Medical Or Surgical Intervention
Some causes may require other types of intervention. For example, a bleeding polyp in your colon may need to be removed. A biopsy can make sure it isn’t cancer.
For some people, stomach bleeding may be related to the use of blood thinners. When this happens, you may need a lower dose or a different blood thinner. If you have had a major episode of blood loss due to something like surgery or trauma, you may need a blood transfusion.
Factors That Increase Red Blood Cell Destruction
On the other hand, any disorder that destroys red blood cells at a rate faster than theyre made can cause anemia. This typically occurs due to hemorrhaging, which can happen because of:
- an enlarged spleen or liver
- atrophic glossitis of tongue
People with signs or symptoms of anemia should seek medical attention, especially if fainting or chest pains occur.
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What Can Happen If Iron
If left untreated, iron-deficiency anemia can cause serious health problems. Having too little oxygen in the body can damage organs. With anemia, the heart must work harder to make up for the lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. This extra work can harm the heart.
Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause problems during pregnancy.
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Iron Deficiency In Middle Age Is Linked With Higher Risk Of Developing Heart Disease
Sophia Antipolis, 6 October 2021: Approximately 10% of new coronary heart disease cases occurring within a decade of middle age could be avoided by preventing iron deficiency, suggests a study published today in ESC Heart Failure, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology .1
This was an observational study and we cannot conclude that iron deficiency causes heart disease, said study author Dr. Benedikt Schrage of the University Heart and Vasculature Centre Hamburg, Germany. However, evidence is growing that there is a link and these findings provide the basis for further research to confirm the results.
Previous studies have shown that in patients with cardiovascular diseases such as heart failure, iron deficiency was linked to worse outcomes including hospitalisations and death. Treatment with intravenous iron improved symptoms, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with heart failure and iron deficiency enrolled in the FAIR-HF trial.2 Based on these results, the FAIR-HF 2 trial is investigating the impact of intravenous iron supplementation on the risk of death in patients with heart failure.
The current study aimed to examine whether the association between iron deficiency and outcomes was also observed in the general population.
Iron In Multimineral Supplements
One study of multimineral supplements that contained iron found blood pressure decreased in the study participants. An article in the 2009 “Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition” reported a study in which Chinese women were divided into four groups. One group received high doses and a second group received low doses of multivitamin and multimineral supplements. A third group was given only calcium while a fourth group received a placebo. Blood pressures in the women who took the high-dose multivitamin multimineral supplement were significantly lower than those in the other groups.
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Who Is Most At Risk For Iron Deficiency Anemia
Women. By far, women are more at risk of iron deficiency, which can start with the onset of menstrual cycles, Dr. Brill says. Women also are at a greater risk of auto immune disorders and hypothyroidism, which may cause anemia. Pregnant women may need iron supplements, as well as babies who are solely breast-fed after six months.
Older adults. As you age, your appetite typically decreases. Your more meager meals may lack good sources of iron.
Those taking certain medicines. Medicines and treatments that can rob the body of iron include: blood thinners, such as aspirin or prescription medicine, such as Coumadin® . Chemotherapy and other cancer-targeted therapies can also strip away iron.
Those with a chronic illness. Illnesses that cause blood loss, such as ulcers and colon cancer, are sometimes the underlying cause of an iron deficiency.
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Red Blood Cells Explained
Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. Once mature and released into circulation they have a life span of about 120 days. The bone marrow is always making new red blood cells to replace old ones which are cleared naturally. Millions of new red blood cells enter the blood stream each day in a healthy person.
Red blood cells contain proteins called haemoglobin. These proteins incorporate iron to bind oxygen. Red blood cells are transported through our circulation to our lungs where they receive oxygen, which in turn is released when they reach our organs in different parts of our body in order to supply them with oxygen for normal function.
The manufacture of red cells requires raw materials derived from our food, such as iron and vitamin B12. Our body is also able to recycle materials when cells are naturally broken down, to a certain extent. Iron is a major component in haemoglobin, critical for its oxygen binding ability.
Red cell production is regulated through the hormone erythropoietin, produced by kidneys, which stimulates bone marrow cells in manufacturing red cells.
The discovery of anaemia should prompt further investigations as to the underlying causes. The treatment options depend on the reason causing anaemia.
