Iron deficiency anemia
Make an Appointment
Talk to DoctorOverview
Iron deficiency anemia is a blood disorder characterized by shortage of healthy red blood cells in the blood. It occurs when the body lacks sufficient iron to produce hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that enables them to transport oxygen throughout the body. It is considered as the most prevalent type of anemia.
Iron deficiency anemia can develop when individuals do not consume enough iron or have disorders that restrict the amount of iron their bodies absorb. The symptoms may develop gradually. A person may experience weariness or shortness of breath.
Doctors will perform tests and ask questions to determine the cause of iron deficiency. Iron supplements can be prescribed as a treatment for iron-deficiency anemia. If internal bleeding is suspected, additional testing or treatment may be required.
Symptoms
Iron deficiency anemia symptoms can range from mild to severe and typically develop gradually. If left untreated, they may worsen over time. Some of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include:
- Unusual tiredness
- Weakness
- Skin is paler than usual
- Concentration problems
- Chest discomfort, heart palpitations, or shortness of breath
- Headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness
- Chilly feeling on hands and feet
- Tongue inflammation or glossitis
- Nail brittleness or koilonychia
- Pica or strange appetites for non-food items, such as ice, chalk, paint, clay, or starch
- Appetite loss, particularly in newborns and toddlers with iron – deficiency anemia
- Restless legs syndrome
Individuals who are experiencing persistent symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia should seek medical attention promptly. It is important to receive a proper diagnosis before taking iron supplements. Overloading the body with iron can be harmful and may result in liver damage and other complications. Therefore, self-diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anemia is not recommended.
Causes
The body typically absorbs a steady amount of iron from the food that is eaten. Any excess iron is stored in the body to be used later in the production of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a vital component of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and enables the red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body’s iron stores are depleted faster than they can be replenished, or when there is a decreased flow of iron into the body, resulting in insufficient iron to produce hemoglobin. Iron deficiency anemia is often caused by:
- Loss of blood: The disease such as peptic ulcer, hiatal hernia, colon polyp, or colorectal cancer can cause slow and chronic blood loss within the body which can deplete the body’s store of iron and can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Blood loss can also happen due to heavy menstruation in women. Regular long-term use of various over-the-counter pain medications, particularly aspirin, may result in gastrointestinal bleeding.
- Iron deficient diet: Eating an iron-rich diet can help lower the risk of iron deficiency anemia. Iron-rich dietary food groups are iron-fortified foods, meat, eggs, and leafy green vegetables. Infants and children also require iron in their meals for optimal growth and development. Iron is acquired by the body on a daily basis through the foods that are consumed. However, if an individual’s iron intake is inadequate, they may develop iron deficiency gradually over time.
- Inability to absorb iron: If a portion of the small intestine has been surgically bypassed or removed, the capacity to absorb iron and other nutrients may decline. There can also be diseases, intestinal or digestive condition that reduces the intestine’s capacity to absorb nutrients from digested food, such as celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, or inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. Iron is absorbed from meals by the small intestine and is then transported into the bloodstream.
- Pregnancy: The iron stores of pregnant women must support their own increasing blood volume as well as provide hemoglobin for the developing fetus. Iron deficiency anemia develops in many pregnant women without iron supplementation.
Risk factors
Although iron-deficiency anemia can affect anyone, certain groups of individuals are at a higher risk of developing it. These groups include:
- Women: Iron deficiency anemia is most likely to happen to women who have menstrual cycles.
- Infants and children: Infants are born with iron from the mother who carried them through pregnancy. After four to six months, the iron supply runs exhausted. Babies who are exclusively breastfed or who consume unfortified formula may not acquire enough iron. During growth spurts, children require more iron. The child may be at risk of anemia if he or she does not eat a healthy, diversified diet.
- Vegetarians: Individuals who do not consume iron-rich foods or meat may be at a greater risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia.
- Frequent blood donors: Low hemoglobin levels caused by blood donation may be a short-term issue. People who regularly donate blood may be at a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia because blood donation depletes iron reserves. In some cases, a potential blood donor may be ineligible to donate due to low levels of hemoglobin. It is usually recommended that they consult with a doctor to determine if it is a cause for concern. One way to address this issue is by increasing the consumption of iron-rich foods.
