Iron Deficiency Anemia What is Iron Deficiency Anemia? Anemia is a condition characterized by low levels of red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia, characterized by a lack of iron in the human body. Iron is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, a protein needed for the transportation of oxygen into the cells all over the human body. When the levels of iron are low, the hemoglobin levels are also low. This leads to less oxygen which is delivered to tissues and organs, necessary for their normal functionality. Iron deficiency anemia is a common medical condition. However, many people don’t even know that they have it. The signs and symptoms develop over a long period of time, without causing any problem or being noticed by the patient. What causes Iron Deficiency Anemia? There are many different reasons that can lead to iron deficiency anemia, like: • Inadequate iron intake is the most common reason of iron deficiency anemia. Foods like eggs, meat or some green leafy vegetables are rich in iron. Eating too little of this kind of food for a long period of time will eventually lead to iron deficiency anemia. This usually occurs and is more noticeable during times of rapid growth and development. Like for example, young children, adolescents or pregnant women. • Blood loss with menstruation or pregnancy, are one of the most common reasons of iron deficiency anemia in women of reproductive age. • Inability to absorb iron is another cause of iron deficiency anemia. This is due to certain disorders (like for example Celiac disease) or even surgeries of the gastrointestinal tract, which interfere the body’s ability to normally and sufficiently absorb iron. Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia The signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia usually develop over a long period of time. In the beginning, they are mild or even not noticeable. As the condition aggravates and the levels of iron and hemoglobin in the human body continue to get lower, the signs become noticeable. The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia will become more noticeable. Characteristic signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include: •
Weakness,
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Fatigue,
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Pale skin,
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Dizziness,
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Shortness of breath,
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Cold hands and feet,
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Crawling feeling on the legs,
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Headaches,
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Brittle nails,
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Irregular and fast heartbeats, etc.
How is Iron Deficiency Anemia diagnosed? Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is made based on a complete blood count examination, during which levels of all blood components are measured. How is Iron Deficiency Anemia treated? The treatment of iron deficiency anemia depends on its cause and the severity of signs and symptoms. If the reason of iron deficiency anemia is blood loss, without solving or finding the reason of this blood loss, anemia can’t be treated. Iron supplements are often prescribed. They try to restore iron levels in the body. Eating a diet rich in food which has high levels of iron, like meat, eggs or green leafy vegetables is also recommended. In severe cases, blood transfusion is necessary.