Also, the non-hormonal, copper IUD Paragard may make your menstrual flow heavier. This raises your risk for iron-deficiency anemia. Talk to your doctor or nurse about your risk for anemia and whether hormonal birth control may help.
You can help make sure you get enough iron by choosing foods that contain iron more often. Vegetarians need more iron from food than people who eat meat. Talk to your doctor or nurse about whether you get enough iron.
Most people get enough iron from food. Yes, your body can get too much iron. Extra iron can damage the liver, heart, and pancreas. Try to get no more than 45 milligrams of iron a day, unless your doctor prescribes more.
Some people get too much iron because of a condition called hemochromatosis that runs in families. Learn more about hemochromatosis , who is at risk, and how it is treated.
You can also get too much iron from iron pills if you also get iron from food or from repeated blood transfusions. For more information about iron-deficiency anemia, call the OWH Helpline at or contact the following organizations:.
Department of Health and Human Services. ET closed on federal holidays. Breadcrumb Home A-Z health topics Iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia Iron-deficiency anemia means that your body does not have enough iron. What is iron-deficiency anemia? Who gets iron-deficiency anemia? The risk of iron-deficiency anemia is highest for women who: Are pregnant.
Iron-deficiency anemia affects one in six pregnant women. Have heavy menstrual periods. What are the symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia? As it gets worse, you may notice one or more of these symptoms: 3 Fatigue very common Weakness very common Dizziness Headaches Low body temperature Pale or yellow "sallow" skin Rapid or irregular heartbeat Shortness of breath or chest pain, especially with physical activity Brittle nails Pica unusual cravings for ice, very cold drinks, or non-food items like dirt or paper 4 If you think you may have iron-deficiency anemia, talk to your doctor or nurse.
What causes iron-deficiency anemia? Women can have low iron levels for several reasons: Iron lost through bleeding. Bleeding can cause you to lose more blood cells and iron than your body can replace.
Women may have low iron levels from bleeding caused by: Digestive system problems, such as ulcers, colon polyps, or colon cancer Regular, long-term use of aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers Donating blood too often or without enough time in between donations for your body to recover 5 Heavier or longer than normal menstrual periods Uterine fibroids , which are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause heavy bleeding Increased need for iron during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, your body needs more iron than normal to support your developing baby. Not eating enough food that contains iron. Your body absorbs the iron in animal-based foods, such as meat, chicken, and fish, two to three times better than the iron in plant-based foods. Vegetarians or vegans, who eat little or no animal-based foods, need to choose other good sources of iron to make sure they get enough. But most people in the United States get enough iron from food. Problems absorbing iron.
Certain health conditions, such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease, or gastric bypass surgery for weight loss can make it harder for your body to absorb iron from food. How is iron-deficiency anemia diagnosed? Talk to your doctor if you think you might have iron-deficiency anemia. Your doctor may: Ask you questions about your health history, including how regular or heavy your menstrual periods are. Your doctor may also ask you about any digestive system problems you may have, such as blood in your stool.
Do a physical exam Talk to you about the foods you eat, the medicines you take, and your family health history Do blood tests. Your doctor will do a complete blood count CBC. The CBC measures many parts of your blood.
If the CBC test shows that you have anemia, your doctor will likely do another blood test to measure the iron levels in your blood and confirm that you have iron-deficiency anemia. Do I need to be tested for iron-deficiency anemia? How is iron-deficiency anemia treated? Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia depends on the cause: Blood loss from a digestive system problem. If you have an ulcer, your doctor may give you antibiotics or other medicine to treat the ulcer.
If your bleeding is caused by a polyp or cancerous tumor, you may need surgery to remove it. Blood loss from heavy menstrual periods. Your doctor may give you hormonal birth control to help relieve heavy periods. If your heavy bleeding does not get better, your doctor may recommend surgery. Types of surgery to control heavy bleeding include endometrial ablation, which removes or destroys your uterine lining, and hysterectomy , which removes all or parts of your uterus.
