Health condition: Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is due to inadequate iron in the body. When the iron is not enough, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin (a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen).

Iron deficiency anemia can be corrected by:

• Including iron supplements in your diet or,

• Treatment of iron-deficiency anemia if your doctor suspects that you're bleeding internally.

Symptoms

Iron deficiency anemia can go unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron, the signs and symptoms become severe.

These signs and symptoms may include:

• Extreme fatigue

• Weakness

• Pale skin

• Chest pain 

• Fast heartbeat

• Shortness of breath

• Headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness

• Cold hands and feet

• Inflammation of your tongue

• Brittle nails

• Poor appetite

Causes of iron deficiency anemia

Blood loss. Blood contains iron within red blood cells. Blood loss leads to iron depletion. Women with heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because of menstruation. Peptic ulcers, hiatal hernia, a colon polyp, or colorectal cancer can also cause iron-deficiency anemia.

Lack of iron in your diet. Your body gets iron from the foods you eat, and if you don't consume iron or consume too little iron, your body can become iron deficient with time. Iron-rich foods like meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables, and iron-fortified foods add iron to your body.

meat

eggs

Leafy green vegetables

Inability to absorb iron. Iron from food gets absorbed into your bloodstream in the small intestine. Intestinal disorders, such as celiac disease, affects your intestine's ability to absorb nutrients from digested food, which may lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Surgically removing part of your small intestine may affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.

Pregnancy. Many pregnant women suffer from iron deficiency anemia. If they don't get iron supplements, this may cause severe complications. Since the iron they acquire is also needed by the growing fetus.

Risk factors

The people that may be at an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia are:

Women. Women are at greater risk of iron deficiency anemia as they lose blood during menstruation.

Infants and children. Infants, especially those with low birth weight or born prematurely and who don't want breast milk, may be at risk of iron deficiency. Children need extra iron as they grow. If your child isn't eating healthily, your child may be at risk of anemia.

Vegetarians. People who don't eat meat may be at a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia if they don't eat other iron-rich foods.
Frequent blood donors. People who regularly donate blood may be at an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia since blood donation can deplete iron stores.

Complications

Mild iron deficiency anemia usually doesn't cause complications. However, if iron deficiency anemia is untreated, it can become severe and lead to the following health problems:

Heart problems. Iron deficiency anemia may lead to a rapid heartbeat. When someone is anemic, the body doesn't get the required oxygen. So the heart will pump faster and harder to compensate for the reduced oxygen levels.

Problems during pregnancy. In pregnant women, severe iron deficiency anemia may cause premature births and low birth weight, babies. But the condition is preventable if these women receive iron supplements during antenatal care.

Growth problems. Severe iron deficiency can delay growth and development in infants and children.

Summary

If you or your child develops signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, please visit a doctor. Visit a doctor for a diagnosis instead of self-medicating with iron supplements at home. When the body gets overloaded with iron, some body parts like the liver may get damaged.