Iron Deficiency Anemia

Introduction

Iron Deficiency means less than adequate iron levels in the body, it develops when the amount of iron in your blood is insufficient to make hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.  Without enough iron, the body produces fewer and smaller red blood cells. As a result, less hemoglobin is available, and your body’s cells do not get enough oxygen.

Causes

Any condition in which a person loses blood over a long period of time can cause iron-deficiency anemia. Bleeding and blood losses through gastrointestinal tract can be caused by colorectal cancer, hookworms, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, irritable bowel syndrome, aspirin-induced bleeding, blood clotting disorders, and diverticulosis.

You may also develop this condition if:

• Your kidneys are not working normally.
• You have had surgery to remove part of your stomach.
• You eat too few iron-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables, beans, red meat, and liver.
• You follow an unbalanced, inadequate weight-loss diet.

Symptoms

Mild iron deficiency anemia may not cause noticeable symptoms. If anemia is severe, symptoms may include:

• Headache
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Feeling tired
• Sensitivity to cold
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Heart racing
• Pale skin
• Palpitations
• Shortness of breath on exertion
• Brittle nails
• Smoothing of the tongue
• Lip cracking

Treatment for iron deficiency anemia focuses on increasing your iron stores so they reach normal levels and identifying and controlling any conditions that caused the anemia. The doctor may recommend the patient take oral iron supplements to treat iron-deficiency anemia. If poor iron absorption is a problem, the doctor may recommend therapy with injections of iron.

Most people start to feel better within a few days of beginning treatment. Even though you feel better, you will need to keep taking the pills for several months to build up your iron stores. Sometimes it takes up to 6 months of treatment with iron supplements before iron levels return to normal.