Diagnosis
Blood tests are used to diagnose iron deficiency anemia. The tests aim to analyze the following:
- Red blood cell size and color: The quality of the red blood cells can help confirm the condition. The red blood cells of people with iron deficiency anemia will appear to be pale rather than bright red, and they will be smaller than usual.
- Hematocrit: Although may differ based on age, normal levels for adult women range between 35.5 and 44.9 percent, while adult men range between 38.3 and 48.6 percent. This is the proportion of the blood volume that is made up of red blood cells.
- Hemoglobin: The typical hemoglobin range for women is 11.6 to 15 g/dL and 13.2 to 16.6 g of hemoglobin per deciliter (dL) of blood for men. Anemia is defined by hemoglobin levels that are lower than usual.
- Ferritin: When ferritin levels are low, it typically indicates a deficiency in stored iron, as ferritin is a protein that stores iron.
Other diagnostic tests
People diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia may be required for further tests to determine the cause or rule out other causes of the condition. In some cases, these tests may be requested following a trial period of iron supplementation treatment.
- Endoscopy: The procedure requires the used of a small, illuminated tube with a video camera is inserted through the neck and into the stomach, which enables the doctor to examine the stomach for signs of bleeding. Endoscopy is frequently used to look for bleeding from a hiatal hernia, an ulcer, or the stomach.
- Colonoscopy: A colonoscopy helps the doctor to check inside the colon and rectum to see if there is any internal bleeding. During the procedure, a narrow, flexible video camera-equipped tube is placed into the rectum and is guided to the colon. The patient may be put under general anesthesia or conscious sedation during the process.
- Ultrasound: Causal factors of heavy monthly menstruation, such as uterine fibroids may be identified through a pelvic ultrasound.
Treatment
When a person suffers from iron-deficiency anemia, it is usually due to blood loss or insufficient absorption of iron from their diet. The treatment for this condition involves diagnosing and addressing the underlying cause while also addressing the iron deficiency. To restore iron levels, doctors often prescribe iron supplements, which can be taken orally in pill form or administered intravenously. If deemed necessary, the doctor will address the underlying cause of your iron deficiency as part of the treatment plan.
- Iron supplements: Iron supplements prevents and treats iron deficiency in the body. The doctor will determine the appropriate dose for an individual. To replace the body’s iron levels, over-the-counter iron supplements may be prescribed.
Iron deficiency does not resolve overnight. It can take three to six weeks for iron supplements to start increasing the body’s iron reserves. The doctor will check the iron levels and notify the patient when they have improved. Even so, they may still advise to take iron supplements for at least six months to allow the body to recover its iron stores. Normally, patients should begin to feel better after a week or so of taking iron supplements.
Iron is commonly available in tablet form. It is also accessible in liquid form for newborns and children. To increase the likelihood that the body will absorb the iron in the tablets, the doctor may advise:
-
- Taking iron tablets on an empty stomach. It is recommended to take iron supplements first thing in the morning on an empty stomach for better absorption. In cases where individuals are unable to tolerate iron supplements, it may be recommended to take the supplement with or shortly after a meal to minimize the likelihood of experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort.
- Not taking iron with antacids. Iron should be taken two hours before or four hours after taking antacids. Medications that provide rapid relief from heartburn symptoms may interfere with the body’s ability to absorb iron.
- Taking iron tablets with vitamin C. The doctor may advise taking iron supplements with a vitamin C supplement or a glass of orange juice. Vitamin C is known to increase the amount of iron that the body absorbs.
Iron may cause the stools to become black, which is a completely safe side effect. Since iron supplements might also induce constipation, the doctor may prescribe a stool softener to remedy this.
It is important to follow the prescribed dosage and avoid taking iron supplements for a longer duration than recommended. Prolonged use can cause a buildup of excess iron in the body, which can lead to serious complications.
Treating underlying causes of iron deficiency: Iron-deficiency anemia may be caused by internal bleeding or a problem with iron absorption. If the anemia persists despite iron supplementation, the doctor may need to modify the treatment plan based on the underlying cause. This could include additional medications or even surgical intervention.
If the anemia is caused by a bleeding polyp, a tumor or a fibroid, a surgery to remove it may be necessary. Patients with peptic ulcers may be prescribe antibiotics and other drugs to manage the condition. Women with heavy monthly periods may be advised to take oral contraceptives to reduce menstrual flow.
Severe cases of iron deficiency anemia may require intravenous iron or blood transfusions to immediately restore iron and hemoglobin.
