Iron-deficiency Anemia

Description

Iron deficiency Anemia is a common type of anemia, a condition in which the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the tissues of the body.

As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath.

You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation. Sometimes further tests or treatments for iron-deficiency anemia are necessary, especially if your doctor suspects that you are bleeding internally.

Symptoms

Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify.

Iron deficiency Anemia signs and symptoms may include:

  • Extreme fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Pale skin
  • Chest pain, rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath
  • Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Cold hands and feet
  • The inflammation or the pain of your tongue
  • Brittle nails
  • Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice, dirt or starch
  • Lack of appetite, especially in infants and children with iron-deficiency anemia

When to see a doctor

If you or your child has signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency Anemia is not something to self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a diagnosis instead of taking iron supplements on your own. Overloading the body with iron can be dangerous, because the excess accumulation of iron can damage the liver and cause other complications.

Causes

Iron deficiency Anemia occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and enables the red blood cells to carry oxygenated blood throughout the body.

If you do not consume enough iron, or if you're losing too much iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia, you get to produce.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

  • The loss of blood. Blood contains iron within red blood cells. So if you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women with heavy periods are at risk of iron-deficiency anemia because they lose blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss within the body — such as from a peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, a polyp of colon or colorectal cancer can cause iron-deficiency anemia. Gastrointestinal bleeding can result from regular use of some over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin.
  • The lack of iron in your diet. Your body regularly gets iron from the foods you eat. If you consume too little iron, over time your body can become iron deficient. Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and iron-fortified foods. For the proper growth and development, infants and children need iron in your diet, too.
  • An inability to absorb iron. Iron from food is absorbed into the bloodstream in the small intestine. An intestinal disorder, such as celiac disease, which affects the small intestine's ability to absorb nutrients from the digested food, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. If one part of your small intestine has been bypassed or removed surgically, which may affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.
  • Pregnancy. Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia occurs in many pregnant women because their iron stores need to serve their own increased blood volume as well as be a source of hemoglobin for the growing fetus.

Risk factors

These groups of people may have an increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia:

  • Women. Because women lose blood during menstruation, women in general are at greater risk of iron-deficiency anemia.
  • Infants and children. Infants, especially those who were low birth weight or premature infants, who do not get enough iron from breast milk or formula may be at risk of iron deficiency. Children need an iron supplement during periods of growth. If your child is not eating a healthy, varied diet, he or she may be at risk of anemia.
  • Vegetarians. People who don't eat meat may be at a higher risk of iron-deficiency anemia if they do not eat other foods rich in iron.
  • Frequent blood donors. The people who regularly donate blood may have an increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia from blood donation can deplete iron stores. Low levels of hemoglobin, relative to the donation of blood may be a temporary problem remedied by eating more iron-rich foods. If you say you can't donate blood because of low hemoglobin, ask your doctor whether you should be concerned.

Complications

Mild iron-deficiency anemia usually does not cause complications. However, left untreated, iron-deficiency anemia can become severe and lead to health problems, including the following:

  • The problems of the heart. Iron-deficiency Anemia can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Your heart has to pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen transported in the blood when you're anemic. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.
  • Problems during pregnancy. In pregnant women, severe iron-deficiency anemia has been linked to premature births and low birth weight. But the condition is preventable in pregnant women who receive iron supplements as part of your prenatal care.
  • Problems of growth. In infants and children, severe iron deficiency can lead to anemia as well as delayed growth and development. In addition, the iron-deficiency anemia is associated with an increased susceptibility to infections.

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of iron-deficiency anemia because of the choice of foods rich in iron.

Choose foods rich in iron

Iron-rich foods include:

  • Red meat, pork, and poultry
  • Seafood
  • Beans
  • Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach
  • Dried fruits, such as raisins and apricots
  • Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
  • Peas

Your body absorbs more iron from meat than it does from other sources. If you choose not to eat meat, it may be necessary to increase the intake of iron, plant-based foods to absorb the same amount of iron as it does someone who eats meat.

Choose foods that contain vitamin C to enhance the absorption of iron

You can improve your body in the absorption of iron by the consumption of citrus juice or eat other foods rich in vitamin C at the same time that you eat high-iron food. The vitamin C in citrus juices, such as orange juice, it helps your body to better absorb iron in the diet.

