Many people suffer from iron deficiency anemia for many years, and it causes several symptoms affecting your health. Unfortunately, most of us are unaware that we have been suffering from anemia until we do blood investigations. So, it is crucial to understand what iron deficiency anemia is. In the Greek language, Anemia signifies “An” which stands for without, while “emia” which means blood.
Why is Blood Important?
Blood is the most crucial substance in our body. This is because:
- It helps transport substances such as nutrients and oxygen around our body and protects us.
- Components of the blood are Plasma, platelets, WBC, and RBC.
- In blood fractionation, the majority of cells are the RBD which gives it the exact color.
- Normal RBC value = 4.5- 6.1 millions cells/microliter
Facts about Anemia That You Should Know:
- The most common form of anemia that affects several individuals is Iron Deficiency Anemia.
- It is the commonest form of nutritional deficiency of anemia
- IDA occurs when you do not have enough iron to make hemoglobin (Hb). When you have fewer RBCs and a low Hb count, you happen to suffer from anemia.
- One-third of the population has the IDA.
- It is not a disease but a feature of physiological disorder and symptom.
Morphology
RBC is 7 micrometers in diameter; their biconcave disc shape has a larger surface area and they are flexible so that they can move easily through capillaries. It has no nucleus which makes it possible to have more room for O2 and this helps in improving its oxygen and nutrient carrying capacity.
Prevalence
According to WHO, 1.62 billion people suffer from anemia, which is equivalent to a quarter of (24.8%) of the world population. It affects several children and women.
Normal values of Hb
- Men: 13-18gms/dl
- Women:11-15 gms/dl
RDA
- 0-6 months = 0.27mg
- 7-12 months = 11mg
- 1-3 years=7 mg /day
- 4-8 years =10 mg
- 9-13 years =8 mg
- 14-18 years =11mg (M), 15 mg (F)
- 19-50 years =8 mg (M),18mg (F)
- After 51 years – 8mg
- Pregnant women =27mg
You can have Anemia when:
- There is a decreased supply of nutritional deficiency, particularly in the people who are strict vegans or malnutrition. Iron vitamin B12 and folic acid and proteins are necessary to be included in your diet.
- When there is an increased demand such as in pregnancy, a lady who is pregnant is feeding two bodies or lactation, and in children who are of growing age as they are in the developmental phase.
- When there is a loss of blood due to peptic ulcer disease, hookworm infestation, a colon polyp or cancer, or gynecology-related conditions.
Let’s talk about the basics
What is Iron?
- It is a tiny mineral.
- Found in red meat and dark green leafy vegetables. In animal sources, it is found in heme form which is easily absorbed; while, in plant sources, it is found in the non-heme form which is difficult to absorb.
- Its main role in the body is the transportation of oxygen from organ to organ and from cell to cell through Red Blood Cells. These organs use iron for the metabolic functioning of cells. Excess iron causes hemochromatosis and too little iron causes IDA.
IDA Symptoms
Symptoms depend on how anemic you are:
Early stage
- Pale
- Tired all time despite good nighttime sleep
- Feeling cold all the time
Severe
- Hb levels drop
- Shortness of breath (cannot climb the stairs)
- Chest pain which may make you think that you have heart problems.
- Brittle nails
- Hair may become thin or fall out leading to low density or thinning of hair.
- Craving for non-food substances such as ice, sand, and gravel.
Causes of IDA
Causes can be differentiated in the following conditions.
- Insufficient intake, not taking sufficient diet
- Particularly seen in vegans
- Iron is found in red meat and green leafy vegetables.
- Boiling your veggies happens to result in a loss of iron so steam it.
- A lack of intake of iron is the very first cause of iron.
- The patients taking PPI medicines due to heartburn may interact with the IDA.
- Loss of Iron through Bleeding
- Women experiencing heavy periods is a common cause of IDA.
- Gynae problems endometriosis or increase in the thickening of the lining of the womb.
- Severe piles and hemorrhoids
- Colon cancer or colorectal cancer.
These are examples of loss of iron from the body
- Low Absorption of Iron:
So, we have talked about the lack of iron and loss of iron from the body and their cause is the inability to absorb enough iron. If you are taking enough iron and not losing iron from the body but you have a low iron count in the body, the major reason could be that you have low absorption of iron which means the body is not absorbing enough iron that you are taking in.
There are many reasons for the low absorption of iron:
- One of the major reasons will be Bowel conditions, celiac disease
- Malabsorption syndrome.
- IBD Crohn’s disease colitis
- Gastric bypass in case of obesity or by gastric sleeve
Should I get Iron Tested?
The answer to this is YES if you have any of the following symptoms, you should get your blood tested for iron. The symptoms are:
- Pale skin in mucous membrane, lips, conjunctiva, and nail bed
- Mouth: Glossitis, mouth ulcer, Stomatitis
- Tired all the time
- Coldness
- Chest problems
- Shortness of breath
- Brittle nails
- Thin hair
- Cravings for nonfood substances: Pagophagia: PICA: craving for ice.
- Vegetarian or vegan
- Celiac disease
- Family history of anemia
- IBD
- Gynae issues.
