How is ida prevented

Lozoff, B. Pediatr Res 39, Download citation. Issue Date : 01 April Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:. Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Advanced search. Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature. There are many reasons why a person might become deficient in iron. These include:. Eating too little iron over an extended amount of time can cause a shortage in your body.

Foods such as meat, eggs, and some green leafy vegetables are high in iron. Because iron is essential during times of rapid growth and development, pregnant women and young children may need even more iron-rich foods in their diet.

Heavy menstrual bleeding and blood loss during childbirth are the most common causes of iron deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age. Certain medical conditions can cause internal bleeding, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Examples include an ulcer in your stomach , polyps in the colon or intestines, or colon cancer. Regular use of pain relievers, such as aspirin, can also cause bleeding in the stomach.

Certain disorders or surgeries that affect the intestines can also interfere with how your body absorbs iron. Even if you get enough iron in your diet, celiac disease or intestinal surgery such as gastric bypass may limit the amount of iron your body can absorb. If a woman has endometriosis she may have heavy blood loss that she can not see because it is hidden in the abdominal or pelvic area.

Anemia is a common condition and can occur in both men and women of any age and from any ethnic group. Some people may be at greater risk of iron deficiency anemia than others, including:. A complete blood count CBC is usually the first test a doctor will use. A CBC measures the amount of all components in the blood, including:. The CBC provides information about your blood that is helpful in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia.

This information includes:. A normal hematocrit range is The normal hemoglobin range is In iron deficiency anemia, the hematocrit and hemoglobin levels are low. Also, RBCs are usually smaller in size than normal. A CBC test is often performed as part of a routine physical examination.

It may also be performed routinely before a surgery. Anemia can usually be confirmed with a CBC test. Your doctor might order additional blood tests to determine how severe your anemia is and help determine treatments. They may also examine your blood through a microscope. These blood tests will provide information, including:. Ferritin is a protein that helps with iron storage in your body. Low levels of ferritin indicate low iron storage. Transferrin is a protein that transports iron.

Certain at-home test kits can check iron levels as well as being able to check ferritin levels and TIBC. You buy a testing kit online through LetsGetChecked here.

If your doctor is concerned that internal bleeding is causing your anemia, additional tests may be needed. One test you may have is fecal occult test to look for blood in your feces. Blood in your feces may indicate bleeding in your intestine. This makes it harder to stop bleeding and can increase the risk of iron-deficiency anemia from trauma, surgery, or heavy menstrual periods. Individuals with a gene for hemophilia , including symptomatic female carriers who have heavy menstrual periods, may be at risk for iron-deficiency anemia.

Girls and women between the ages of 14 and 50 years need more iron than boys and men of the same age. Women are at higher risk for iron-deficiency anemia under some circumstances, including:. Your doctor may screen you for iron-deficiency anemia if you have certain risk factors , including pregnancy. To prevent iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend you eat heart-healthy foods or control other conditions that can cause iron-deficiency anemia.

To screen for iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order a blood test called a complete blood count CBC to see if you have lower than normal red blood cell counts, hemoglobin or hematocrit levels, or mean corpuscular volume MCV that would suggest anemia.

If you have certain risk factors , such as if you are following a vegetarian eating pattern, your doctor may recommend changes to help you meet the recommended daily amount of iron.

If you have other medical conditions that cause iron-deficiency anemia , such as bleeding in the digestive or urinary tract or heavy menstrual bleeding, your doctor will want to control these other conditions to prevent you from developing iron-deficiency anemia.

This may help prevent iron-deficiency anemia in your newborn for both full-term and preterm infants. Iron-deficiency anemia can range from mild to severe. People with mild or moderate iron-deficiency anemia may not have any signs or symptoms. Symptoms generally worsen as anemia becomes more severe. If left untreated, iron deficiency can cause complications and may be life-threatening.

In people with chronic conditions, iron-deficiency anemia can make their condition worse or result in treatments not working as well. Iron-deficiency anemia may be detected during routine blood tests when you visit your doctor for a checkup. To diagnose iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may ask you questions about your risk factors , do a physical exam, or order blood tests or other diagnostic tests.

Your doctor may ask about your medical history and any symptoms you are experiencing, and do a physical exam to look for any of the following signs that may help diagnose iron-deficiency anemia:. Based on results from blood tests to screen for iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order the following blood tests to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia:. To help diagnose iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor will consider your CBC, hemoglobin, blood iron levels, MCV, and ferritin levels to determine if you have iron-deficiency anemia or another type of anemia.

You may be diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia if you have low iron or ferritin levels in your blood. To see if gastrointestinal bleeding is causing your iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order the following procedures to guide treatment.

To find the cause of your iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order additional tests:. Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia will depend on its cause and severity. Treatments may include iron supplements, procedures, surgery, and dietary changes.

Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require intravenous IV iron therapy or a blood transfusion. Your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements, also called iron pills or oral iron, by mouth once or several times a day to increase the iron in your body. This is the most common treatment for iron deficiency. It generally takes three to six months to replenish your iron stores.

