Iron Deficiency Anemia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment – Here Is All You Need to Know

Iron is vital to your body's health, functioning as a trace element required to form red blood cells. Your marrow contains 10 times more iron than the amount in your blood plasma.

Anemia develops when your body does not have enough red blood cells due to a lack of iron or hemoglobin. It can also be caused by other nutrient deficiencies and diseases that harm the gastrointestinal tract.

Iron Deficiency Anemia

However, you may also be at risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia if you are a vegetarian and consume too much phytate by eating cereal grains, beans, and vegetable proteins like lentils and peas.

The best form of iron comes from consuming red meats and organs like grass-fed liver and kidneys. So we believe having a well-balanced diet that includes these Red meats, fruits, vegetables, raw honey, and raw dairy can positively impact the body. We at LivMor make consuming enough fruits and vegetables with your meals a breeze!

What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

An iron deficiency causes your body to produce insufficient healthy red blood cells. These cells transfer oxygen from one cell to the next throughout the body. Your organs and tissues don't get enough oxygen when you don't have enough healthy red blood cells.

Anyone can get iron-deficiency anemia, but it's more common in women and children—especially young girls—than men. Moreover, it is common for people who eat meat infrequently or don't eat animal products, such as vegans.

Many people with iron deficiency anemia also have other conditions that make it hard for their bodies to absorb iron, including celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Others who may be at risk include those who donate blood often or pregnant women with heavy periods.

Classification Of Anemia:

Without sufficient iron, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. This leads to a condition called iron-deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia can be classified into three groups:

1. Hypochromic microcytic anemias (low MCV, low hemoglobin)

2. Normochromic normocytic anemias (normal MCV, normal hemoglobin)

3. Hyperchromic macrocytic anemias (high MCV, high hemoglobin)

What Are The Potential Causes Of Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron is predominantly found in animal foods, including red meat, fish, and poultry. Some vegetables and fruits, such as spinach and dried fruits, contain it. Iron is also added to some meals, such as morning cereals.

1. Inadequate Iron Intake

Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. If you don't get enough iron in your diet, your body won't be able to make enough hemoglobin because it lacks the essential materials it needs. This results in iron deficiency anemia.

2. Pregnancy Or Blood Loss Due To Menstruation

Women lose blood during menstruation and childbirth, and they are at a higher risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia.

Adolescent girls who haven't yet had their first menstrual period are also at high risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia because their bodies haven't created a regular supply.

Pregnancy requires extra blood volume to accommodate the fetus and placenta. Because blood volume increases during pregnancy, women must increase their iron intake to meet the demands.

3. Inability To Absorb Iron From Food

Another most frequent reason for iron deficiency anemia is the body's inability to absorb iron from food. This can be caused by illnesses of the gastrointestinal system that impede absorption or by a lack of iron in the diet.

4. Excessive Milk Drinking

Sometimes, children who drink a lot of milk develop iron deficiency because they do not have enough iron in their dies to replace what they lose through bleeding within their gastrointestinal tracts (from causes such as aspirin use).

5. Genetic Disorders

Finally, some people with genetic disorders may develop iron deficiency more quickly than others.

6. Internal Bleeding

Conditions that cause internal bleeding — such as ulcers, growths in the colon (polyps), colon cancer, stomach cancer, or hemorrhoids — may cause iron-deficiency anemia if heavy bleeding is ongoing.

What Are The Possible Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia is a kind of anemia that arises when your body does not have enough iron. There may be no indications or symptoms in people with mild or moderate iron-deficiency anemia.

You may have the following symptoms if you have moderate to severe iron deficiency anemia: Fatigue (tiredness)

• · Weakness

• · Pale skin

• · Chest pain

• · fast heartbeat

• · shortness of breath

• · Headache

• · Dizziness

• · lightheadedness

• · Unusual desires for non-nutritive things such as ice, dirt, or starch

• · Inflammation or irritation of the tongue

• · Brittle nails (a condition known as pica).

7. Why Are Women More Prone To Iron Deficiency Anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body does not have enough iron to produce average amounts of healthy red blood cells. Iron is essential for keeping your body healthy because it helps make hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without enough iron, your body cannot make enough hemoglobin, and you develop iron deficiency anemia.

Iron insufficiency is more common in women than males, especially throughout particular phases of life. In the United States, iron deficiency anemia affects roughly 12% of women of reproductive age and more than 9% of children under three.

Some people are born with too little iron because their mothers didn't have enough during pregnancy, or they were born prematurely or were very small at birth (a low birth weight). Other people have low iron because they don't eat enough iron foods or lose too much blood (bleeding).

There's no total cure for iron deficiency anemia. However, it can be treated with simple changes to your diet or supplements. In more severe cases, you may need to receive intravenous (IV) therapy in your doctor's office or hospital.

How Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Treated?

There are three main types of treatment for iron-deficiency anemia:

1. Iron Supplements

To boost the quantity of iron in your body, your doctor may advise you to take iron supplements. Take the supplement exactly as prescribed, as too much can cause significant issues.

In most cases, iron supplements are necessary to replenish the body's supply of this mineral and reverse the symptoms of anemia.

Your doctor will recommend a type and dosage depending on how severe your anemia is, how well you tolerate the medication, and whether you have any other medical conditions. Iron supplements commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, cramping, and dark stools.

We carry a variety of juices rich in iron that help with iron deficiency. Beets Me, BCA & Heavy Metal Greens, Green Cleanse, and a few others.

2. Diet

Eating a diet that includes iron-rich foods — such as lean red meat, pork, poultry, fish, beans, spinach, iron-fortified cereals, and raisins — can help treat mild cases of iron deficiency anemia.

For some people with mild forms of this condition, eating foods with high levels of vitamin C may aid in the absorption of nonheme iron.

Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato juice, and potatoes. Try our Immune C rich in Vitamins C.

BCA- Beets are an excellent source of vitamin A and C. Beets also help regulate blood pressure and help improve liver health which regulates blood flow in the entire body.

It's important to note that the body differently absorbs dietary iron in two forms — heme and nonheme iron. Heme iron is bound to hemoglobin in meats, poultry, and fish and is more easily absorbed than nonheme iron found in plants such as spinach, lentils, beans, and fortified cereals.

3. Treating The Underlying Cause Of Bleeding

Your doctor may give medicine or other therapies to reduce blood loss if you're having heavy periods or bleeding from the digestive tract due to a medical problem.

Bottom Line:

Anemia is a common condition that can be challenging to overcome. Unfortunately, anemia can also sometimes be challenging to diagnose.

Suppose you suspect that you may have iron deficiency anemia. In that case, however, it is essential to have your blood tested to confirm whether or not your iron level is indeed low.

Thankfully, suppose you are diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. In that case, there are various treatment methods that you can take advantage of until your body can replenish its store of iron and your problem is solved.

It turns out that there's no one magic cure for iron deficiency anemia. There are, however, some treatment options that can be used to help anemic people get the nutrition they need and eliminate the symptoms of their condition. So if you're suffering from iron deficiency anemia, don't lose hope—a cure most certainly exists.

LivMor's wild-created sea moss gels are also an excellent and easy way to ensure you have enough minerals and vitamins for our Clients that don't have the luxury of the time of a home-cooked meal.