Pagophagia is a condition that causes a person to compulsively crave and chew ice. It is actually a form of pica, which would be a disorder that causes people to crave and also eat items that are not food or even have no nutritional value. For example, a person with pica might find themselves longing for and also consuming things like chalk or sand.
Chewing on ice helps a lot of people with iron deficiency to feel more alert and mentally sharp. Calcium deficiency. Having low levels of iron is the most common nutritional deficiency associated with pagophagia, but low calcium can also trigger the condition. It is not abnormal and is not harmful to the individual’s health. These are some facts on it.
Pagophagia often goes undiagnosed because people with the condition often think it’s harmless. However, if it is caused by another medical disorder, that disorder could also go undiagnosed which may lead to more medical complications. For instance, when anemia goes undiagnosed and is not treated, it could cause heart issues.
If left untreated, pagophagia could lead to other medical complications. The most common being dental problems. Consuming ice at the quantity and frequency people with the condition do, could damage your teeth. Pagophagia may cause nutritional deficiencies. For example, consuming large amounts of ice daily might prevent you from eating a balanced diet and supplying your body with enough nutrients to function properly.
The excessive amount of water consumed could cause metabolic disorders like hyponatremia which is actually a condition that occurs when the sodium levels in your blood are abnormally low.
Sources: Healthline.