Do you often feel like you're just not getting enough energy or are constantly exhausted? It could result from an iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anaemia happens when your body doesn't have enough iron to produce red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body. When this happens, you might feel tired and weak or experience shortness of breath. Count on Manipal Hospitals for anaemia treatment in Patiala.
Iron-Deficiency Anaemia is most common in children and women, but it can affect anyone who does not get enough iron from their diet. A report from the Global Nutrition Report revealed that 51% of Indian women are anaemic, making it the country with one of the highest percentages of anaemic women worldwide.
What Is Iron Deficiency Anaemia?
Anaemia is a condition with too few red blood cells or haemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen). Fewer red blood cells mean the body lacks oxygen to function normally. Lack of iron in your diet or other health conditions like chronic kidney disease can also cause anaemia.
Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when you do not have enough iron in your diet, producing fewer red blood cells than it should. Those who are at risk include:
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Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
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People who have frequent nosebleeds
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Women who menstruate heavily
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People with chronic kidney disease
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Premature babies
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Infants with lower than average birth weight
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Infants who do not get breastfeed
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Vegetarians who do not eat iron-rich food
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Frequent blood donors
The Causes Of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia is a common condition that can significantly impact your health. There are several different causes of this condition, including:
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Blood Loss
This could be due to heavy menstrual bleeding or an injury that causes bleeding, such as a cut or bruise. It may also occur during childbirth or pregnancy when there is a lot of blood loss.
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Lack of Iron in the Diet
If you don't get enough iron in your food or drink, your body won't be able to replace what it loses through bleeding or other ways. You should eat iron-rich foods daily, such as lean meat, iron-fortified foods and green leafy vegetables.
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Inability to Absorb Iron
Some conditions or diseases may make it difficult for your body to absorb iron from food sources, such as celiac disease (celiac sprue), Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). These diseases affect the small intestine, responsible for absorbing nutrients from food sources.
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Pregnancy
Pregnancy is another common cause of iron deficiency anaemia because it requires extra nutrients for both mother and child.
Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when you don't have enough red blood cells or haemoglobin, the protein in the blood that transports oxygen to your body's tissues.
Initially, you may not notice any symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia. However, as the deficiency in iron and anaemia worsens, signs and symptoms can include:
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Extreme tiredness
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Always feeling weak
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Pale skin
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Chest pain
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Fast heartbeats
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Shortness of breath
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Headache lightheadedness
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Frequently having cold hands and feet
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Soreness in tongue
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Frangible nails
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Loss of appetite
Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Iron deficiency anaemia is a common nutritional disorder. It primarily affects children, pregnant women and people with a low iron intake. We can prevent iron deficiency anaemia by:
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Iron-rich food
Add food items such as seafood, lentils, green leafy vegetables and beans.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C enhances the body's iron absorption, so adding foods like oranges, broccoli, melons, and tomatoes will increase the absorption of iron.
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Breastmilk
Feeding breastmilk to babies for up to six months is known to prevent iron deficiency in babies. The iron-fortified formula helps after the age of 6 months.
Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
The first step in diagnosing iron deficiency is to look at the red blood cells' size and colour. If they're abnormally small or pale (as opposed to bright red), this can indicate anaemia caused by a lack of iron. Next, doctors check haemoglobin and hematocrit levels: if these are low, it's also likely that you have some anaemia—and it's worth getting tested for other causes like vitamin B12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency.
Additional tests like endoscopy, colonoscopy, or ultrasound are needed to confirm if bloodwork indicates an iron deficiency and address the underlying causes before they cause too much damage to internal organs. Consult with our Nutritionist and dietician in Patiala to know more about healthy diet intake.
Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia
Anaemia makes one feel tired and weak. It can also cause difficulty thinking and concentrating. If you have iron deficiency anaemia, some things can help:
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Iron supplements as per doctor's recommendation.
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Adding Vitamin C to improve absorption of iron.
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The underlying cause of the deficiency needs treatment.
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Oral contraceptives if you have heavy menstrual flow.
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Antibiotics or other medicines if you have an ulcer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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Surgery to remove polyps, tumours, or fibroids contributing to your condition.
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Iron Deficiency Anaemia is a treatable condition. However, identifying this condition's symptoms is essential to seek help from the best doctors at Manipal Hospitals, Patiala. Are you experiencing any of these symptoms? Reach out for help today. Our experienced doctors can offer effective anaemia treatment in Patiala. We are here to provide the treatment to help you get back on your feet and live life to its fullest.
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Department of Nutrition and Dietetics
Manipal Hospitals, Patiala
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