Condition Basics
What is iron deficiency anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia means that your body doesn't have enough iron to make red blood cells.
Iron is important because it helps you get enough oxygen throughout your body. Your body uses iron to make hemoglobin. This is a part of your red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your body. If you don't have enough iron, your body makes fewer and smaller red blood cells. Then your body has less hemoglobin, and you can't get enough oxygen.
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia.
What causes it?
Iron deficiency anemia is caused by low levels of iron in the body. Many things can cause low iron levels. These include heavy menstrual bleeding, not getting enough iron in food, and health problems that cause bleeding inside your body or make it hard to absorb iron.
What are the symptoms?
You may not notice the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. That's because it develops slowly, and the symptoms may be mild. As anemia gets worse, you may feel weak and tired or dizzy. You may get headaches, feel short of breath, and have trouble concentrating.
How is it diagnosed?
To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will do a physical exam and ask about your health and symptoms. Your doctor will also do blood tests. These tests may include a complete blood count to look at your red blood cells and an iron test that shows how much iron is in your blood.
How is iron deficiency anemia treated?
To treat iron deficiency anemia, your doctor will try to find the cause of the anemia and treat that problem. Your doctor can recommend ways to increase your iron levels, such as taking iron supplement pills and eating iron-rich foods. Talk to your doctor before taking iron pills.
How can you prevent it?
You can help prevent iron deficiency anemia by eating iron-rich foods every day. These include meats, vegetables, and whole grains. To help prevent anemia in babies and children, follow recommendations for feeding infants. Make sure that babies and children get enough iron. If you're pregnant, you can take prenatal vitamins that include iron.