See your GP if you experience symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia, such as tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. A simple blood test can usually confirm the diagnosis. Your GP may also carry out a physical examination and ask you a number of questions to help determine the cause of your anaemia.
Extreme fatigue. Weakness. Pale skin. Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
There are several reasons why your body may not absorb iron, including: You have an intestinal or digestive condition like celiac disease, autoimmune gastritis, or inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis, or Crohn's disease. You have a Helicobacter pylori infection of your stomach.
Taking vitamin C helps your body absorb the iron. You might need to take iron supplements for a few months or more to get your levels to normal. If your intestines don't absorb iron well, you can take iron straight into your bloodstream through an intravenous tube (IV).
Soy proteins can reduce absorption from plant sources. Tea, coffee and wine contain tannins that reduce iron absorption by binding to the iron and carrying it out of the body. Phytates and fibres found in wholegrains such as bran can reduce the absorption of iron and other minerals.
Good sources of iron include beans, dried fruits, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, tofu, and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes help your body absorb iron.
Vitamin C. To increase iron absorption, include foods that are high in vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, in the same meal as iron-rich foods. For example, eat a salad containing peppers and tomatoes with a steak or lentils. Or, drink a glass of orange juice alongside a fortified breakfast cereal.
The WHO defines low ferritin as levels <15 μg/L for adults and <12 μg/L for children. 6. However, in clinical practice, when ferritin levels dip below 30 μg/L, ID can be ascertained. 7. Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant that is increased in serum during chronic inflammation.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
Sometimes iron deficiency will present as anxiety, depression, irritability, and even poor concentration and general restlessness.
Left untreated, anemia may cause fatigue so severe that you can't even complete everyday tasks. It may also lead to a rapid or irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and even congestive heart failure. If you suspect you or someone in your family has anemia, see your MPCP doctor.
And given B12 is required for the production of red blood cells, a deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to a deficiency in Iron. This is why the onset of anemia is often the result of a B12 deficiency rather than an Iron deficiency on its own.
If you have anemia without an established cause, your healthcare provider may pursue the possibility of a cancer diagnosis. Types of cancer most often associated with low hemoglobin include blood cancers, bone cancer, colon cancer, and cervical cancer.
If your ferritin levels are too low, you may feel fatigued and run down. Fatigue can often be linked to inadequate iron in the blood. And since ferritin is a marker of long-term iron intake, it's perfect for determining whether that worn-down feeling can be linked to your diet.
Ferritin is a protein in cells that contains iron, it reflects the level of stored iron in the body. Having enough iron stores is important, a ferritin deficiency can deplete iron stores quickly.
Several dietary factors can influence this absorption. Absorption enhancing factors are ascorbic acid and meat, fish and poultry; inhibiting factors are plant components in vegetables, tea and coffee (e.g., polyphenols, phytates), and calcium.
In general, patients with iron deficient anemia should manifest a response to iron with reticulocytosis in three to seven days, followed by an increase in hemoglobin in 2-4 weeks.
Specifically, iron plays an important role in how your body makes the neurotransmitters called serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine – all of them important in mental health. Research suggests a connection between low iron levels and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, Levin and Gattari write.
Certain vitamin supplements and medications can also greatly reduce or inhibit the absorption of iron. These include prenatal vitamins, antacids, anti-inflammatory agents and some antibiotics.
The type of headache a person experiences as a result of iron-deficiency anemia can vary. Some people will experience a dull aching sensation throughout their head. They may also feel lightheaded or dizzy. A migraine episode will feel different.