Anemia (iron deficiency)

Symptoms   Causes   Nutrients   Nutritional discussion

Anemia is diagnosed when levels of red blood cells are too low. Red blood cells which carry oxygen to the body depend on hemoglobin, their red pigment, for proper functioning. Characteristically, the cells are unusually small and pale and the condition is called iron-deficiency anemia. Such a deficiency is identified by the number of red blood cells, the amount of hemoglobin in the red blood cells, and the volume of red blood cells after being centrifuged (hematocrit).

Dietary changes that may be helpful

• Dietary iron: Lack of dietary iron is often part of but not all of the problem.
• Vegetarian diet note: Vegetarians are slightly more at risk for iron-deficiency, so attention must be paid to the diet.
• Reduce coffee intake
• Avoid black tea
• Fiber: Don't consume high-fiber foods at the same time you take iron supplements.
• Detailed nutrient discussion

Iron deficiency is identified by a blood test measuring iron in the body. The condition may have many causes unrelated to nutrition such as bleeding ulcers, excessive menstrual bleeding, hemorrhoids, gastrointestinal bleeding caused by drugs, colon cancer, or in undeveloped countries, parasitic worms, malaria and vitamin A deficiency.

There are also forms of anemia with plenty of iron in the blood, but it is not properly absorbed for utilization by the red blood cells.

Symptoms

Some common symptoms of anemia include:

• Fatigue, weakness, lethargy, poor immune system functioning, and poor concentration.
• Pica a peculiar symptom is the desire to consume strange things such clay, paint, or cardboard.
• Serious anemia can give rise to headaches, lightheadedness, tinnitus, pale skin, irritability, restless legs syndrome, and too readily being out of breath.

Causes

Anemia occurs when the body produces too few red blood cells, loses too many of them, or if red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced.

There are close to 100 different types of anemia with many causes, including:

• Serious disease
• Vitamin or iron deficiencies
• Blood loss
• Genetic or acquired defects or disease
• Side effects of medication

Conventional Treatment

In order to treat both the cause of iron deficiency and the lack of iron itself, your medical professional drugs and supplements such as ferrous sulfate, fumarate and gluconate, and polysaccharide-iron complex. There are side effects such as diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, and nausea. Iron may also be delivery via injections if oral consumption is not tolerated.

Studies

See research on which this discussion is based.