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Baseline Characteristics Of Participants According To Serum Ferritin Level
The mean age of the study participants was 41.9 years. Across the ferritin concentration quartiles , subjects in the higher quartiles were more likely to have higher concentrations of C-reactive protein , white blood cell counts, serum alanine aminotransferase and -glutamyl transferase and to have higher waist circumference. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels increased linearly in subjects with the lowest to the highest serum ferritin quartiles . High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels decreased linearly in subjects in parallel with the lowest to the highest serum ferritin quartiles . Diastolic BP increased linearly in subjects from the lowest to the highest serum ferritin quartiles .
How Can I Prevent Iron
You can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia with the following steps:
- Treat the cause of blood loss. Talk to your doctor if you have heavy menstrual periods or if you have digestive system problems, such as frequent diarrhea or blood in your stool.
- Eat foods with iron. Good sources of iron include lean meat and chicken, dark, leafy vegetables, and beans.
- Eat and drink foods that help your body absorb iron, like orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, or other fruits and vegetables with vitamin C.
- Make healthy food choices. Most people who make healthy, balanced food choices get the iron and vitamins their bodies need from the foods they eat.
- Avoid drinking coffee or tea with meals. These drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron.
- Talk to your doctor if you take calcium pills. Calcium can make it harder for your body to absorb iron. If you have a hard time getting enough iron, talk to your doctor about the best way to also get enough calcium.
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How Soon Will I Feel Better After Taking Iron Supplements
It can take three to six weeks before iron supplements begin building up your iron reserves. Your healthcare provider will monitor your iron levels and let you know when your iron levels have improved. Even then, they may recommend taking iron supplements for at least six months so your body can replenish its iron stores.
Can Menstruation Cause High Blood Pressure
We know that your blood pressure changes based on your age and gender, but does your period cause higher blood pressure when menstruating? According to a study reported by WebMD, 40 percent of women with moderate-to-severe pre-menstrual syndrome were more likely to develop high blood pressure than women with mild-to-no PMS symptoms.
There has not been a lot of research about the relationship between blood pressure and periods, but some studies have shown that blood pressure may increase during certain stages of the menstrual cycle. This occurs due to the spike of progesterone levels. This study also found that blood pressure was higher at the beginning of menstruation. This indicated that its common to have higher blood pressure before a period, rather than after or during.
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Dietary Iron And Blood Pressure
Iron intake may affect blood pressure, but further confirmation is needed
High blood pressure is a leading risk factor for mortality and a major preventable cause of disability worldwide. Nutritional and lifestyle factors are key determinants of blood pressure across populations, and lifestyle modificationsincluding weight reduction if overweight or obese, reduced dietary sodium intake, increased dietary potassium intake, moderation of alcohol consumption, adoption of the DASH diet, and regular aerobic exerciseare effective at reducing blood pressure.1
If Iron Deficiency Anaemia Is Not Treated
Untreated iron deficiency anaemia:
- can make you more at risk of illness and infection a lack of iron affects the immune system
- may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs such as an abnormally fast heartbeat or heart failure
- in pregnancy, can cause a greater risk of complications before and after birth
Page last reviewed: 29 January 2021 Next review due: 29 January 2024
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Cramping And Tingling In Limbs
The large leg muscles require a lot of blood and oxygen to function. Oxygen deprivation causes them to work overtime and cause fatigue, weakness, severe cramps, and restless leg syndrome , which may contribute to insomnia.
Anemic patients may feel a crawling or itchy sensation in the feet and legs, which can worsen at night.
What Are The Symptoms Of Anemia
The symptoms of anemia are caused by an abnormally low number of red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells contain the protein hemoglobin, which is vital to carrying oxygen to the bodys cells. Many symptoms of anemia are due to a general lack of oxygen that is available to the cells.
Your symptoms may also be caused by low blood pressure , which is due to reduced blood volume. Blood volume will be low if anemia develops quickly, as in blood loss from hemorrhage.
Symptoms of anemia can be mild to severe and vary depending on the underlying cause.
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Conditions Associated With Iron Deficiency
Some situations are associated with iron deficiency but don’t cause it. For example:
- Lead poisoning worsens symptoms of other types of anemia, such as iron deficiency anemia.
- Being underweight. Calories from any source do not affect iron absorption. Still, people who are underweight are often iron deficient because there isn’t enough iron in their diet.
- Kidney disease.Erythropoietin is a hormone produced by the kidneys. It plays an important role in stimulating red blood cell production. You may need erythropoietin replacement to stimulate red blood cell production if you have kidney disease. Dialysis does not correct this hormone problem.
