Iron deficiency anemia, or iron deficiency anemia, occurs when there is not enough red blood cells in the blood to carry oxygen to all the cells and tissues of the body. Iron is needed by the body to make hemoglobin, a large and complex molecule that carries oxygen to cells and carbon dioxide to the lungs. Anemia can be acute or chronic, and range from mild to severe. If you have iron deficiency anemia, you can learn how to treat it.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Taking Iron Supplements
Step 1. Choose a supplement based on ferrous organic salts
Iron can be found in the form of salt in two different ionic forms: ferrous and ferric. Ferrous supplements are better absorbed by the body than iron supplements. They include ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate, ferrous fumarate and ferrous citrate. Carbonyl iron is another form of iron that is well assimilated by the body and commonly used in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. You can find it in the form of a supplement.
- Read the elemental iron content on the composition of the supplement. Its presence must make up about 30% of the product. The higher the percentage or amount of milligrams listed, the higher the iron absorption.
- The daily intake of elemental iron is usually between 15 and 65 mg and is best divided into several doses.
- Make sure that the supplement is present in the Register of food supplements published on the institutional website of the Ministry.
- Ferrous organic salts are the standard treatment compared to ferric ones as they are better absorbed and have fewer negative side effects.
Step 2. Take the iron on an empty stomach
By taking it on an empty stomach, you can avoid most of the unwanted effects produced by supplements. This indication does not apply to orange juice, as vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.
- You can take the iron supplement with orange juice or add a vitamin C supplement.
- Do not take it with milk, calcium supplements or antacids, otherwise iron absorption decreases.
- Do not take it with high-fiber foods, coffee or tea.
Step 3. Learn about the risks and side effects of iron supplements
It is important to know them because it does not mean that you can overdo everything that is natural or necessary to the body. Iron is a great example. Supplements of this mineral can pose some dangers if you take them in large quantities. Follow the instructions contained in the product and keep it out of the reach of children.
- Heavy consumption of iron supplements can cause a disease called acquired hemochromatosis, which involves joint and abdominal pain, weakness, decreased sex drive and fatigue.
- Iron taken from supplements can cause stomach pain, constipation, or dark stools.
- Consult your doctor if you are taking medications that contain tetracycline, penicillin, and ciprofloxacin or to combat Parkinson's disease and seizure disorders. Iron can interact with these medicines.
- If you have a peptic ulcer, enteritis or ulcerative colitis, you shouldn't take iron supplements.
Part 2 of 3: Increase Your Iron Intake Through Food
Step 1. Get enough iron from your diet
You can get the recommended daily dose of iron through food. Many believe it is a safer and more effective way to increase the intake of this mineral.
- The daily amount of iron essential to the body depends on sex and age. Use the following guidelines to determine the dose you need:
- Children: 0-6 months 0, 27 mg / day; 7-2 months 11 mg / day.
- Children: 1-3 years 7 mg / day; 4-8 years 10 mg / day.
- Men over 9 years: 8 mg / day.
- Women: 9-13 years 8 mg / day; 14-18 years 15 mg / day; 19-50 years 18 mg / day; after 51 years 8 mg / day.
- Pregnant women should take 27 mg / day. During lactation the quantities change according to age: 14-18 years 10 mg / day; after 18 years: 9 mg / day.
Step 2. Eat foods rich in iron
A great way to treat iron deficiency anemia is to increase its intake through nutrition. Many foods are excellent sources of iron, so you can find it in virtually every food group. If you are vegetarian or vegan, there are many dishes that are rich in them even if they are not of animal origin. Foods high in iron are:
- Lean red meat, liver, pork, white meat and fish.
- Green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, mustard, cauliflower, chard, kale, beetroot and more broccoli and all different types of lettuce.
- Soy products, such as tofu, seeds and soy milk.
- Legumes, including peas, white beans, red beans, and chickpeas.
- Dried fruits, such as raisins, apricots, and plums.
- Plum juice.
- Whole grains and bread fortified with iron.
Step 3. Limit your intake of foods that reduce iron intake
Some foods can reduce the body's absorption of this mineral. If you suffer from iron deficiency anemia, do not drink tea, coffee, hot chocolate when you eat because these substances reduce the assimilation of iron that you introduce into your body. Also, you shouldn't take supplements with meals.
