Iron deficiency anaemia is when blood counts are low because of too little iron.
People with mild iron deficiency anaemia may not have any symptoms. However, when the iron levels drop past a certain point, a person may start to have one or more of the following symptoms:
A patient may also notice unusual blood loss. Examples include heavy menses, bleeding with stools, bleeding with urination, blood in vomit, or nosebleeds.
Low iron levels cause iron deficiency anaemia. Low iron levels can occur because of one of the following:
Risk factors for developing iron deficiency anaemia can include:
Iron deficiency anaemia is usually diagnosed with a simple blood test. Once diagnosed, a healthcare provider may request other tests to find out why a person is anaemic.
At its extreme, iron deficiency anaemia can cause death. This is the case with people who are bleeding uncontrollably.
However, most people begin to feel very unwell once the levels drop too low and seek treatment. Some complications can include:
Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia is to stop any blood loss and then restore iron levels to a normal range. To achieve this, a healthcare provider may recommend:
The best prevention for iron deficiency anaemia is to eat a diet that includes a variety of foods containing iron. Some iron-rich foods include meats, poultry, seafood, eggs, spinach, sweet potatoes, beans, lentils, figs, prunes, strawberries, watermelon, and whole wheat breads.