Important Things You Need To Know About Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron is an important mineral needed by the body. Without it, many bodily functions would not be able to do its works.
According to Bethany Thayer, RDN, MS, director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit:
“The primary role of iron is to carry oxygen in the blood to every cell in the body,”Iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body.
If your body doesn’t have enough hemoglobin, your tissues and muscles won’t get enough oxygen and be able to work effectively. This leads to a condition called iron deficiency anemia.
Paul Thomas, EdD, RD, a scientific consultant to the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements says:
"If you're not getting sufficient oxygen in the body, you're going to become fatigued."This can affect different parts of your body from your brain function to the ability of your immune system to combat infections.
Aside from this, iron also has other important function. According to Elaine Chottiner, MD, clinical assistant professor and director of General Hematology Clinics at the University of Michigan Medical Center:
"Iron is also necessary to maintain healthy cells, skin, hair, and nails."
What causes Iron Deficiency Anemia?
- Frequent blood donation
- An iron-poor diet, especially in infants, children, teens, vegans, and vegetarians
- Endurance training
- Menstruation
- Certain foods, drugs, and caffeinated drinks
- The metabolic demands of pregnancy and breastfeeding that deplete a woman's iron stores
- Digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease or surgical removal of part of the stomach or small intestine
- Internal Bleeding
- Inadequate Iron Intake
- People who frequently donate blood
- Malnourished people from developing countries
- Young children
- People with illness and surgery-related bleeding complications
- Pregnant women and women of childbearing years
- Vegetarians who don’t replace meat with other iron-rich foods or people who have a poor diet
Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency
Constant Infections
Red blood cells help transport oxygen to the spleen which is one place wherein infection can be fought off. Aside from this, it also carries oxygen to the lymph nodes which contain white blood cells that fight infections.
Extreme Fatigue And Exhaustion
Restless Legs Syndrome
Swollen Tongue
Hair Loss
Actually, it is normal to lose about 100 strands of hair per day. But, if you think that you are excessively losing hair and it’s not growing back then, this may be a sign of iron deficiency.
Pica
Pale Skin
Foods That Are Very High In Iron
- Spinach
- Liver and other organ meats
- Legumes
- Pumpkin seeds’
- Quinoa
- Turkey
- Lentils
- Tomato Paste
- Potatoes
- Mushrooms
- Olives
- Mulberries
- Coconut Milk
- Dried Thyme
- Broccoli
Hi Dr.Farrah, thanks for the information. Dr. meron k ba vitamins for children? I'm in Georgia, USA. I need your recomendation. Maraming salamat po.
ReplyDeleteHi Dr. Farrah, I have friend who's having this type of problem, she went monthly blood transfusion, ano po puede nyong ma recommend? as per medical doctor findings the main cause of this severe anemia is the auto immune nya ang nagcause ng pagbaba ng hemoglabin, anu pong puedeng gamot kung auto immune po ang problem. salamat po.
ReplyDeleteHello Dr. Farrah, my husband has a problem with his hemoglobin...he has a blood transfusion last october his henoglobin count at that time was 6 after discharge from the hospital he has 8 of hemoglobin count which doesnt reach the ave count...then by jan another blood transfusion again w 3 bags since his hemoglobin count dropped into 4...a month after from transfusion it started to deplete again from 10 to 8...he is taking natural foods since he stopped taking vitamins such as iron since it didnt worked for him.
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