Iron deficiency anemia is one of the most common forms of anemia that one may have. This is linked to the low amounts of iron in the body and leads to a deficiency in the amount of red blood cells that are in the body. There are a number of iron deficiency anemia symptoms to look out for to know when this is something that you need to see your doctor about.
The Most Common Form of Anemia
When it comes to having anemia, an iron deficiency is one of the most common reasons. This actually leads to half of all cases around the world and is much more common among women. The good news is that it is something that can be cured relatively easily.
The anemia is linked to a parasitic infection, which is usually caused by creatures like whipworms, roundworms and hookworms.
These lead to bleeding in the intestines, which will go undetected for some time and commonly leads to blood being in the stools. This is something that is becoming very serious among children.
Chronic blood los is something that occurs during pregnancy in women in developing countries and contributes to a number of the anemic cases. There are also links to those infected with malaria, which will destroy the count of red blood cells.
The iron deficiency anemia is commonly noted after chronic gastrointestinal bleeding in women who are over 50 and are post menopause. This is often from a gastric ulcer or from something like gastrointestinal cancer.
In developed countries, the worm parasite is less common; only around 20 percent of women show the iron deficiency anemia symptoms that are linked to this problem. It is most common during the menopausal stage but is something that can be countered through the a diet that is high in iron or by taking supplements.
More Detail About Iron Deficiency Anemia
This condition is a common result when iron deficiency reaches the advanced stage. Usually, the body will be able to store some of the iron from the food that is eaten, usually in areas like the liver, spleen and even bone marrow; this helps with the human iron metabolism.
However, when a person does not eat enough iron, the stores are used to help and this can lead to a deficiency if they are not replenished.
Iron Deficiency Anemia Symptoms
There are a number of symptoms that are noted when it comes to this condition. In short, anemia is when there is not enough oxygen travelling around the body, which leads to a variety of problems for all of the organs. One of the most common symptoms is excessive and unexplained tiredness. This is one of the first signs for a doctor, especially when linked to other common symptoms.
There are times that weakness in the muscles will also be noted since the oxygen in the blood is getting to the more important organs in the body instead. Pale skin and cold extremities are also common; after all, the oxygen will get to the organs instead of going to extremities.
There are other symptoms that are linked to the inability of getting oxygen around the body; many of them affect the heart, lungs and the brain. Concentration is a problem and there are a number of irrational feelings, such as depression and irritability. Struggling with breathing is also common and there are times that the anemia will lead to bad heart problems, including murmurs and even the development of heart disease.
Some of the more uncommon iron deficiency anemia symptoms include pica, which is the craving of unusual foods and items. This is something that is commonly seen in anemic pregnant women and leads to craving items like sponges, sand and even dirt. It is important not to act on any of these cravings as they are extremely dangerous for the body.
When any of the signs of anemia are noted, it is important to talk to your doctor. He will be able to set you up for some tests and will be able to diagnose the condition. This will help you find out the type of anemia that you have and get the correct treatment for it.
