You may have iron-deficiency anemia if your blood iron levels are low. It can happen for a variety of reasons, such as blood loss or insufficient iron intake.
A low hemoglobin content in your red blood cells (RBCs) is known as anemia. The protein in your red blood cells called hemoglobin is in charge of delivering oxygen to your tissues.
The most prevalent kind of anemia is iron-deficiency anemia. It happens when your body isn't getting enough iron, which is necessary for the production of hemoglobin. Your body cannot get the necessary amount of oxygen when there is insufficient iron in the blood. Iron deficiency is though iron-deficiency anemia may be widespread, many people are unaware that they have it.
Iron-deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age is frequently caused by iron loss in the blood as a result of heavy menstruation or pregnancy. Iron-deficiency anemia can also be brought on by a poor diet or specific intestinal disorders that interfere with the body's ability to absorb iron. This article delves deeper into the signs and causes of iron deficiency as well as treatment options.
Why is iron-deficiency seen commonly in women?
Women are more prone to have iron-deficiency anemia due to endometriosis, uterine fibroid, pregnancy, and heavy monthly flow. When a woman bleeds more or for a longer period of time than usual during her period, it's called heavy menstrual bleeding. Excessive menstrual bleeding usually lasts longer than seven days and results in double the normal blood loss in women.
A pelvic ultrasound can assist a physician in identifying fibroid or other possible causes of excessive bleeding during a woman's menstrual cycle. Similar to iron-deficiency anemia, uterine fibroid frequently show no outward signs. They develop as a result of uterine muscle tumors. Fibroid can result in heavy menstrual flow, which can induce iron-deficiency anemia, even though they are typically not malignant.
Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
The symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia can be mild at first, and you may not even notice them initially. If one notices changes in body like fatigue, hair fall, pale skin and dizziness etc can go for a blood test and diagnose about the iron deficiency.
Some of the common symptoms of moderate to serious iron-deficiency anemia are:
Weakness
Pale skin
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Tingling feeling in the legs
Tongue soreness
Cold hands and feet
Brittle nails
Hair Fall
Dark circles around the eyes
Frequent headaches
What are the causes of iron-deficiency anemia?
Along with deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A, iron deficiency is an important cause of anemia in India.
There are many reasons that a person might become deficient in iron. These include;
Insufficient iron intake
Your body may become iron deficient if you consume too little iron over an extended period of time. Iron-rich foods include beef, eggs, and some green leafy vegetables. Iron-rich meals may be especially important for pregnant women and young children, as they require it during periods of rapid growth and development.
Pregnancy or blood loss due to menstruation
For women of reproductive age, heavy menstrual bleeding is a common cause of iron-deficiency anemia. This also applies during pregnancy, as your body requires more iron during this period to produce enough oxygen for the growing fetus.
Internal bleeding
Certain medical conditions can cause internal bleeding, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Examples include a stomach ulcer, polyps in the colon or intestines, or colon cancer. Regular use of certain pain relievers, such as aspirin, can also lead to bleeding in the stomach.
Inability to absorb iron
The way your body absorbs iron might also be affected by some intestinal diseases or procedures. The amount of iron your body can absorb may be limited by intestinal surgery such as gastric bypass or celiac disease, even if you consume an adequate amount of iron through food.
Genetics
Certain illnesses that can make it difficult to absorb adequate iron are inherited, such as celiac disease. Additional genetic disorders or mutations may exacerbate the issue. Due to this mutation, your body produces excessive amounts of hepcidin. A hormone called hepcidin has the ability to prevent your intestines from absorbing iron.
Anemia can be exacerbated by other hereditary diseases that result in irregular bleeding. One such illness is hemophilia.
How is iron-deficiency anemia treated?
The severity of the issue and its initial cause will determine the course of treatment for your iron-deficiency anemia. The majority of these types of the illness are caused by either a diet low in iron or issues with your body's ability to absorb the iron that you do eat. Here are a few possible courses of action.
Iron supplements
Iron supplements can help restore iron levels in your body. Please note Iron supplements may cause constipation or black stools.
As a daily practice one can consume a multivitamin supplement that contains iron and other essential vitamins and minerals. Tuskca Multivitamin contains 27 nutrients including iron to fill the nutritional gaps.
Diet
Diets that include the following foods can help treat or prevent iron deficiency:
Dark green, leafy vegetables
Dried fruits
Nuts
Iron-fortified cereals
Red meat
Vitamin C may also facilitate your body's absorption of iron. If you are taking iron supplements, your physician may advise taking them with citrus fruit or a glass of orange juice, which is high in vitamin C. You might also need to think about the foods and beverages you consume, such as black tea, as they may lower your iron levels or reduce the amount of iron absorbed.
Treating the underlying cause of bleeding is necessary to manage iron deficiency. Iron-deficiency anemia can be prevented by eating a diet high in iron-rich foods and vitamin C. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron. Potential causes include not eating enough iron-rich foods, blood loss due to menstruation, and inability to absorb iron. If you suspect you have an iron deficiency, see a doctor. They can diagnose anemia with blood tests.