What is iron deficiency anemia?
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?
symptom
People with mild or moderate iron deficiency anemia may not have any symptoms. More severe forms of iron deficiency anemia may cause common anemia symptoms such as tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Other symptoms include:
- fatigue
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- cold hands and feet
- pale complexion
What causes iron deficiency anemia?
reason
Your body needs iron to make healthy red blood cells. Conditions that increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia include:
blood loss
When you lose blood, you lose iron. Blood loss can occur in a variety of ways:
- Gastrointestinal (GI tract) bleeding due to inflammatory bowel disease, ulcers, colon cancer, or other gastrointestinal disorders (such as celiac disease).
- Trauma or surgery
- Menorrhagia or bleeding during childbirth
- Regular use of medications such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding
- urinary tract bleeding
Iron absorption problems
Certain conditions or medications can reduce the body's ability to absorb iron and cause iron deficiency anemia. These conditions include:
- Certain rare genetic conditions prevent the intestines from absorbing iron or make it harder to stop bleeding
- Endurance exercise, which causes athletes to lose iron through the gastrointestinal tract and breakdown of red blood cells
- Intestinal and digestive disorders, such as celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and Helicobacter pylori infection
- Stomach and intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery
other medical conditions
Other conditions that may cause iron deficiency anemia include:
- Kidney disease: People with kidney disease do not make enough of the substance erythropoietin. Your body needs erythropoietin to make red blood cells. If you have kidney disease, your doctor may prescribe erythropoietin.
- Long-term conditions that cause inflammation: These include congestive heart failure or obesity. They can make it difficult for your body to regulate and use the iron in your body.
Sometimes, if children don't get enough iron in their diet, they can develop iron deficiency anemia. This usually occurs between 9 months and 1 year old as the child transitions to eating whole foods.
How to prevent iron deficiency anemia?
prevention
Iron deficiency anemia may be preventable if you can treat the cause of the blood loss or the iron absorption problems that may be causing the condition.
It's always a good idea to help your body maintain the iron levels it needs by maintaining a healthy diet that includes good sources of iron and vitamin C.
- Good sources of iron include beans, dried fruit, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, tofu and dark leafy green vegetables.
- Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, strawberries and tomatoes, help the body absorb iron.
- Make sure young children eat enough iron-rich solid foods.
How much iron do I need each day?
Daily Iron Recommendations
The recommended daily amount of iron depends on your age, gender and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Generally speaking, a diet that includes beans, dried fruit, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, tofu, and dark leafy green vegetables will provide the iron levels your body needs.
How is iron deficiency anemia diagnosed?
diagnosis
To help diagnose iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will order blood tests to check your complete blood count (CBC), hemoglobin levels, blood iron levels, and ferritin levels. Your doctor may tell you that you have low iron levels in your blood. Your doctor may also tell you that you have iron deficiency anemia.
How is iron deficiency anemia treated?
treat
Several treatments are available to treat anemia.
- Iron supplements, also called iron pills or oral iron, help increase iron in the body. This is the most common treatment for iron deficiency anemia. It usually takes three to six months to restore your iron levels. Your doctor may ask you to take iron supplements during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you have side effects such as an unpleasant metallic taste, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach upset. Your doctor may recommend taking your supplement with food, lowering your dose, or trying a different type of iron supplement.
- IV or intravenous iron is sometimes used to inject iron into your body through one of your veins. This helps increase iron levels in the blood. Usually only one or a few sessions are needed to restore your iron levels. People with severe iron deficiency anemia or long-term medical conditions are more likely to receive intravenous iron supplements. Side effects include vomiting or headache after treatment, but these usually go away within a day or two.
- If you are iron deficient, medications such as erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) can help your bone marrow make more red blood cells. These drugs are often used with iron therapy in people with iron deficiency anemia and another chronic (long-term) disease (such as kidney disease).
- Blood transfusions rapidly increase the amount of red blood cells and iron in the blood. They are used to treat severe iron deficiency anemia.
- Surgery may be needed to stop the bleeding.
In addition to the steps above, your doctor may ask you to eat a heart-healthy diet and choose iron-rich foods such as beans, dried fruits, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, Tofu and dark leafy greens. Foods rich in vitamin C can help your body absorb iron. Some foods, such as black tea, can reduce iron absorption.
What happens if iron deficiency anemia is not treated?
Undiagnosed or untreated iron deficiency anemia can lead to serious complications such as fatigue, headaches, restless legs syndrome, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays in children. Iron-deficiency anemia can also worsen other chronic conditions or make treatment less effective.