- Restless legs syndrome
- Glossitis
- Cheilitis
So, get started with eating foods rich in iron right away which can keep you healthy. Check for anemia before it’s too late.
lipitor 20mg price lipitor 20mg pill purchase atorvastatin sale
proscar 5mg pills buy cheap finasteride cheap fluconazole 100mg
order ciprofloxacin 500mg pills – cost cephalexin 500mg where can i buy clavulanate
buy ciprofloxacin generic – trimethoprim price augmentin 1000mg pill
cost flagyl – how to get cleocin without a prescription azithromycin 500mg over the counter
ciplox 500 mg for sale – chloromycetin order online erythromycin 250mg price
valacyclovir 500mg canada – buy diltiazem online buy zovirax 400mg generic
stromectol – sumycin canada sumycin ca
buy flagyl sale – buy cefaclor 250mg pill purchase zithromax generic
acillin without prescription buy amoxil paypal amoxicillin uk
furosemide 100mg pills – brand prazosin 2mg cost capoten 25 mg
zidovudine 300 mg cost – buy glycomet 1000mg for sale allopurinol without prescription
oral clozapine 100mg – frumil 5mg price famotidine 20mg price
buy seroquel without a prescription – order luvox 100mg generic buy eskalith generic
buy hydroxyzine 10mg – prozac brand endep ca
clomipramine cheap – tofranil 25mg generic where to buy doxepin without a prescription
buy augmentin for sale – acillin price oral baycip
clindamycin oral – purchase vibra-tabs generic order chloromycetin generic
zithromax 500mg brand – buy generic azithromycin for sale brand ciplox
buy albuterol 2mg – brand allegra 120mg theophylline 400mg cheap
ivermectin cost – cefaclor 500mg tablet buy cefaclor 500mg generic
clarinex medication – albuterol 4mg pills buy albuterol 4mg generic
brand depo-medrol – order claritin 10mg for sale buy generic astelin 10 ml
pill micronase – forxiga 10mg ca dapagliflozin 10mg for sale
purchase repaglinide for sale – empagliflozin 10mg sale buy jardiance 10mg generic
buy cheap generic glycomet – acarbose 25mg cost buy precose online cheap
lamisil 250mg price – buy diflucan generic buy grifulvin v pills for sale
buy rybelsus generic – rybelsus 14 mg generic buy generic DDAVP
buy ketoconazole 200 mg pill – nizoral order sporanox 100mg uk
brand digoxin 250 mg – buy dipyridamole generic furosemide tablet
famciclovir oral – zovirax usa buy generic valcivir for sale
order microzide 25mg sale – order microzide pills buy bisoprolol 10mg online
order lopressor 100mg generic – buy inderal 10mg generic buy nifedipine 30mg online cheap
nitroglycerin where to buy – buy diovan tablets valsartan 160mg pill
rosuvastatin observe – rosuvastatin online fork caduet distinct
simvastatin honour – tricor 200mg brand atorvastatin look
buy viagra professional gloomy – viagra gold online still levitra oral jelly room
cenforce smile – tadalis ready brand viagra pills connect
dapoxetine nor – suhagra nigh cialis with dapoxetine sirius
brand cialis wrap – zhewitra western penisole faint
cialis soft tabs pills embrace – viagra super active pills island viagra oral jelly online splash
brand cialis connection – alprostadil tube penisole cup
cialis soft tabs infinite – viagra oral jelly disturb viagra oral jelly myself
asthma treatment band – inhalers for asthma group asthma medication interval
uti medication nowhere – uti antibiotics aid treatment for uti british
prostatitis treatment innocent – prostatitis medications look prostatitis treatment infinite
valacyclovir pills very – valacyclovir pills dad valtrex pills print
loratadine perch – loratadine pop loratadine farther
loratadine medication work – claritin pills dye loratadine book
dapoxetine blossom – dapoxetine superior priligy pay
promethazine member – promethazine drag promethazine compliment
florinef start – pantoprazole pills sake lansoprazole torture
clarithromycin taste – cytotec breeze cytotec swirl
cheap dulcolax 5 mg – dulcolax online order purchase liv52 without prescription
rabeprazole generic – metoclopramide price how to buy domperidone
order bactrim 960mg pills – order levetiracetam 500mg for sale tobrex 5mg uk
buy eukroma without prescription – generic desogestrel 0.075 mg buy duphaston 10mg pills
forxiga cheap – dapagliflozin 10 mg for sale purchase precose generic
where to buy enalapril without a prescription – latanoprost brand purchase xalatan online cheap
dramamine tablet – dramamine 50 mg over the counter purchase actonel pills
buy piroxicam 20 mg without prescription – feldene pills exelon 6mg pills
etodolac 600 mg tablet – cheap monograph buy cilostazol 100mg generic
hydrea generic – buy pentoxifylline sale robaxin 500mg drug
norpace over the counter – norpace uk buy chlorpromazine generic
divalproex pill – aggrenox online order generic topamax 100mg
brand cyclophosphamide – purchase cyclophosphamide sale cheap vastarel generic
spironolactone 100mg price – dilantin for sale revia 50mg sale
zofran 4mg sale – generic procyclidine buy requip 1mg sale
order cyclobenzaprine pill – buy generic donepezil for sale order enalapril 10mg generic
buy cheap durex gel – durex condoms buy online buy xalatan paypal
leflunomide 10mg generic – purchase cartidin pill buy cartidin tablets
purchase minoxidil for sale – cheap finpecia buy propecia generic
buy lasuna online cheap – cheap himcolin for sale buy himcolin pills
buy cheap gasex – gasex price diabecon over the counter