Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia. This is a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. As the name suggests, iron deficiency anemia is caused by not having enough iron. Without enough iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin to carry oxygen.

1. How common is iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia. This is a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells that can carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Iron deficiency anemia is caused by not having enough iron. Without enough iron, your body cannot produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that helps them carry oxygen, hemoglobin. Therefore, iron deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and short of breath.

Statistics show that up to 20% of all women and 50% of pregnant women, while only 3% of men do not have enough iron in their bodies.

2. Signs of Iron Deficiency Anemia

At first, iron deficiency anemia may be so mild that you may not even notice that you have it. But as your body becomes more iron-deficient and the anemia becomes more severe, the signs and symptoms increase.

Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia may include:

• Weakness.
• Pale skin.
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat, or shortness of breath.
• Headache, dizziness, or lightheadedness.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Inflammation or pain in the tongue.
• Broken fingernails.
• Unusual cravings for non-nutritive substances, such as ice.
• Poor appetite, especially in infants and children.

Symptoms will become more pronounced as iron deficiency anemia becomes more severe.

3. Iron deficiency anemia in women

Pregnancy, heavy menstrual bleeding, and uterine fibroids are all reasons why women are susceptible to iron deficiency anemia.

Heavy menstrual bleeding occurs when a woman bleeds more or longer than usual. Normally, menstruation lasts 4 to 5 days and the amount of blood lost is 50 to 80ml. Heavy menstruation is when a woman bleeds for more than seven days and loses twice as much blood as usual.

It is estimated that about 20% of women of childbearing age have iron deficiency anemia. Pregnant women are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia because they need more blood to support the growing fetus.

A pelvic ultrasound can help doctors find the cause of heavy menstrual bleeding in women, such as uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids often do not cause symptoms; they occur when muscle tumors grow in the uterus. Although they are not usually cancerous, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding that can lead to iron deficiency anemia.

4. When should you see a doctor for iron deficiency anemia?

If you or your child has signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia is not something you can self-diagnose or treat. So see your doctor for a proper diagnosis rather than trying to supplement iron at home. Taking too much iron can be dangerous because the buildup of excess iron can damage your liver and cause other complications.

5. What causes iron deficiency anemia?

If you don’t get enough iron or if you lose too much iron, your body can’t produce enough hemoglobin, and you develop iron deficiency anemia.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

• Blood loss: Iron is found in red blood cells, and when these cells die, iron is released, and the body reabsorbs some of it. So if you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women with heavy menstrual periods lose blood during their periods and are at risk of iron deficiency anemia. Slow, chronic blood loss in the body, such as from peptic ulcers, herniated discs, colon polyps, or colorectal cancer, can cause iron deficiency anemia. Regular use of certain over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin, can cause gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Lack of iron in your diet: Your body normally gets iron from the foods you eat. If you get too little iron, over time, you can become iron deficient. Foods rich in iron include meat, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and iron-fortified foods. For normal growth and development, infants and children also need iron from their diet.
  Inability to absorb iron: Iron in food is absorbed into the bloodstream through your small intestine. Digestive disorders such as celiac disease, which affect your intestine’s ability to absorb nutrients from digested food, can lead to iron deficiency anemia. If part of your small intestine is surgically removed or completely removed, it can affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.
• Pregnancy: Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia occurs in many pregnant women because they need more blood to support themselves and their developing baby.

Along with the causes listed above, there are other risk factors for iron deficiency anemia, including:

• Gender: Because women lose blood during menstruation, women in general are at higher risk of iron deficiency anemia.
• Infants and children: Infants, especially those born prematurely or with low birth weight, are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because they do not get enough iron from breast milk or formula. Children need extra iron during their growth spurts. If they do not eat a healthy, varied diet, they may be at risk of iron deficiency.
• Vegetarians: Non-vegetarians are at higher risk of iron deficiency anemia if they do not eat other iron-rich foods.
• Frequent blood donors: People who donate blood frequently may be at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia because donating blood can deplete their iron stores. This is a temporary problem that can be corrected by eating more iron-rich foods. If you have been told that you cannot donate blood because of low hemoglobin, ask your doctor what you can do to improve the condition.