Vitamin C is also found in:

  • Broccoli
  • Grapefruit
  • Kiwi
  • Green leafy vegetables
  • Melons
  • Oranges
  • Peppers
  • Strawberries
  • Tangerines
  • Tomatoes

The prevention of iron-deficiency anemia in infants

To prevent iron-deficiency anemia in infants, feeding your baby with breast milk or iron-fortified formula during the first year. Cow's milk is not a good source of iron for infants and is not recommended for children under the age of 1 year. After 6 months of age, the beginning of the feeding of your baby iron-fortified cereal or puréed meat at least twice a day to increase the intake of iron. After a year, to make sure children not to drink more than 20 ounces (591 milliliters) of milk per day. Too much milk often takes the place of other foods, including those that are rich in iron.

Iron-deficiency Anemia

Diagnosis

To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may perform tests to look for:

  • Red blood cell size and color. With iron-deficiency anemia, the red blood cells are smaller and paler in color than normal.
  • The hematocrit. This is the percentage of your blood volume made up by red blood cells. Normal levels are generally between 35.5 and 44.9 percent for adult women and 38.3 for 48.6 percent of the adult males. These values may change depending on your age.
  • The hemoglobin. Lower than normal hemoglobin levels indicate anemia. The normal range of hemoglobin is generally defined as a 13,2 16,6 grams (g) of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL) of blood for men and 11.6 to 15 grams (g) of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL) of blood for women.
  • The ferritin. This protein helps store iron in your body, and a low level of ferritin usually indicates a low level of stored iron.

Additional diagnostic tests

If the blood test indicates iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may order additional tests to identify the underlying cause, such as:

  • Endoscopy. Often, doctors will check for bleeding from a hiatal hernia, ulcer or stomach with the help of endoscopy. In this procedure, a thin, lighted tube equipped with a video camera is passed through the throat to the stomach. This allows your doctor to see the tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach (esophagus) and stomach to look for sources of bleeding.
  • Colonoscopy. To rule out lower intestinal sources of bleeding, your doctor may recommend a procedure called a colonoscopy. A thin, flexible tube equipped with a video camera that is inserted into the rectum and guided to your colon. You are usually sedated during this test. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to view the inside of some or all of the colon and rectum to look for internal bleeding.
  • Ultrasound. Women may also have a pelvic ultrasound to look for the cause of the excess menstrual bleeding, such as uterine fibroids.

The doctor may order these or other evidence after a trial period of treatment with iron supplements.

Treatment

To treat iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements. Your doctor will also treat the underlying cause of the iron deficiency, if necessary.

Iron supplements

Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter iron pills to replenish the iron stores in your body. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you. The iron is also available in liquid form for infants and children. To improve the chances that your body is going to absorb the iron in the tablets, you may be instructed to:

  • Taking iron tablets on an empty stomach. If possible, take your tablets of iron when the stomach is empty. However, due to iron pills can affect your stomach, you have to take your iron pills with meals.
  • Do not take iron with antacids. The drugs that immediately relieve the symptoms of heartburn can interfere with the absorption of iron. Take iron two hours before or four hours after taking antacids.
  • Taking iron tablets with vitamin C. Vitamin C improves the absorption of iron. Your doctor may recommend you take your iron pills with a glass of orange juice or a vitamin c supplement.

Iron supplements can cause constipation, so your doctor may also recommend a stool softener. The iron can turn your stools black, which is a harmless side effect.

Iron deficiency cannot be corrected during the night. You may need to take iron supplements for several months or longer to replenish your iron stores. In general, you will begin to feel better after a week of treatment. Ask your doctor when your blood rechecked to measure your iron levels. To be sure that your iron stores are replenished, you may need to take iron supplements for a year or more.

The treatment of the underlying causes of iron deficiency

If iron supplements don't increase your blood iron levels, it is likely that the anemia is due to a source of bleeding or iron absorption problem that your doctor will need to investigate and treat. Depending on the cause, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia may involve:

  • Medications, such as oral contraceptives to reduce heavy menstrual flow
  • Antibiotics and other medications to treat peptic ulcers
  • Surgery to remove a bleeding polyp, a tumor or fibroid

If iron deficiency anemia is severe, it may be necessary to intravenous iron, or you may need blood transfusions to help replace the iron and hemoglobin quickly.

Preparing for your appointment

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any of the signs and symptoms that worry you. If you are diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, you may need tests to look for a source of blood loss, including tests to examine the gastrointestinal tract.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you to make the most of your time together. Iron-deficiency Anemia, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • There are other possible causes of the symptoms?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or long-term?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • Are there any alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have another health condition. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • Are there restrictions in the diet should I follow?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Have you noticed unusual bleeding, such as heavy periods, bleeding from hemorrhoids, or nosebleeds?
  • Are you a vegetarian?
  • Have you recently donated blood more than once?
Symptoms and treatment of Iron-deficiency anemia