Causes of Iron-Deficiency Anemia
- Not consuming sufficient quantities of iron
- Losing excess quantities of iron
- Chronic blood loss
- Intestine’s inability to absorb iron
- Internal bleeding
So, Who Can Be At The Risk Of Developing Iron-Deficiency Anemia?
- Pregnant women (As the iron supplies constantly need to suffice for both – the mother and the fetus’ needs)
- Frequent blood donors
- Babies with low birth weight
- Premature babies
- Women who are breastfeeding
- Menstruating women, especially with heavy period flow
- Vegetarians who are consuming relatively low or absolutely no iron-rich foods
- Those excessively consuming cow’s milk
- Those with intestinal diseases resulting in malabsorption of iron
- Patients who are suffering from endometriosis
- People with genetic conditions
- People fighting bone marrow disorders
- Individuals who have undergone gastrointestinal surgeries
- High performance athletes
- Teenagers experiencing a growth spurt
- Older people due to age factors
- Patients with end-stage kidney failure
- People getting exposed to lead from the environment / water
- Patients with long-term conditions causing inflammation, leading to anemia of chronic disease (ACD). For example – cancer, hepatitis B, rheumatoid arthritis etc.
Symptoms Of Iron-Deficiency Anemia
- Extreme dizziness
- Cold hands and feet
- Unexplained fatigue and weakness
- Enlarged spleen
- Chest pain
- Pale skin or yellow skin
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
- Quicker heartbeat
- Hair loss
- Brittle, cracked or concave nails
- Strange cravings (like cravings for ice, chalk, clay)
- Tongue swelling / soreness
- Restless legs syndrome
- Cracks in the corners of your mouth
Treatment In Iron-Deficiency Anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia if left untreated can lead to several other health complications like heart disease, delayed growth in infants, increased chances of contracting infections, difficulties in pregnancy etc. Like it is in all other medical conditions, prevention is always better than cure in iron-deficiency anemia too. Consuming iron-rich foods, taking iron supplements in consultation with a healthcare practitioner, eating foods rich in Vitamin C that enhance iron absorption in the body, feeding babies with mother’s breast milk instead of cow’s milk are just a few of the many ways in which you can prevent iron-deficiency anemia from setting in at the first instance.
Once you have been diagnosed, or after observing signs of anemia or signs of iron deficiency in you, see your doctor to get treated for the condition. Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia begins with your doctor recommending various tests to diagnose the underlying cause of anemia and whether it’s mild or severe in your case. According to your body’s condition, the doctor may further advise over-the-counter medication, intravenous iron, and blood transfusions etc. as the next steps to follow in your anemia treatment. Even a surgery can be required in cases where the internal bleeding is probably due to an injury.