Iron supplements are sometimes recommended by your doctor during pregnancy. If your condition is caused by certain rare genetic conditions, such as a TMRPSS6 gene mutation, you may not respond to oral iron supplements. Iron supplements are generally not recommended for people who do not have iron-deficiency anemia. This is because too much iron can damage your organs.

Do not stop taking your prescribed iron supplements without first talking to your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing side effects such as a bad metallic taste, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or upset stomach.

Your doctor may be able to recommend options such as taking your supplements with food, lowering the dose, trying a different type of iron supplement, or receiving intravenous IV iron. If iron supplements alone are not able to replenish the levels of iron in your body, your doctor may recommend a procedure, including:. If you have chronic kidney disease and iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend erythropoiesis stimulating agents esa. These medicines stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.

ESAs are usually used with iron therapy or IV iron, or when iron therapy alone is not enough. After being diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, it is important to follow your treatment plan.

Your doctor may recommend additional follow-up care and lifestyle changes to avoid complications. Your doctor may be able to recommend options such as taking your supplement with food, lowering the dose, trying a different type of iron supplement, or receiving intravenous IV iron.

You may have fatigue and other symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia until your iron levels return to normal, which can take months. Tell your doctor if you have any new symptoms or if your symptoms get worse, especially if you experience chest pain or feel like your heart is beating irregularly.

Tell any doctors you see for other conditions that you have iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia can make other conditions, such as HIV, worse or harder to treat. Tell your doctor what medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines or other supplements. Iron supplements can change how certain medicines work. Your doctor may suggest check-ups to make sure your iron and hemoglobin levels are improving and staying at healthy levels.

Your doctor may:. To prevent complications from iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend heart-healthy eating and choosing iron-rich foods, especially during certain stages of life when more iron is needed, such as childhood and pregnancy.

Good sources of iron are meat, poultry, fish, and iron-fortified foods that have iron added. Vegetarian diets can provide enough iron if you choose nonmeat sources of iron, including iron-fortified breads and cereals, beans, tofu, dried fruits, and spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables. You can also take an iron supplement. Tell your doctor if you have any new symptoms or if your symptoms get worse, especially if you experience chest pain or feel your heart is beating irregularly.

Talk to your doctor about returning to everyday activities. Because iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel weak, you should be cautious when resuming certain activities, such as physical activity. Older adults, who are more likely to fall, should be especially cautious when resuming activities.

We are committed to advancing science and translating discoveries into clinical practice to promote the prevention and treatment of heart, lung, blood, and sleep disorders, including iron-deficiency anemia. Learn about the current and future NHLBI efforts to improve health through research and scientific discovery.

Learn about the following ways that NHLBI continues to translate current research into improved health for people with iron-deficiency anemia. In support of our mission , we are committed to advancing research on anemia, in part through the following ways. We lead or sponsor many studies related to iron-deficiency anemia. See if you or someone you know is eligible to participate in our clinical trials.

Learn more about participating in a clinical trial. View all trials from ClinicalTrials. Visit Children and Clinical Studies to hear experts, parents, and children talk about their experiences with clinical research. Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia that occurs if you do not have enough iron in your body.

More severe iron-deficiency anemia may cause fatigue or tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. If your doctor diagnoses you with iron-deficiency anemia, your treatment will depend on the cause and severity of the condition. Your doctor may recommend healthy eating changes, iron supplements, intravenous iron therapy for mild to moderate iron-deficiency anemia, or red blood cell transfusion for severe iron-deficiency anemia.

You may need to address the cause of your iron deficiency, such as any underlying bleeding. If undiagnosed or untreated, iron-deficiency anemia can cause serious complications, including heart failure and development delays in children.

Explore this Health Topic to learn more about iron-deficiency anemia, our role in research and clinical trials to improve health, and where to find more information. Causes - Iron-Deficiency Anemia. Blood loss. Common causes of blood loss that lead to iron-deficiency anemia include: Bleeding in your GI tract, from an ulcer, colon cancer, or regular use of medicines such as aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDS , such as ibuprofen and naproxen Certain rare genetic conditions such as hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, which causes bleeding in the bowels Frequent blood donation Frequent blood tests, especially in infants and small children Heavy menstrual periods Injury or surgery Urinary tract bleeding.

Consuming less than recommended daily amounts of iron. Recommended daily iron intake for children and adults. The table lists the recommended amounts of iron, in milligrams mg at different ages and stages of life. Until the teen years, the recommended amount of iron is the same for boys and girls. From birth to 6 months, babies need 0.

This number goes up to 11 mg for children ages 7 to 12 months, and down to 7 mg for children ages 1 to 3. From ages 4 to 8, children need 10 mg, and from ages 9 to 13, 8 mg. From ages 14 to 18, boys need 11 mg, while girls need 15 mg. From ages 19 to 50, men need 8 mg and women need 18 mg. After age 51, both men and women need 8 mg. Pregnant women need 27 mg. Breastfeeding girls under age 18 need 10 mg while breastfeeding women older than 18 need 9 mg.

Problems absorbing iron. A history of gastrointestinal surgery, such as weight-loss surgery—especially gastric bypass—or gastrectomy.