What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron is essential for a variety of biological activities, including the formation of hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying molecule in your blood. Iron is also required for the proper functioning of cells, skin, hair, and nails. Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells in the blood. It is attributed to the loss of iron in the body, which makes it difficult for your body to create enough of a component in red blood cells that permits them to transport oxygen (hemoglobin). Despite the fact that iron deficiency anemia is a common ailment, many people are unaware that they have it. It’s possible to suffer symptoms for years before figuring out what’s causing them. Loss of iron in the blood owing to heavy menstruation or pregnancy is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age. It is also a result of a poor diet or certain intestinal illnesses that alter how the body absorbs iron. Iron deficiency anemia can make you weary and short of breath as a result. Iron supplementation is usually effective in treating iron deficiency anemia. Additional testing or treatments for iron deficiency anemia may be required in some cases, especially if your doctor suspects internal bleeding.

Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia

A lack of iron can be undetectable at first. The symptoms, on the other hand, get more severe as the body’s iron deficiency and anemia deteriorate.

The following are some of the indications and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia:

• Extreme exhaustion
• Weakness
• Skin that is pale
• Shortness of breath, chest discomfort, or a rapid heartbeat
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or headache
• Cold hands and feet
• Your tongue may be inflamed or painful
• Nails that are brittle
• Cravings for non-nutritive things such as ice, dirt, or starch that are out of the ordinary
• Poor appetite, particularly in newborns and children with anemia as a result of iron deficiency

Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia

When your body doesn’t have enough iron to make hemoglobin, you get iron deficiency anemia. Hemoglobin is a component of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and allows them to transport oxygenated blood throughout the body. If you don’t eat enough iron or you lose too much iron, your body won’t be able to generate enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia will develop. The following are some of the causes of iron-deficient anemia:

An Iron Deficiency in your Diet

Your body acquires iron from the meals you eat on a regular basis. Your body might become iron deficient over time if you ingest too little iron. Meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables, and iron-fortified foods are examples of iron-rich foods. Infants and children, like adults, require iron in their diets for normal growth and development.

Blood Loss

The red blood cells in blood contain iron. As a result, if you lose blood, you’re also losing iron. Because blood is lost during menstruation, women with heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can lead to slow, chronic blood loss in the body, such as that caused by a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp, or colorectal cancer. Regular use of many over-the-counter pain medicines, particularly aspirin, can cause also gastrointestinal bleeding.

Pregnancy

Iron deficiency anemia develops in many pregnant women without iron supplementation because their iron stores must serve their own enlarged blood volume as well as provide hemoglobin for the growing fetus.

An Inability to Absorb Iron

Iron is absorbed and transported to the bloodstream by the small intestine. Anemia as a result of iron deficiency can develop into celiac disease, a condition in which your intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from digested food is impaired. If part of your small intestine has been bypassed or surgically removed, it may limit your capacity to absorb iron and other nutrients.

Who Is at Risk of Iron Deficiency Anemia?

These individuals may be at a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia:

• Women who menstruate, especially those who have severe periods
• Women who are expecting a child, are breastfeeding, or have already given birth
• People who have had significant surgery or have been physically abused
• People who have celiac disease (sprue), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis), or Crohn’s disease.
• People who suffer from peptic ulcer illness
• People who have had bariatric surgery, particularly gastric bypass surgery
• Vegetarians, vegans, and those whose diets are devoid of iron-rich foods are at risk
• Infants who do not obtain enough iron from breast milk or formula, especially those who were born preterm or with a low birth weight, may be at risk of iron deficiency.
• During growth spurts, children require more iron. Your child may be at risk of anemia if he or she does not eat a healthy, diversified diet.
• Blood donation can deplete iron storage, therefore people who donate blood frequently may be at a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia.

How to Treat Iron Deficiency Anemia

Even if the source of the iron deficit can be determined and addressed, pharmaceutical iron (more iron than a multivitamin can offer) is usually required until the deficiency is remedied and the body’s iron stores are refilled. If the reason of the anemia cannot be determined or remedied, the patient may need to take iron supplements on a regular basis. Here are various treatment options for iron deficiency anemia:

Iron Supplements

Iron supplements can help restore iron levels in the body. Iron tablets should be taken on an empty stomach if at all feasible, as this helps the body absorb them better. You can take these with meals if they irritate your stomach. It’s possible that you’ll have to take the supplements for several months, however, constipation or dark stools are possible side effects of iron supplementation.

Blood Transfusion

Patients with severe iron deficiency anemia who are actively bleeding or have substantial symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or weakness may be given red blood cell transfusions. Transfusions are used to restore depleted red blood cells, however, they do not cure iron shortage completely. Transfusions of red blood cells will only provide a temporary boost. It’s critical to figure out why you’re anemic and address both the source and the symptoms.

Diet

Red meat, dark green, leafy vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, iron-fortified cereals, and a variety of other foods can help treat or prevent iron deficiency. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of iron. A doctor may recommend taking iron tablets with a source of vitamin C, such as a glass of orange juice or citrus fruit, if you’re taking iron tablets.

Health Complications of Iron Deficiency Anemia

Complications from mild iron deficiency anemia are rare. Iron deficiency anemia, on the other hand, if left untreated, can grow severe and cause a variety of health issues such as:

Problems with the Heart

A rapid or erratic heartbeat can be a result of iron deficient anemia. When you’re anemic, your heart has to pump extra blood to make up for the oxygen deficiency in your blood. This can result in cardiac failure or an enlarged heart.

Issues with Growth

Severe iron deficiency in newborns and children can cause anemia, as well as delays in growth and development. Additionally, anemia caused by iron deficiency is linked to an increased vulnerability to infections.

Problems during Pregnancy

Severe iron deficiency anemia has been associated to premature births and low birth weight newborns in pregnant women. However, if iron supplements are given to pregnant women as part of their prenatal care, the problem can be avoided.

Now that you Know…

Self-diagnosing and treating iron deficiency anemia might have negative health consequences if you have too much iron in your blood. Liver damage and diarrhea are two side effects of having too much iron in your blood. Consult your doctor if you’re experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.