Iron Deficiency Anemia in Men

Iron deficiency anemia in men is not as common as it is in women or children, but can still cause major health problems for men. Only about 3% of men develop iron deficiency anemia. Unlike women, this type of anemia in men is not as easy to determine the source. In women, this anemia is generally associated with monthly menstruation. In men, the loss of iron in the blood can come from several areas. The most common cause for iron deficiency anemia is bleeding, because if you lose blood you lose iron. Slow blood loss can cause iron deficiency anemia. The source of bleeding can come from peptic ulcers, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, fissures, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, disease of the intestines or polyps in the colon. Gastrointestinal bleeding can come from excessive use of aspirin. Many men may not be aware they are bleeding enough to affect their iron levels. Because iron deficiency anemia in men is not as common as with women, their symptoms may not be related to anemia. Your doctor can order blood work to determine if you have anemia and to what degree.

Some symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are:

fatigue or weakness,
shortness of breath,
chest pain or palpitations (if you are severely anemic),
pale skin,
dizziness,
headache,
decreased resistance to infections or
you may not have any symptoms at all.

If bleeding is the suspected cause of your anemia, then the source of the bleeding must be found and the bleeding stopped. If the bleeding is from hemorrhoids, it may require surgery to stop the bleeding. If the bleeding is from the stomach or ulcers, or to rule out intestinal bleeding, an endoscopy or colonoscopy may need to be performed to see where the problem is. No matter where the bleeding is from, it must be stopped so that your supply of iron can be replenished.

Once the source of bleeding is determined and stopped, you will need to increase your intake of iron to return your levels to normal. Depending on the severity of your anemia, this can be done by the foods you eat, iron supplements or IV iron infusions. The IV iron infusions will be done if your body is unable to absorb iron in your stomach or if you have stomach problems. Once your iron levels return to normal, you will need to eat foods high in iron, such as, red meats, beans, lentils, green-leafy vegetables, dried fruit, nuts or seeds, seafood, poultry and eggs. Your doctor may also suggest a daily iron supplement to keep your levels normal.

If your anemia is due to bleeding from hemorrhoids, it is important to increase the amount of bulk fiber in your diet. There are several over-the-counter medicines you can take to help with this. Increasing your intake of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables will also help.

If iron deficiency anemia is left untreated you can develop heart problems, as the heart must pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood. This can cause you to have rapid or irregular heart beats. It can also lead to angina, which is chest pain caused by decreased oxygen and blood flow to the heart muscle. Iron deficiency anemia can reoccur. By maintaining a healthy diet and letting your doctor know of any symptoms you may experience relating to anemia, your iron levels should stay normal and should not cause you any future health problems.