Iron Deficiency Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments, And Diagnoses

Iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia, also known as a type of microcytic anemia, has its origin in a deficiency of iron necessary for the formation of hemoglobin and this for that of red blood cells.

It is the most common of anemias, especially in children under two years of age. Its most common causes are low iron intake or excess losses due to situations such as intestinal microbleeds, alterations in the menstrual cycle, cancer of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine or colon, prolonged use of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin), ibuprofen or medicines for the arthritis, (which can lead to gastrointestinal bleeding).

How can it be diagnosed?

The diagnosis will depend on several factors:

  1. Medical history (questioning): in which data on the diet should be investigated (whether or not it is rich in iron, whether carbohydrates and milk are consumed in excess), whether or not it is (in the case of infants) of premature birth, mother with iron deficiency anemia; if the patient has blood loss through the stool, or suffers from intestinal disorders, if he has symptoms of cognitive disorders.
  2. Physical examination: To rule out pale skin and mucous membranes, delayed development (weight and height), enlarged arms, small spider-shaped veins on the skin, alterations in the nails and tongue, or alterations in the bones.
  3. Laboratory blood tests: general and specific for detection of mineral deficiency.
  4. Therapeutic test: It consists of giving an iron supplement at an adequate dose and after a few days evaluate if the production of red blood cells has increased.

Causes of suffering from it during pregnancy

During pregnancy the mother’s body demand for blood is 50% higher than before conceiving and consequently requires iron to produce the additional hemoglobin that that blood will have. On the other hand, the baby and the placenta also require hemoglobin.

During the gestation period, it is estimated that the expectant mother requires around 27 milligrams of iron per day and although she should obtain it from the diet, this is not always possible and can be difficult to measure, which is why doctors recommend a supplement of the iron. 30 milligram per day mineral, combined with folic acid. In this way, iron is guaranteed in the pregnant woman’s body and complications are avoided for both her and the baby, including iron deficiency anemia.

Many women conceive the baby without knowing if they suffer from anemia before the gestation process. Some pre-pregnancy situations could show that your organic iron supply is insufficient: for example, a diet low in iron, two or more pregnancies close to each other, a multiple pregnancy, heavy menstrual flow or vomiting on repeat.

This article should be read to be informed Complete Guide to Pregnancy Step by Step

After delivery, how does it affect?

To the iron requirements of the pregnant woman and the baby, which increase during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, are added the blood losses that occur at the time of delivery, and which can reach half a liter if it is a normal delivery and up to a liter if it is a cesarean section. For this reason, the number of women who could suffer from iron deficiency anemia after childbirth is high. On the other hand, a baby of a woman who has suffered from anemia may be born prematurely and / or have low birth weight.

A postpartum anemic mother will be more tired than normal, with pale skin and palpitations. This will not affect the health of the baby, even if he is breastfeeding, but the physical conditions of the mother. It is known that, although breast milk has little iron, the baby absorbs it by 50%.

The mother should take care of her availability of iron in the blood more for herself than for her child. The diet of the new mother should have foods rich in iron, but also citrus fruits, since vitamin C helps to absorb the mineral. It must be rich in meat, grains and organ meats. The doctor should evaluate the mother’s health after delivery.

There are risks during breastfeeding

Iron stores in the newborn come from the mother. If the baby is premature or did not have enough iron available in the womb, he may have an absence of the mineral and have iron deficiency anemia, around 6 months of age. Pediatricians recommend filling the deficiency with iron-enriched formula milk. If the baby only takes breast milk, the doctor will indicate an iron supplement, or at this age chicken and beef can be introduced (always under medical supervision), as well as enriched cereals .

With the information in this article you will be able to Understand Ferritin. How are your iron stores in the blood?

How does it affect children, adolescents and the elderly?

Iron deficiency anemia affects the growth and development of children: it compromises their immune system and consequently makes it vulnerable to infections and decreases cognitive and psychomotor development. Babies and young children with iron deficiency are more susceptible to having attention deficits, reduced motor coordination, and difficulties in language development.

