What is Iron Deficiency?

A CBC test can help detect your iron deficiency. When the body does not receive its required share of iron, the red blood cells gradually lose their capacity to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. When this happens, the body is said to have a deficiency of iron and such a condition can often lead to anaemia. Without the required amount of iron intake, the body is not able to produce enough haemoglobin which facilitates the red blood cells to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Iron deficiency can have several causes but with effective early identification of the signs and symptoms and consequent treatment, adverse conditions like anaemia can be averted.

What Causes Iron Deficiency?

• Pregnancy:There are four primary causes the body can lack iron and one of them is pregnancy. This happens mostly because the iron intake of pregnant women needs to satisfy the iron requirements for both their body as well as that of their unborn child. Pregnant women have an increased blood volume because of having to serve the requirements of their developing foetus and thus are more prone to developing iron deficiency.

Also read: Baby Signs to look out for during pregnancy

• Internal Bleeding:Iron deficiency can also occur due to internal bleeding happening obscurely. Internal bleeding can occur due to reasons like a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp or colorectal cancer. Moreover, prolonged usage of some over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding that can lead to iron deficiency.
• Menstruation:Women suffering from polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) often have heavy menstrual flows and this can also be a cause of iron deficiency due to excessive blood loss.

• Intestinal Disorders:The ability of the body to absorb iron from the diet can be hindered in the case of celiac disease. This can also be a prominent cause of iron deficiency in the body. Celiac disease is an intestinal disorder that often results in anaemic conditions as a result of loss of iron in the blood.
• Lack of Iron in the Diet:Finally, the most obvious reason for many people who have iron deficiency, is a severe lack of iron in their daily diet. Without the regular consumption of meat, eggs, leafy greens, and other foods rich in iron, the body is bound to develop iron deficiency at some point.

Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency can manifest itself in the human body through several different signs and symptoms. While some of these are more subtle signs that may not lead to any such diagnosis, some of these signs are glaringly obvious. When experiencing some of the most obvious signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, it is necessary to consult a doctor who will usually recommend a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. A CBC test establishes the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets circulating within the blood.

• Extreme Fatigue

Since the amount of oxygen being carried by the blood reduces as a result of iron deficiencies, extreme fatigue is a usual symptom.

• Weakness

For similar reasons, overall physical and mental weakness may be yet another symptom of iron deficiency since blood loss can often cause such weakness.

• Pale skin

Since lack of iron in the body is often associated with a lack of haemoglobin and red pigmentation, pale skin can be a useful identifiable symptom of iron deficiency.

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• Chest Pain, Fast Heartbeat and Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath can occur due to low oxygenation in the body, while the heart needs to pump more blood to carry oxygen to all parts of the body. This means that it can also cause chest pain and all of these can be signs of iron deficiency.

• Headache, Dizziness and Light-headedness

When the blood is not able to carry enough oxygen to all parts of the body (including the brain) it may cause headaches, dizziness, and light-headedness. This can be yet another crucial sign that the body is lacking iron.

• Cold Hands and Feet

Since deficiency of iron can often cause low levels of blood circulation throughout the body, having cold hands and feet all the time can also be an indication that there is a severe deficiency of iron in the body.

• Inflammation/Soreness of the Tongue

Iron deficiency often affects the tongue causing it to feel sore for no reason. It can also cause unexplained inflammation of the tongue and this is often a direct indication of existing iron deficiency in the body.

• Brittle Nails

Nails can often get brittle and weak in case of iron deficiency in the body. Iron helps nails maintain their thick composition and with the lack of iron, nails can thin out and split, causing them to become brittle. If you experience frequent breakage of nails, it may be an indicator of iron deficiency.

• Unusual Cravings for Non-nutritive Substances

Non-nutritive substances like ice, dirt, nails, or starch are considered bad for health but people who have unusual cravings to consume these non-nutritive substances are usually diagnosed with iron deficiency. This is because it is an unusual way for the body to replenish the iron levels that it is lacking.

• Poor Appetite

Lack of iron in the blood can also be the cause for a reduced appetite quite often. This can also lead to unprecedented weight loss. When experiencing such symptoms, it is best to have online doctor consultation regarding possible iron deficiency in the body.

Treatment of Iron Deficiency

In milder cases of iron deficiency, a simple diet regulation that includes foods rich in iron like different kinds of meat and seafood along with meat and animal products like egg and cheese can help in the effective treatment of iron deficiency at home. However, in moderate to severe cases, doctors may suggest the consumption of iron supplements. Many iron supplements are available as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that require no prescription but can often have side effect of constipation.

As a result, most doctors prescribe a stool softener or laxative to take along with iron supplements. Another albeit harmless side effect of such a form of treatment can be stools turning black in colour, which is quite common when consuming iron supplements regularly. On the other hand, if the cause of your iron deficiency is due to other underlying medical conditions like internal bleeding of any kind, or inability to absorb iron, or even excess bleeding during menstruation, iron supplements can only provide temporary relief.

Conclusion

To effectively manage the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency at home, people must be more aware of the warning signs expressed by their bodies and seek medical advice in the earlier stages. Iron deficiency when caught and diagnosed in its early stages can be quite easy to resolve, while if kept ignores, it can develop into anaemia. When it comes to seeking appropriate medical advice, the ehealthcare services of MediBuddy provide a quick and seamless solution for people suffering from such a condition to gain access to expert medical advice and ensure a path of accurate treatment without having to leave their homes.

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