Iron is also needed to make hemoglobin, the protein present in red blood cells that transports oxygen in the body. A decline in the level of iron means that your body will not be able to make sufficient, healthy red blood cells, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. Although low iron is commonly associated with a bad diet or high pregnancy-related needs, a constant or unknown condition of low iron may present a red flag that a person has an underlying health concern.
Most of the time, supplements are only partial solutions to rectifying the deficiency. What is actually important is to find the root cause. Non-treated underlying may do more than maintain low levels of iron but also lead to long-term problems.
When you suspect low iron, remember iron deficiency may not be the primary condition in many cases–in some it is the symptom.
Difference between Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia: What is the difference?
Iron deficiency involves a situation whereby a body does not have adequate reserves of iron. This shortage has to be acute enough, to impair hemoglobin production to enter into iron deficiency anemia. Though in some cases of anemia the condition might be mild and short-lived, frequent or serious cases usually require further research.
Typical Early signs
- Joint and muscle pain, fatigue and weakness
- Gum and skin pale skin
- Dyspnea with normal activity The shortness of breath during normal activities
- Dry, brittle nails or hair loss
- Dizziness or often headache
All these symptoms may coincide with others in the medical field, and hence the reason lab tests are critical to proper diagnosis.
The Reasons why Low Iron Levels Warrant More Considerations
Iron deficiency is often linked by many people to the plain lack of consumption of iron-rich foods. However, between the deficiencies in the diet is very usual but consistent loss of iron may signify continuous loss of blood or absorption. Failure to consider this may end up in failure to diagnose other health issues that are more serious.
Major Health conditions that may result in Iron deficiency
Constant bleeding is actually one of the most prevalent silent causes of low iron. The signs to be looked out:
- Gastrointestinal Bleeding
Slow, unrelenting unseen bleeding within the digestion tract could be caused by conditions such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, hemorrhoids or colorectal cancer. This bleeding is internal; hence it could be missed in months.
What you ought to look out:
- Blood in stool or blood in gastric vomits
- Belly pain willy nilly
- Stomach pain at all times
- Chronic Heavy Bleeding / Menorrhagia
Long or abnormally heavy periods in women can cause iron loss which is faster than an iron-rich diet can replace. Fibroids, endometriosis or hormonal imbalances are the main culprits.
2. Disorders of Gastrointestinal Involving Absorption
Although your diet may have plenty of iron, the body may not easily absorb it because of preexisting digestive problems.
Standard causes relating to absorption:
Celiac disease: A disorder that is due to the autoimmune reaction, in which gluten destroys the small intestine leading to the inability to absorb nutrients.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Intestinal chronic inflammation and blood losses as a result of Crohn and ulcerative colitis.
Gastric surgery: Surgery, such as gastric bypass, may reduce the area of the stomach exposed to the nutrients.
3. Autoimmune, and Chronic Diseases
Some of these autoimmune and chronic diseases may elicit inflammation which interferes with iron metabolism.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Chronic inflammation may cause iron to be blocked in the storage bodies thus incapable of being used to form red blood cells.
- Lupus: It may lead to inflammation as well as internal bleeding.
- Chronic kidney disease: kidneys do produce a hormone that helps in production of red blood cells known as erythropoietin. Dysfunction limits the usage of iron and the production of red blood cells.
4. Cancer
Certain cancers have poisonous vaccinations. It goes without saying that some cancers, especially those of the gastrointestinal tract may result in gradual internal bleeding or nutrient uptake. The iron deficiency anemia can be observed early which is evidenced in colon cancer as one of its main symptoms.
Why it is Important to Identify the Cause
Treating low iron using supplements or alterations in the diet is only likely to replenish hemoglobin level temporarily without addressing the root cause, therefore, culminating in recurrence. Other conditions are potentially life saving as they may be detected and treated before gastrointestinal bleeding or cancer becomes life threatening.
Steps in Diagnosis of Chronic Iron Deficiency
In the event of low iron detected in your blood, your health practitioner would request additional tests to diagnose the problem. Toxicological measures: Diagnostic bases that are common:
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): This is a test which investigates the presence of the hidden blood in the stool.
- Endoscopy/Colonoscopy: Gives a direct examination of the upper gastrointestinal tract to observe the existence of ulcers, inflammation or tumours.
- Ultrasound Pelvis: It is used to determine occurrences of heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Celiac disease Test: provokes antigluten.
Treatment Does not Only Supplement
1. Treating Iron Deficiency Iron levels can be redressed through remedies such as eating a great deal of well-prepared meat and liver, potatoes, and dark-raised plough-land beans. Red or yellow bone marrow and sucrose white are also very useful.
Iron supplements or IV Iron treatment can replenish iron as fast as possible. Eating changes, such as dietary incorporation of enhanced cereals, red meat, leafy greens, and lentils also assist.
2. So What? Treatment
- Taking medication to fight ulcers by decreasing stomach acid, to help heal.
- To control the heavy menstrual bleeding through surgery, or hormonal therapy.
- Treatment of IBD with the help of anti-inflammatory medications, ambulatory care.
- Getting rid of cancerous growths or polyps in early diagnosis case.
What Causes an Immediate Medical Help?
A prompt medical attention is required in case you see:
Abrupt weakness or dyspnea expertly extreme tiredness or shortness of breath
- Black or bloody bowel:
- Irregular or hot heartbeat
- Weight loss that has no explanation
- Abdominal pain that does not stop Contentment Raising the mood Lightening burdens
- The occurrence of these symptoms could be the indication of the underlying problems that have to be addressed immediately.
Prevention of the Recurrence of Iron Deficiency
Prevention is more than diet. It is all about being as healthy as possible and having regular check-ups, in particular, when your risk factors are family history of gastrointestinal illness, heavy menstrual periods, or incessant inflammatory diseases.
Essential preventive measures:
- Blood tests regularly in the event that a person is at risk
- Incapacitating and early diagnosing bleeding with no explanation
- Successful work with chronic illnesses
- Their balanced diet having both heme (animal) iron, and non-heme (plant) iron
The Takeaway
Iron deficiency is habitual, though the cases that cannot be explained or last long should not be neglected. It could be an indication that something more serious is up there in your body- hidden gastrointestinal bleeding, autoimmune diseases or even cancer. Taking it as a potentially symptomatic condition and not as a mere nutrition deficiency, you may guard yourself against late diagnoses and severe health repercussions.