- Some cancers, especially those that involve white blood cells, are associated with low red blood cell levels. Leukemia and lymphoma, for example, can impair the production of red blood cells. Most cancer treatments also suppress the production of red blood cells. The lack of red blood cells doesn’t decrease iron levels, but it prevents the iron in the body from doing what it is meant to do.
How Is Iron Deficiency Anemia Diagnosed
If you are having symptoms, your provider will order tests. These may include:
- Blood tests to check a complete blood count , and tests to measure your hemoglobin, hematocrit, ferritin, and serum iron.
Your provider will want to find the cause for the iron deficiency anemia, which is often bleeding. Tests to check for bleeding can include:
- Endoscopy or colonoscopy.
- Testing the stool and urine for blood.
If it is caused by heavy periods, your provider may have you see a gynecologist.
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Anemia And Heart Health: A Dangerous Connection
You might not think much about getting enough iron, or maybe you’ve been lax about taking iron supplements or eating foods high in iron. However, without iron for healthy red blood cells, you may not only develop anemia but also be at risk for low blood pressure and heart failure.
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Does Iron Supplementation Increase Blood Pressure
Iron is a very important mineral. Red blood cells in the body contain hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to the cells. Myoglobin performs a similar function for muscle cells. Both hemoglobin and myoglobin contain iron, although most of the iron in the body is found in hemoglobin. Iron supplements are used to prevent or treat iron deficiency and the anemia that may result. There is some indication that iron supplementation may affect blood pressure.
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Treating The Underlying Cause
Your GP will also need to ensure the underlying cause of your anaemia is treated so it doesn’t happen again.
For example, if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are causing bleeding in your stomach, your GP may prescribe a different medicine to help minimise the risk of stomach bleeding.
Heavy periods can be treated with medication or in particularly severe cases surgery.
Diagnosing Iron Deficiency Anaemia
See your GP if you experience symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia, such as tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations.
A simple blood test can usually confirm the diagnosis.
Your GP may also carry out a physical examination and ask you a number of questions to help determine the cause of your anaemia.
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Side Effects Of Too Much Iron
Too much iron in blood can cause bothersome symptoms like extreme tiredness, headache and nausea. With the passage of time, abnormally high blood iron levels can negatively affect the heart, liver and the pancreas.
Too much iron in blood can cause bothersome symptoms like extreme tiredness, headache and nausea. With the passage of time, abnormally high blood iron levels can negatively affect the heart, liver and the pancreas.
Did You Know?Excess alcohol consumption and daily meals high in red meat or vitamin C rich foods are some of the primary contributory factors that raise the risk of iron overload. As the saying goes, everything when in excess is bad, so is iron. Although abnormally high levels of iron has often been attributed to excessive intake of dietary iron, it is not the case always. People afflicted with hemochromatosis may also show surplus iron build up, despite following a well-balanced healthy diet. In hemochromatosis, the small intestine tends to absorb more than normal amounts of iron from the ingested food. The excess iron absorbed, then gets deposited in the vital organs of the body, which is a cause for concern.
Iron Overload Side Effects
Initially the symptoms are not worrisome but as the iron levels keep on increasing, symptoms become serious. They are discussed below:
Disclaimer:The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
How Much Does An Iron Infusion Cost
Iron infusions arent medications you would fill at your local community pharmacy. These medications are typically given at an infusion center. Because of this, iron infusions would likely be covered under your medical insurance and not your prescription insurance. Its best to discuss cost with your healthcare providers office, as they would have better access to these prices.
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Talk With Your Doctor
If you think youre showing signs or symptoms of iron deficiency, you should make an appointment to see a doctor.
If your doctor confirms that you have iron deficiency typically via a blood test its generally easy to treat. Your doctor will likely recommend increasing your intake of iron via your diet or supplements .
The main aim of treatment is to restore hemoglobin levels and replenish your bodys iron stores.
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan that best meets your healthcare needs. Before changing your diet or deciding on any supplements, its best to consult your doctor.
What Is Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is when there is not enough iron in the body.
Iron is an essential mineral that is needed to produce red blood cells, which are important for a healthy immune system, mental function, muscle strength and energy. Its main role is in red blood cells, where it helps make a protein called haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen in the blood from the lungs to all the cells in the body so they can work properly.
The body cant make iron, so you need to get it from food. If you do not eat as much iron as you use each day, you develop iron deficiency.
It is important to have the correct amount of iron in the body. If you have low iron, you can develop anaemia. If you have too much iron, it can be toxic. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world.
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