Iron Deficiency Anemia

What is Iron Deficiency Anemia? Iron Deficiency Anemia (also called IDA) is the state of being a person having insufficient amounts of iron to arrange for body demands. Iron deficiency of anemia is generally caused by very poor intake of iron in normal diet. It results in shrink in the quantity of red cells in the blood having too little iron. Another reason for this deficiency is blood loss from the body in different ways, natural as well as accidental. It can be sensitive while in hemorrhage or trauma or enduring as in heavy menstruation.
Iron deficiency anemia is widespread type of anemia among people irrespective of age and sex concerning 20% of women, 50% of pregnant women, and 3% of men are commonly iron deficient. So women are more prone to this type of disorder where as men are less affected by. Women have natural reasons for blood loss due to menstruation.
Iron is an important element in our body. It carries the oxygen life fuel for the body the major requirement to the body. Iron in human body plays a vital role in regulating ones body temperature. This is the reason why the person having iron deficiency anemia constantly feels cold.
Iron deficiency anemia and sickle cell anemia are VERY DISSIMILAR.
Individuals with iron deficiency anemia may also experience pica.

What is Iron?

One of the important elements of hemoglobin is Iron. The source of iron is the food containing iron in the diet. Most of the leafy vegetables have iron content. It is advised to take fresh leaves to induce iron into our body. Red meat also contains rich iron.
Iron is needed to form hemoglobin, which is the pigment in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen, but the mineral is not readily absorbed by the digestive system. The oxygen is carried through hemoglobin into the blood. Normally, it exists in sufficient amounts in men, but women of menstrual age, who need nearly twice as much iron because of blood loss, often have deficiencies and must take in absorbable iron.
Person with Iron-deficiency will get tired immediately due to starvation of oxygen. Oxygen in the muscle cells is stored in Myoglbin. Here also Iron is one component of myoglobin. The absence of iron makes it difficult to distribute the oxygen in the body, which is the body fuel.

Iron Deficiency Anemia Causes

The most important causes of iron deficiency are: body unable to absorb adequate iron (Vitamin C aides in iron absorption), insufficient daily consumption of iron rich food, pregnancy, growth spurts or blood loss due to heavy period or internal bleeding.
Anemia develops gradually after the common stores of iron have been exhausted in the body and in the bone marrow. Generally women have lesser stores of iron than men. Most regularly women loose iron than men due to natural blood loss during menstruation.
Anemia is caused mainly in men and postmenopausal women due to gastrointestinal blood loss associated with ulcers, the use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS), or colon cancer.
Gaucher Disease is also can be a reason for anemia.
Who is at Risk for Iron Deficiency Anemia?

The most vulnerable comprise of: women having periods which leads to blood loss through menstruation; condition in which the necessity of iron is important such as pregnant or lactating women; infants, children, and youngsters in swift growth phases; and persons whose food habits have less or nil iron content for a longer time. Another one no input of meat or eggs for a number of years. Risk factors related to blood loss are peptic ulcer disease, long-term aspirin use, or colon cancer.
The chance of Vegetarians getting anemia is at higher side because they don’t take meat. Still, vegetarians don't all the time develop anemia. Many vegetables like raisins, broccoli and spinach contain sufficient iron. Treatment consists of the administration of iron; quick improvement is common.
Can Anemia be prevented?
One who has iron rich diet most likely will not be anemic. Iron is plenty in red meat, liver, raisins, spinach, broccoli, and egg yolks. The food control or proper diet is the key factor for the prevention of anemia to an extent. It is expected that always adhere to balanced diet with all relevant vitamins and nutrients in day-to-day fixture.
What are the Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Usually observed symptoms of anemia are narrated here. Everyone will not experience the same symptoms. Especially mild anemia symptoms may not be visible. Commonly seen symptoms are: Pale skin color, fatigue, irritability, loss of hair, wooziness, weakness, briefness of breath, sore tongue, breakable nails, decreased appetite (especially in children), headache - frontal.
How will I know if I'm Anemic?
If one feels he is anemic then will have to undergo the tests related to it. The tests are easy and simple. Some of the tests are: red blood cell measures of hemocrit and hemoglobin; size of red blood cells, serum iron level, and iron binding capacity in the blood.

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