What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is a blood disorder where a person’s red blood cells are unable to distribute oxygen because a lack of iron in the body means it can’t produce the hemoglobin the cells need to function properly. Iron deficiency anemia has 3 stages; in stage 1 the body’s iron levels are beginning to drop but symptoms have yet to present themselves.
In stage 2, the prolonged low iron levels lead to the start of latent iron deficiency (iron deficient-erythropoiesis) and bone marrow begins to make red blood cells with insufficient hemoglobin content. It is in stage 3 that hemoglobin levels have been low for such a long period of time that the person begins to experience iron deficiency anemia symptoms.
What Causes Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body’s iron stores are depleted faster than they can be replenished through natural dietary intake, or when the regular supply or iron has been slowed for any other reason. People can become deficient in iron for any number of reasons, but the most common is blood loss. This can be because of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, or blood loss due to injury or surgery.
Blood loss causing iron deficiency may also be because of heavy menstruation periods for women, and other causes of iron deficiency anemia can be celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, an H-pylori infection, or gastrointestinal surgeries like a gastric bypass.
Iron Deficiency Anemia Symptoms
People with this condition will have iron deficiency anemia symptoms come on more strongly over time, and they include body weakness and tiredness, cold hands and feet, pale skin, dizziness or light headedness, and cravings to consume non-food items like ice, paper, and even dirt. Difficulty concentrating is another possible symptom of iron deficiency anemia.
Sufferers may also experience chest pain, elevated heartbeat, and shortness of breath but these symptoms are less common. People with this condition may also bruise their skin more easily, experience restless leg syndrome, or have brittle finger and toenails that grow concave rather than flat.
Iron Deficiency Anemia Treatment
The standard approach to iron deficiency anemia treatment is to take supplementary iron with food or an iron sucrose injection (Venofer), but this can also be done with an IV if dietary supplementation is not possible. It is usually when the person has iron supplement side effects that an IV will be used. Their doctor may also recommend eating a more iron-rich diet, which will have them consuming more of foods like legumes, bread and cereals, vegetables, protein, and certain fruits like figs, dates, and raisins.