6. What complications can iron deficiency anemia cause?

Mild iron deficiency anemia usually does not cause complications. However, if left untreated, it can become severe and lead to health problems, including:

• Heart problems: Iron deficiency anemia can lead to a rapid or irregular heartbeat. Your heart has to pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in your blood when you are anemic. This can lead to heart failure.
• Pregnancy problems: Severe iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. These conditions can be prevented by taking iron supplements as part of routine prenatal care.
• Growth problems: In infants and young children, severe iron deficiency can lead to anemia and slow growth and development. Additionally, iron deficiency anemia is associated with an increased susceptibility to infection in children.

7. How is iron deficiency anemia diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose iron deficiency anemia with blood tests. These include:

7.1. Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A complete blood count (CBC) is the first test your doctor will use. This test measures the levels of all the components of your blood, including:

• Red blood cells (RBCs).
• White blood cells (WBCs).
• Hemoglobin.
• Hematocrit.
• Platelets.
• This test provides information about your blood that is helpful in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. This information includes:

Hematocrit level, which is the percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells.

• Hemoglobin level.
• The size of your RBCs.
• The normal hematocrit range is 34.9 to 44.5 percent for adult women and 38.8 to 50 percent for adult men.
• The normal hemoglobin range is 12.0 to 15.5 g/dL for adult women and 13.5 to 17.5 g/dL for adult men.

People with iron deficiency anemia will have low hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, and red blood cells that are smaller than normal.

A complete blood count test is often performed as part of a routine physical exam. It is a good indicator of a person’s overall health. This test is useful in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia.

A complete blood count (CBC) is the first test doctors use to diagnose iron deficiency anemia.

7.2. Other tests

Anemia can usually be diagnosed with a complete blood count. Your doctor may order other blood tests to determine the severity of your anemia and help determine treatment. Your doctor may also examine your blood under a microscope. These blood tests will provide information, including:

• The level of iron in your blood.
• The size and color of your red blood cells (red blood cells are pale if they are low in iron).
• Your ferritin level: Ferritin is a protein that helps store iron in your body. A low ferritin level indicates low iron stores.
• Your total iron-binding capacity (TIBC): The TIBC test is used to determine how much iron transferrin carries. Transferrin is a protein that carries iron.

If your doctor is concerned that internal bleeding is causing your anemia, you may need to have other tests. One test you may have is a stool blood test. Blood in your stool can be a sign of bleeding in your intestines.

Your doctor may also perform an endoscopy, in which they use a small camera on a flexible tube to view the lining of your digestive tract.

An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy allows your doctor to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and upper part of the small intestine. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to examine the lining of the colon, which is the lower part of your digestive tract. These tests can help identify where gastrointestinal bleeding is.

8. Can iron deficiency anemia be prevented?

You can reduce your risk of iron deficiency anemia by including iron-rich foods in your diet.

Foods rich in iron include:

• Red meat, pork, and poultry.
• Seafood.
• Beans.
• Dark green leafy vegetables.
• Dried fruits such as raisins and apricots.
• Iron-fortified cereals, breads, and pasta.
• Peas.

Your body absorbs more iron from meat than from other sources. If you are a vegetarian, you need to increase your intake of iron-rich plant foods.

Also, choose foods that contain vitamin C to increase iron absorption by drinking citrus juice or eating other vitamin C-rich foods with iron-rich foods. The vitamin C in citrus fruits helps your body absorb iron better.

Vitamin C is also found in:

• Broccoli.
• Grapefruit.
• Kiwis.
• Green leafy vegetables.
• Melon.
• Oranges.
• Peppers.
• Strawberries.
• Tangerons.
• Tomatoes.

To prevent iron-deficiency anemia in infants, feed your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula during the first year. It is important to note that cow’s milk is not a good source of iron for babies and is not recommended for babies under 1 year old.

After 6 months of age, you should start feeding your baby iron-fortified cereal or pureed meat at least twice a day to boost their iron intake. After 1 year of age, make sure your baby does not drink more than 600ml of milk a day. Too much milk often leads to a decrease in the intake of other foods, including iron-rich foods.