Iron overdose happens when you take too much iron in the form of supplements. Iron is toxic in large amounts and can be fatal at high doses. If you suspect an iron overdose, call your doctor or the Victorian Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 immediately or go to your local hospital emergency department. Children are especially at risk because they may mistake the red iron tablets for lollies. Make an appointment with your doctor if you think you may be iron deficient. Diagnosis aims to exclude other illnesses that can have similar symptoms, such as coeliac disease.
Diagnosis methods include:. Talk to your doctor about healthy eating and getting enough iron in your diet. Some suggestions include:. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. The size of a standard drink can vary according to the type of alcohol.
A person with amyloidosis produces aggregates of insoluble protein that cannot be eliminated from the body. When a person is anaemic, the red blood cells have to work harder to get oxygen around the body. An aneurysm may have no symptoms until it is either very large or it ruptures.
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The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website. Skip to main content. Blood and blood vessels. Home Blood and blood vessels. Iron deficiency - adults. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet.
On this page. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen around the body. In iron deficiency, low levels of hemoglobin mean the heart has to work extra hard to carry oxygen.
In extreme cases, it can lead to an enlarged heart , a heart murmur , or heart failure 12 , In cases of iron deficiency, the heart has to work extra hard to transport oxygen around the body. If left untreated, this can lead to irregular or fast heartbeats and even heart murmurs, an enlarged heart, or heart failure. Dry and damaged skin and hair can be signs of iron deficiency Iron deficiency lowers the level of hemoglobin in the blood, which may reduce the amount of oxygen available to cells that cause hair growth Iron deficiency is also associated with hair loss , and some research suggests it could be a cause 16 , Skin and hair may receive less oxygen from the blood during iron deficiency, causing them to become dry and damaged.
In more severe cases, this may lead to hair loss. Sometimes just looking inside or around your mouth can indicate whether you have iron deficiency anemia. Signs include a swollen, inflamed, pale, or strangely smooth tongue Iron deficiency may also cause other symptoms around your mouth , such as 19 :.
A sore, swollen, or strangely smooth tongue can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. Cracks on the corners of your mouth may also be a sign. Iron deficiency has been linked to restless legs syndrome It can also cause unpleasant and strange crawling or itchy sensations in your feet and legs.
The prevalence of restless legs syndrome is nine times higher in people with iron deficiency compared to the general population People with iron deficiency anemia have a higher chance of experiencing restless legs syndrome, which is a strong urge to move the legs when at rest. A much less common symptom of iron deficiency is brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails. This condition is called koilonychia Usually, the first sign is brittle nails that chip and crack easily.
In later stages of iron deficiency, spoon-shaped nails can occur, meaning the middle of the nail dips and the edges are raised to give a rounded appearance like a spoon. There are several other signs that your iron could be low. These tend to be less common and can be linked to many conditions other than iron deficiency.
Other more generic signs of iron deficiency may include strange food cravings, feelings of depression, cold hands and feet, and more frequent infections. Iron deficiency can be caused by a variety of factors and can happen at almost any age. A few of the most common causes are 5 :. Bleeding in the stomach or intestines can be a common reason for anemia in adults who are no longer menstruating. This bleeding can be caused by 27 :.
Your doctor will likely recommend increasing your intake of iron through your diet or with iron supplements 2. If your doctor thinks your iron deficiency may be caused by a lack of iron in your diet, think about consuming more iron-rich foods , such as:.
Keep in mind that taking iron supplements may cause some side effects , including:. However, you can minimize these side effects by taking specific types of iron supplements that may reduce negative effects, such as iron bisglycinate chelate If you want to get the most out of your iron supplement, try to avoid taking it along with antacids or milk, as these can limit iron absorption.
If you think you have an iron deficiency, talk with a doctor. They may recommend that you consume more iron-rich foods plus vitamin C to increase your iron absorption or possibly take iron supplements. Talk with a doctor if you have symptoms of iron deficiency. If left untreated, it can develop into iron deficiency anemia. This could eventually result in complications, including:. Iron deficiency anemia is more common in women than in men
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