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Key Points
- Iron-deficiency anemia is an illness that occurs
when there is not enough iron in the body.
- Iron helps the body make hemoglobin and healthy
red blood cells. Hemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen throughout the body.
- A person can have low iron levels for three
reasons: blood loss, either from disease or injury; not getting enough iron in
the diet; and not being able to absorb the iron in the diet. Iron-deficiency
anemia also can develop when the body needs higher levels of iron, such as
during pregnancy.
- One in five women of childbearing age and half of
all pregnant women have iron-deficiency anemia.
- Infants and toddlers can be at risk for
iron-deficiency anemia.
- The most common symptoms of iron-deficiency
anemia are fatigue (tiredness) and weakness.
- Iron-deficiency anemia is treated by stopping the
bleeding (if the cause of the anemia is bleeding), increasing iron in the diet,
and giving iron supplements.
- Eating a well-balanced diet rich in iron and
vitamins can help prevent iron deficiency anemia.
- Iron-deficiency anemia can be successfully
treated.
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