Iron deficiency anemia – causes, symptoms & therapy

Around 80 out of 100 anemia cases are the so-called iron deficiency anemias. This means that iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia . The causes are different. Women of childbearing age are primarily affected by iron deficiency .

Mainly because they lose blood (and therefore iron ) due to menstruation. For this reason, four out of five patients suffering from iron deficiency anemia are female. People who are affected by iron deficiency anemia are often pale or feel weak and are exhausted or tired relatively quickly.

causes

There are many reasons for iron deficiency anemia. First and foremost, however, the insufficient intake of iron through nutrition is a major reason why a deficiency occurs. Especially during pregnancy , it can happen again and again that the patient does not take in enough iron. Even growing children often suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Other risk groups are vegetarians or people who suffer from an eating disorder.Vegetarians in particular are often affected by iron deficiency anemia, since animal foods are primarily responsible for iron intake. But not only the reduced iron intake can be a reason why the affected person suffers from iron deficiency anemia. It is also possible that the absorption of iron is disturbed. This is especially the case for people who suffer from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel diseases) or who have already had parts of their digestive tract removed. Even medication can block iron absorption.

Iron deficiency anemia is also caused by chronic blood loss – for example in women who are of childbearing age and have their monthly menstruation. Hemorrhoids , a stomach ulcer or bleeding gums can also be reasons for iron deficiency anemia. Hookworm infection is also sometimes responsible for iron deficiency. The parasite appears in the intestinal wall and begins to suck blood. The worm consumes around 20 to 30 microliters per day. Infection with hookworm occurs predominantly in subtropical or tropical regions (primarily in the Middle East).

When to the doctor?

Iron-deficiency anemia is a disease that usually develops gradually, is rarely dangerous, and sometimes only reveals itself as an incidental finding during a routine blood test. After the diagnostic appointment, which reveals the serious iron deficiency, no further visit to the doctor is often necessary. The only exception is usually checking the iron level and hemoglobin as part of another blood test if an iron supplement has been taken for several weeks.

However, there are also massive findings or complications that require further visits to the doctor. If the iron-deficiency anemia is not due to a specific cause, such as recent surgery with significant blood loss, childbirth, or heavy menstrual flow, your family doctor may order a gastrointestinal and colonoscopy to rule out hidden bleeding in this area. This is particularly the case if the patient is already complaining about problems in the gastrointestinal tract or notices an unwanted weight loss . In addition, the patient should go to the doctor again on his own initiative in the event of persistently severe fatigue and a major loss of performance.

Sometimes the oral supply of iron in the form of tablets or juices does not bring the desired success. Here there is the possibility of remedying the low iron level with infusions and eliminating the anemia in this way. If this therapy is chosen, further visits to the doctor are also necessary, since this treatment should only be carried out under supervision in the practice due to possible strong side effects.

symptoms and course

Typical symptoms of iron deficiency anemia:

• Pale skin

• fatigue

• exhaustion

• exhaustion

• Brittle fingernails

• hair loss

• dry skin

Classic symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are brittle nails, pale skin, hair loss, and dry or very itchy skin. Painful inflammation in the mouth or a burning tongue or difficulty swallowing can sometimes indicate iron deficiency anemia. Other symptoms are cracked corners of the mouth or a loss of appetite. In some cases, patients also report an increase in appetite, but this manifests itself in the patient craving abnormal food.

This gives the patients a desire for lime, ice cubes or even earth. If the patient is not treated, the iron deficiency can lead to complications over time. The patients are primarily more susceptible to infectious diseases or are constantly tired and complain about a lack of drive. If the iron deficiency is already present in childhood, there can be a physical and mental delay in development. Iron deficiency anemia can sometimes also be responsible for miscarriages and stillbirths.

Diagnose

If the doctor suspects iron deficiency anemia, a blood test is ordered. By means of a laboratory test, it is possible for the doctor to determine not only the amount of hemoglobin, but also the number of erythrocytes . The iron content in the blood can also be determined.

complications

Iron deficiency anemia is generally a very unhealthy condition for the patient’s body and should therefore be avoided and treated at all costs. And as a rule, the patient’s resilience is greatly reduced and the person concerned feels tired and exhausted. There is also facial pallor and, in some cases, iron deficiency anemia can lead to shortness of breath . In addition to shortness of breath, panic attacks or sweating are not uncommon. Patients also suffer from tachycardia and flatulence and can lose their appetite. It is not uncommon for various deficiency symptoms and dehydration to occur.

It comes to severe headaches and generally to a greatly reduced quality of life of the patient. Everyday life is extremely restricted and carrying out normal activities is no longer easily possible for the person concerned. In the worst case, the heart problems can also lead to a heart attack, which can lead to death. Iron deficiency anemia is treated without complications in most cases. The symptoms can be limited relatively well with the help of medication. However, the treatment itself is causal and depends on the underlying disease.

treatment and therapy

Depending on the anemia or the cause, the treatment and therapy ultimately depends. In the case of iron deficiency anemia, the source of the bleeding must be found. If there is a stomach ulcer, for example, this is treated first. If there is an infection due to a parasite, the main focus is on fighting the parasite. However, if there is an iron deficiency due to improper nutrition, the patient’s eating habits are changed at the beginning of therapy.

This means that they primarily have to eat fish, meat, cereals, green vegetables and mushrooms in order for their iron content to increase. The consumption of vitamin C is also beneficial . The vitamin supports the body in absorbing iron. The doctor can also prescribe iron supplements so that the patient receives iron in addition to their diet. It can take around six months for iron deficiency anemia to go away.If the iron deficiency anemia is very severe, any intravenous treatments may help speed recovery. However, iron preparations may only be taken if the doctor has diagnosed iron deficiency anemia or knows the cause of the iron deficiency. If the patient consumes iron – without a diagnosis – because he believes that he may have a deficiency, the risk of iron poisoning increases.

prevention

Iron deficiency anemia can be prevented. Iron deficiency is mainly caused by an incorrect or unbalanced diet. It is primarily important that the patient eats foods that contain a lot of iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid . Supplemental iron administration may be helpful during pregnancy, newborns, or premature babies.