Hemoglobin is the compound needed to carry oxygen through the blood and to every single cell in the body. To make hemoglobin, iron is needed. Therefore, if there is not enough iron in the body, not enough hemoglobin is made and the oxygen-carrying capability of the blood is decreased.
Iron deficiency anemia is the lack of iron in the body, leading to inadequate quantities of hemoglobin in the red blood cells and lessening the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
Causes of iron deficiency anemia
1. Parasitical Infections
Approximately 2 million people in the world are infected by some sort of tapeworm, roundworm, or parasite. These parasites cause tremendous damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and possibly other organ systems as well. All their burrowing creates chronic bleeding, which induces iron-deficiency anemia.
2. Chronic blood loss
Since red blood cells contain iron, a loss of blood is a loss of iron. When blood loss happens, not only does the body require enough iron to replace the prematurely dead population of blood cells, the body also loses a store of iron that could be recycled into making more hemoglobin. Common examples of chronic blood loss include heavy menstruation and ulcers.
3. Iron absorption problems
Iron is absorbed mainly in the duodenum and ileum (parts of the small intestine). People who have gastrointestinal problems involving digestion (e.g. celiac disease) or have had parts of their intestine cut off for medical reasons simply can't absorb the iron.
4. Pregnancy
Pregnant women not only have to provide their own body with oxygen, they also have to support the cellular needs of a fetus. Therefore the body needs more hemoglobin as whole, and the usual intake of iron may be insufficient.
5. Iron intake
People with special diets (e.g. vegetarians and vegans) might simply not be eating enough iron.
Approximately 2 million people in the world are infected by some sort of tapeworm, roundworm, or parasite. These parasites cause tremendous damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and possibly other organ systems as well. All their burrowing creates chronic bleeding, which induces iron-deficiency anemia.
2. Chronic blood loss
Since red blood cells contain iron, a loss of blood is a loss of iron. When blood loss happens, not only does the body require enough iron to replace the prematurely dead population of blood cells, the body also loses a store of iron that could be recycled into making more hemoglobin. Common examples of chronic blood loss include heavy menstruation and ulcers.
3. Iron absorption problems
Iron is absorbed mainly in the duodenum and ileum (parts of the small intestine). People who have gastrointestinal problems involving digestion (e.g. celiac disease) or have had parts of their intestine cut off for medical reasons simply can't absorb the iron.
4. Pregnancy
Pregnant women not only have to provide their own body with oxygen, they also have to support the cellular needs of a fetus. Therefore the body needs more hemoglobin as whole, and the usual intake of iron may be insufficient.
5. Iron intake
People with special diets (e.g. vegetarians and vegans) might simply not be eating enough iron.
Symptoms
In addition to the usual symptoms of anemia, the patient may experience pica (the craving for non-food objects, such as ice), koilionychia (brittle, thin, concave nails), glossitis (a swollen red tongue) and restless legs syndrome.
Diagnosis and treatment
If symptoms are observed and the patient is perceived to be of high risk (i.e. a vegan, a pregnant woman, etc.), diagnosis involves the usual complete blood count and peripheral smear. In addition to the usual diagnosis markers of anemia in general, iron deficiency anemia is marked by a great range of red blood cell sizes (an abnormal RDW) and pale, hollow red blood cells that vary in shape. Also, the anemic RBCs should have less volume than healthy RBC (it's a microcytic anemia), and there should be less iron circulating in blood plasma (serum iron testing). Many of these markers may be interpreted as ones of beta thalassmia, and it is absolutely critical that the two are diagnosed correctly.
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Depending on the cause of anemia, the patient will be offered different treatments. For most cases of iron-deficiency anemia (pregnant women, dieters, women with heavy menstruation), iron supplements or a heavier iron-based diet are enough. Patients with severe anemia or gastrointestinal problems (for whom extra ingested iron isn't going to be absorbed) may require iron supplements through IVs. For emergency cases (where a person is literally dying of anemia), blood transfusions are needed.
Of course, if there's a parasite in the patient, removing the parasite should solve the problem.
Of course, if there's a parasite in the patient, removing the parasite should solve the problem.