Do not drink milk and do not eat dairy products for at least one hour after taking iron. Calcium present in dairy products can decrease their absorption
Part 3 of 3: Determine if You Have Iron Deficiency Anemia
Step 1. See your doctor
To choose the most suitable treatment, it is necessary to obtain a medical diagnosis. There are many forms of anemia, and if it is left untreated or treated incorrectly, serious consequences can occur. Before starting treatment, you need to understand why you are anemic. Therefore, if you have a typical symptom of this disorder, consult your doctor so that he can determine the primary cause and make the correct diagnosis.
- The doctor will perform a physical exam, listen for your heart rate and breathing, and check for any physical symptoms of anemia, such as pale skin and mucous membranes.
- He will probably also prescribe a blood count. It is a complete laboratory test of the blood, which determines the amount of red blood cells and other cells, but also the hemoglobin values in the red blood cells. If the cause of the anemia is unclear, he may order other tests.
Step 2. Treat the cause of the anemia
To treat iron deficiency anemia, you will likely need to undergo treatment for the condition that caused it and, therefore, the treatment will depend on your particular condition.
- If iron deficiency is caused by blood loss during menstruation, you may want to consider hormone treatments to smooth your menstrual flow.
- If anemia is due to blood loss in the digestive system, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and antacids or acid-lowering drugs.
- In case of lead poisoning, chelation therapy is used which involves taking drugs that bind and filter this heavy metal.
- Blood transfusions are rarely needed in severe cases of siedropenic anemia.
- If the anemia is caused by internal bleeding, surgery may be needed to stop it.
- Other possible etiologic factors include decreased iron absorption, celiac disease, consumption of certain foods, intake of certain medications, an erythropoietin deficiency, or gastric bypass surgery.
Step 3. Identify the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia
There are several types of anemia. Sometimes, this disorder involves generic symptoms that may be related to other conditions. Therefore, the doctor's diagnosis is important. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include:
- Constant fatigue not relieved by rest or sleep
- Pallor of the skin;
- Stunning;
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Cold hands and feet
- Wheezing or difficulty in breathing;
- Chest pain;
- Cognitive problems, such as confusion or memory loss
- Headache.
Step 4. Learn about the causes of iron deficiency
Red blood cells contain a protein called hemoglobin. The hemoglobin present in red blood cells takes oxygen from the lungs and at the same time discharges carbon dioxide. It contains iron and, without it, it cannot function properly. In the case of iron deficiency, the bone marrow cannot produce enough red blood cells and the result is anemia. It is possible to suffer from iron deficiency anemia if:
- Iron intake through food is low. It can be due to poor nutrition and pregnancy.
- The body cannot absorb iron from food. It can happen in the case of certain disorders, such as celiac disease, or if part of the intestine has been removed surgically.
- Iron loss is due to internal bleeding, such as intestinal bleeding or heavy menstrual flow, from the use of certain medications that can cause internal bleeding, such as aspirin or NSAIDs.
- Lead poisoning occurred. Lead replaces the iron contained in hemoglobin and the latter is unable to transport oxygen properly.
- Take aspirin regularly. This drug can cause ulcers and lead to bleeding.
Step 5. Find out if you are at risk
There are a number of risk factors for iron deficiency anemia. If you know you are at risk, you have the option to control any symptoms or increase your consumption of iron-rich foods. The most common risk factors are:
- Sex. Women who are menstruating are more at risk because they lose iron when they expel the unfertilized egg. If the menstrual flow is quite heavy, they are at a higher risk.
- Age. Babies and babies need more iron to grow and develop properly.
- Intestinal diseases that prevent the absorption of nutrients. For example, some of these disorders are celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), irritable bowel disease, and leaky bowel syndrome.
- Pregnancy. It can deplete a pregnant woman's iron stores because the body uses it to help produce blood in the fetus.
- Diet. Many people don't eat well and don't get enough iron from food. Vegetarians and vegans may also be at a higher risk of iron deficiency, but only if they don't consume foods that are rich in iron.