In women of childbearing age , menstrual loss is close to 40 ml per period, which is equivalent to 20 mgr. iron, however, in those who have heavy and / or long periods , iron deficiencies and anemia may occur . It is estimated that this happens to 8 to 14% of women.

In postmenopausal women, adults and the elderly, the diagnosis of an iron deficiency could imply that losses are taking place in the digestive system, which represents a serious situation that should be consulted with the doctor. Gastrointestinal studies are generally indicated in order to explore possible hidden lesions, even when 2 to 3 elderly people suffer from what is known as anemia of unknown or idiopathic cause.

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Risks for people with cancer

Iron deficiency anemia is common in people with cancer . Its origin may be the disease itself, the treatments used to alleviate it, or iron deficiency in general. Advanced stage cancers tend to stop the body from making red blood cells. In particular, colorectal cancers can cause bleeding, leading to anemia.

The appearance of anemia, especially in middle-aged adults, can be a predictor of cancer, hence the need to consult a doctor.

What are the long-term consequences?

The consequences of iron deficiency or iron deficiency are multiple , they can include permanent feeling of fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath and palpitations (tachycardia), headache, dizziness, irritability, loss of concentration, hair loss, brittle nails, ulcers on the tongue and cracks in the corners of the lips, among others.

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Nursing care to consider

A diet rich in foods that provide iron and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), or an oral or intravenous iron supplement, will allow the body to regain reserves of the mineral necessary for the production of hemoglobin, among other functions. After 8 weeks of consumption, iron levels tend to normalize, although supplementation is recommended for an additional 6 to 12 months.

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Nutritional vegetarian diet

Among the plant-based foods that are recommended for those with iron deficiency anemia are lentils, peas, dried beans, soybeans, grapes, raisins, oats, prunes, apricots, asparagus, chard, lettuce, spinach, cabbages (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage ) and whole wheat bread, combined with citrus fruits, since ascorbic acid favors the fixation of iron in the body.

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Foods that should not be eaten

Among the foods that decrease the absorption of iron and consequently, should not be consumed in large quantities by those who suffer from iron deficiency, are the non-enriched whole grains (phytates); coffee, tea, chocolate, red wine (tannins) and vinegar.

During menopause, are there complications?

Menopausal (climacteric) women have a tendency to suffer from iron deficiency due to deficiencies in their nutrition or low absorption of iron. In any case, the doctor will be the one to prescribe supplements that help to recover the amount of circulating iron in order to avoid complications.

Will it be genetic or hereditary?

Infants born to women with iron deficiency anemia may be born prematurely and suffer from the disease, but with a proper diet and supplementation you can provide them with enough iron to overcome it.

Groups at risk of suffering from it

The groups at risk of suffering from iron deficiency anemia are babies up to 2 years of age, born before term and / or with iron deficiencies, women of childbearing age with heavy periods, women of menopausal age and the elderly.

Differences between it, leukemia and lupus

While in leukemia there is excessive proliferation of white blood cells (leukocytes) in the blood and bone marrow and in lupus the body’s defense system is affected and attacks healthy cells and tissues; in iron deficiency anemia there is an iron deficiency that affects the production of hemoglobin.

What are the severity levels?

According to the biological behavior of iron in the body, iron deficiency anemia is classified into:

  • Latent iron deficiency (decreased reserve deposits in the body)
  • Overt iron deficiency (decreased iron in blood plasma or circulating iron)
  • Iron deficiency anemia (condition in the formation of red blood cells).

Due to internal or external hemorrhage

A violent loss of blood, due to trauma (external) or internal bleeding in a short period of time . When there is blood loss, the body absorbs water from the tissues to hydrate the bloodstream and keep the vessels full. Consequently, the blood becomes thin and the percentage of red blood cells decreases. Immediately, the bone marrow begins to produce red blood cells again to correct the anemia.

