Iron deficiency anemia

‘Anemia’ means lack of blood. Iron Deficiency Anemia occurs when there is a deficiency of iron in the body. Iron deficiency is usually caused by bleeding during pregnancy and various other reasons. Iron deficiency can be compensated by eating more iron-rich foods. Iron deficiency anemia can be treated by taking iron tablets as advised by the doctor.

Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia

The five main symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are—

1. feeling tired
2. Loss of body strength or feeling weak
3. Gasping for breath
4. Chest palpitations
5. Pale skin

There are other symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. However, these symptoms are not as common as the above five symptoms and have nothing to do with pregnancy. These symptoms are:

• headache
• Tinnitus
• Food tastes strange
• Itchy body
• Sore tongue
• hair loss
• Desire to eat inedible things. For example: desire to eat or eat something like paper, pottery and ice. This symptom is called ‘pica’.
• Difficulty swallowing
•  Painful sores or ulcers at the corners of the mouth
• The shape of the nail becomes like a teaspoon
• Restless Legs Syndrome—It is a disease of the nervous system that causes an inescapable urge to move the legs.

It is important to consult a doctor if symptoms of iron deficiency anemia occur. A simple blood test is enough to confirm whether you are suffering from anemia or not.

What causes iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy is very rare. In the case of most pregnant women, if the amount of iron rich foods in the diet is less than the requirement, then that is responsible for the anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia due to excessive bleeding during periods or menstruation is also quite common. Heavy menstrual bleeding can be treated with certain medications.

Iron deficiency anemia can be a symptom of stomach or intestinal bleeding in men and postmenopausal women. One of the causes of such bleeding is-

• Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). For example: Ibuprofen and Aspirin medicines.
• Gastric ulcer
• Colon inflammation due to inflammation (Colitis)
• Esophagitis
• Piles or piles
• Stomach or bowel cancer (relatively rare)

Bleeding from the body due to any other reason can also cause anemia in the body.

Diagnosing iron deficiency anemia

To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, after visiting the doctor he will ask some questions about the patient’s lifestyle and medical history. If the cause behind the anemia is not clear, he may suggest some tests. The purpose of these tests is to determine the cause of the symptoms. If necessary, the patient may be referred to a specialist.

Some blood tests are given to detect anemia

The doctor will first give you a test called ‘full blood count’/’complete blood count’; It is popularly known as CBC. This test will tell if the amount of red blood cells in your blood is normal or not. You do not need to do any special preparation before taking the test.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common of all types of anemia. The CBC test is also useful in detecting other causes of anemia (such as vitamin B12 or folate deficiency).

How to treat iron deficiency anemia

After identifying the cause of anemia, the doctor will prescribe the right treatment to eliminate the anemia according to the cause.

Anemia medicine

If the red blood cell count is less than normal in the test report, then the doctor will suggest taking iron tablets or pills to compensate for the iron deficiency in the body and will tell the rules of taking iron tablets.

You have to take these medicines for about 6 months. Drinking orange juice or lemon juice after taking medication can help your body absorb iron.

Taking iron tablets may cause some side effects in some people. For example –

• Constipation or loose stools
• stomach ache
• Heartburn or gastric problems (acidity)
• nausea
• Black toilet

To control side effects, try taking iron tablets with or immediately after meals. However, it is very important to continue taking this medicine despite the side effects.

To see if the iron levels in the blood are returning to normal with treatment, the doctor may recommend repeat blood tests a few months after starting treatment. 

Anemia Home Remedies and Foods

If a lack of iron-rich foods in the diet is partly responsible for the anemia, the doctor may recommend eating more iron-rich foods.

Foods that should be eaten in excess to eliminate anemia

• Dark green vegetables. For example: spinach, kachushak, bitter gourd, potal and kanchkala.
• Iron-rich cereals, fortified cereals and bread
• the meat
• Pulses (beans, peas and various types of pulses)

Foods to Avoid to Eliminate Anemia

Eating too much of the following foods and drinks reduces the body’s ability to absorb iron—

• Tea and coffee
• Milk and dairy products
• Foods rich in phytic acid. For example: Wholegrain Cereals. They reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron from other foods and medications.

A registered dietitian can be consulted if iron-rich foods cannot be included in the daily diet.

Complications caused by lack of treatment of anemia

Iron deficiency anemia can lead to serious complications if not treated properly in time. For example –

• Depletion of iron reduces the body’s immune system. Due to this, the possibility of various diseases and infections increases.
• Chances of various heart and lung complications increase. For example: Tachycardia or heart failure.
• In the case of pregnant women, the possibility of various complications before and after childbirth increases manifold.