a bit, then no interest for 30 yrs or so. Now for the past 3 months, I have to chew on ice! I wake up & chew, during the day I take two cups to work to chew, then when I get home, I lug down another 32 ounces of ice. Why? It is such a craving! This is craziness!
031507 2:57
All of you thus far are pointing me in the same direction-iron deficiency. The prob with that is I’ve been tested and my primary care Doc said I was NOT anemic; but I beg to differ. My dad has pernicious anemia (vit B12 deficiency) and I’d swear my med reports came back with that, but my Doc said they didn’t. I’m also suffering from unexplained nerve deadness in my extremities, which I contend is the pernicious anemia. Think I may switch Doc’s – but my Doc is the very one that diagnosed my dad’s anemia! So, go figure!

Best answer:

Answer by DuneFL
Could be a vitamin deficiency, usually iron…ever been told you are anemic? You may be now. Look up pica..that is the term for your behavior….craving inedibles….yes, technically ice is edible, but it falls under pica behavior. You may want to start taking a multiple vitamin each day (one w/ iron) and see if that helps and mention to your dr. if it goes on. It’s really bad for the enamel on your teeth. Good Luck

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