If the bleeding continues, for example in cases of internal bleeding that is unknown due to small blood losses, this gradual bleeding reduces the amount of iron in the body and thus prevents the bone marrow from increasing the production of new blood cells red. Examples of this type of hemorrhage are the nasal and those produced by hemorrhoids (piles). Other disorders that produce this type of bleeding are ulcers (stomach or small intestine), polyps, diverticula, cancer of the large intestine, some types of tumors (kidney or bladder), which cause blood loss when urinating and heavy menstruation (metrorrhagia) .

Due to hiatal hernia

Chronic internal bleeding that causes iron deficiency anemia is often attributed to hiatal hernia and esophagitis. Hiatal hernia is a condition in which a part of the stomach protrudes into the chest and is visible as a lump under the skin, it is corrected with surgery. Esophagitis occurs when the lining of the esophagus becomes inflamed or irritated.

By menstruation

Heavy and frequent menstruation , the product of irregular menstrual cycles, can cause iron deficiency anemia or cause it to appear along with other disorders suffered by women. The hemorrhages that occur favor a deficiency of red blood cells in the body, it will mean that you do not receive enough oxygen in your organs and muscles.

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By gastric ulcer

When a person suffers from a gastric ulcer, bleeding occurs in what is known as the upper digestive system. Iron deficiency anemia occurs as a consequence of bleeding, as the body tries to replace lost blood and consumes its iron stores.

Regenerative and relative

We speak of aregenerative anemia when the anemia is not accompanied by a proportional increase in the number of reticulocytes (cells that precede the formation of red blood cells), which reduces the ability of the bone marrow to regenerate, this occurs in iron deficiency.

Natural and nutritional treatment

To cope with iron deficiency anemia, it is necessary to make sustained changes in the way you eat , that is, your diet. This must be rich in iron, both from animal sources and plant sources. As for the former, it will be necessary to eat red meat, beef liver, fish, poultry and oysters. When it comes to vegetables, green leafy vegetables (such as spinach), wheat germ, fruits, and iron-fortified cereals are ideal.

Your doctor will likely prescribe an iron supplement such as fumarate, glycerate, or ferrous sulfate, as these are the forms of iron that are most easily absorbed by the body. The iron supplement prescription should be made by your doctor. These are usually small twos three times a day. If you miss a dose, do not take an extra one, wait for the next dose, as excess can be harmful.

As supplements, the doctor may also indicate Vitamin C (between 250 and 500 mg twice a day), as they favor the absorption of iron. Vitamin C can interact with other medications, explain all the medications you take to your doctor. Finally, to absorb and fix the iron, you will probably be prescribed Vitamin B 12 and folic acid.

Among the aspects of diet to consider are consuming molasses (1 tablespoon a day diluted in a cup of hot water), since it is a source of iron, vitamin B complex and has mild laxative effects (iron and folic acid could cause constipation) . Avoid tea, as tannins inhibit iron absorption, prefer other infusions.

Differences between iron deficiency and megaloblastic anemia

While iron deficiency anemia is caused by iron deficiency, megaloblastic anemias are a group of diseases that are the product of a deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, or a combination of both. Iron deficiency anemia is microcytic, megaloblastic anemias are macrocytic. In iron deficiency anemia there is a deficiency of erythrocytes or red blood cells (red blood cells), while in megaloblastic anemia there are a large number of enlarged, immature and dysfunctional red blood cells in the bone marrow.

Learn more about megaloblastic anemia

If you are interested in knowing more about Anemia, we invite you to read this complete article with valuable information: Anemia: Risks, Causes, Treatments and Diagnoses

Articles on other types of anemia

We leave you a list with the articles of the other types of anemia that we have created, to make it easier to find information:

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Kathie Sand always saw the world of beauty as the terrain on which to build her professional career, a goal that was clear to her when she was only 15 years old. Her great concern to expand knowledge led her to settle in Paris where she studied hand in hand with the best beauty professionals and with the most advanced techniques for skin care.

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