What Health Issues Are Associated with Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a frequent and easily treated health condition, which is caused by an insufficient amount of iron in the body. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. Lack of iron in the body may be due to bleeding or from not eating sufficient foods containing iron, or from not absorbing the iron from the foods which are eaten.

In iron deficiency anemia, the body does not contain enough iron, which is necessary for making hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is needed in the red blood cells to absorb oxygen to carry to the body's cells through the blood stream. The body receives iron from the food that is eaten. The main foods which contain iron are shellfish, meat, green leafy vegetables, and foods fortified with iron. A steady supply of iron is needed for making hemoglobin and for the formation of healthy red blood cells.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when there are very low amounts of iron in the body. Low levels of iron in the blood can be caused by:

Colon cancer

Blood loss

Inability to absorb dietary iron

Diet deficient in iron

Surgery

Severe injuries (causing bleeding)

Conditions such as colon polyps, colon cancer and bleeding ulcers can result in blood loss. Illnesses which require recurrent blood drawings could also assist in loss of blood volume. Other ways that blood may be lost in the body are through serious injuries (causing internal or external bleeding), poor diet, and the inability to absorb dietary iron.

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include:

Brittle fingernails and toenails

Cracks forming on the sides of the mouth

Hands and feet feeling cold

Fatigue

Restless leg syndrome

Irregular heart beat

Heart murmur

Tenderness of the tongue

Swelling of the tongue

Paleness of the tongue

Pale gums and nail beds

Diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia can be diagnosed when the physician:

Asks for the patient's medical history

Does a physical exam

Performs diagnostic procedures and tests

One of the diagnostic tests that will be done is a CBC (complete blood count). The CBC measures the hemoglobin level, serum iron level and serum ferritin, among other things.

Conclusion

Eating a healthy diet enriched with vitamins and iron may help to prevent iron deficiency anemia. Red meat is a good source of iron; however, other meats such as seafood and poultry are very good sources of iron as well. In addition to meats, other foods such as breads, eggs, cereals and pastas are fortified with iron. Other foods such as nuts, beans, almonds, peanut butter, lentils, peas, as well as prunes, raisins and peaches are high in iron. Vegetables like spinach, collard and mustard greens are also good choices to increase iron levels in the body.

Weight loss diets, which stress low-fat, may lead people to avoid animal foods, which are good sources of iron. When dieting, it is important to get a good portion of food calories from fruits and vegetables and other iron rich foods.

Sources:

Medic8.com

Mayoclinic.com