Some people are addicted to chewing ice pro pagophagia. There might be several reasons for being addicted to ice, but could it cause any harm to our health?
I have found myself chewing ice in the past and I didn’t really realize why I had this sudden rush and needed to get a quick fix of ice to calm me down. After doing some research, I have found that It might have actually been a symptom of something else –in fact, it even has a name.
Pagophagia –or chewing ice addiction–, is a subset of pica: the urge to eat things with no nutritional value, a condition called Pica. Chewing ice once in a while does not actually cause harm. However, repeatedly chewing ice can damage your teeth, tongue, throat and stomach.
Why do people chew ice?
- Some people do it when they are stressed.
- People that have OCDs are also more affected.
- The most common cause of eating ice is Iron deficiency anemia.
The most common cause of eating ice is Iron deficiency anemia. - It mostly affects pregnant women and women in general.
- It could be a sign of iron deficiency.
- It can damage your voice.
Some people do it when they are stressed.
The bottom line is that chewing ice is not particularly good for you, but it is not harmful either unless you eat it all the time. if you find yourself addicted to it, visit the doctor to assess if it something normal or you are suffering from a condition.
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