- Signs and symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
- What are the causes
- How the diagnosis is made
- Treatment for Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia that occurs due to a lack of iron in the body, which decreases the amount of hemoglobin and, consequently, red blood cells, which are the blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen to all tissues of the body. Thus, there are symptoms such as weakness, discouragement, easy tiredness, pale skin and feeling faint, for example.
The treatment for iron deficiency anemia is done through iron supplementation for approximately 4 months and a diet rich in foods that contain iron, such as black beans, meat and spinach, for example.
This disease is serious and can put a person's life at risk when hemoglobin levels are below 11 g / dL for women and 12 g / dL for men. This is potentially serious because it can prevent you from having any necessary surgery.
Signs and symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Initially, iron deficiency anemia presents subtle symptoms that are not always noticed by the person, but as the lack of iron in the blood gets worse, the symptoms become more apparent and frequent, being:
- Tiredness; Generalized weakness; Drowsiness; Difficulty exercising; Dizziness; Feeling dizzy or faint; Paleness of the skin and mucous membranes of the eyes; Difficulty concentrating; Memory lapses; Headache; Weak and brittle nails; Dry skin; Pain in the skin legs; swelling in the ankles; hair loss; lack of appetite.
Iron deficiency anemia is easier to happen in women and children, people with vegetarian habits or who make blood donations frequently.
What are the causes
The main cause of iron deficiency anemia is poor iron intake, which can happen even in people who are underweight or overweight. In addition, the lack of iron can happen due to the difficulty of iron absorption by the body, which is what happens in the case of celiac disease or when a part of the intestine has been removed from the body.
The decrease in the amount of iron circulating in the body can also be due to continuous and prolonged blood loss within the digestive system, this being a common cause in case of hernias or stomach ulcers, for example. However, heavy menstruation or escaping bleeding that persists for more than 8 days can also cause iron deficiency.
During pregnancy it is normal for the woman to have low concentrations of iron in the blood, this is because the woman's body prioritizes the development of the baby, which means that the stocks and iron present are directed to the development of the fetus.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is made by means of a complete blood count, in which the amount of hemoglobin and the values of RDW, VCM and HCM are observed, which are indices present in the blood count, in addition to the measurement of serum iron, ferritin, transferrin and saturation transferrin.
The main parameter used to confirm anemia is hemoglobin, which in these cases is:
- Less than 13.5 g / dL for newborns; Less than 11 g / dL for babies up to 1 year old and pregnant women; Less than 11.5 g / dL for children; Less than 12 g / dL for adult women; Less than 13 g / dL for adult men.
Regarding the parameters related to iron, in iron deficiency anemia it is perceived by the decrease in serum iron and ferritin and increased transferrin and transferrin saturation.
Treatment for Iron Deficiency Anemia
The treatment of iron deficiency anemia must be done according to its cause and usually includes the use of 60 mg of iron supplement per day, in addition to the consumption of foods rich in iron such as lentils, parsley, beans and red meats, for example. See how to make a diet rich in iron.
Eating foods rich in vitamin C enhances the absorption of iron. In contrast, there are some foods that impair iron absorption, such as tannins and caffeine found in coffee and the oxalate present in chocolate. Thus, the best dessert for those with anemia is an orange, and the worst are coffee and chocolate.
The treatment must be indicated by the doctor and the diet can be guided by a nutritionist, it is important to repeat the tests 3 months after starting the treatment, because the excess iron can harm the liver.
See how to cure iron deficiency anemia in the following video:
