How Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia Treated?
Treatment for iron-deficiency anemia will depend on
the cause and severity of the condition. Treatments may include dietary changes
and supplements, medicines, and surgery.
Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require treatment
in a hospital,
blood
transfusions, iron injections, or intravenous (IV) iron therapy.
The goals of treating iron-deficiency anemia are to
treat its underlying cause and restore normal levels of red blood cells,
hemoglobin, and iron.
Dietary Changes and Supplements
Iron
You may need iron supplements to build up your iron
levels as quickly as possible. Iron supplements can correct low iron levels
within months. Supplements come in pill form or in drops for children.
Large amounts of iron can be harmful. Thus, you
should take iron supplements only as your doctor prescribes. Keep iron
supplements out of reach from children. This will prevent them from taking an
overdose of iron.
Iron supplements can cause side effects, such as
dark stools, stomach irritation, and heartburn. Iron also can cause
constipation, so your doctor may suggest that you use a stool softener.
Your doctor may advise you to eat more foods that
are rich in iron. The best source of iron is red meat, especially beef and
liver. Chicken, turkey, pork, fish, and shellfish also are good sources of
iron.
The body tends to absorb the iron from meat better
than iron in other foods. However, other foods also can help you raise your
iron levels.
Nonmeat foods that are good sources of iron
include:
- Spinach and other dark green leafy
vegetables
- Peanuts, peanut butter, and almonds
- Eggs
- Peas; lentils; and white, red, and baked beans
- Dried fruits, such as raisins, apricots, and
peaches
- Prune juice
Iron is added to some foods, such as cereal, bread,
and pasta. You can look at the Nutrition Facts label on a food to find out how
much iron it contains. The amount is given as a percentage of the total amount
of iron you need every day.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron. Good sources
of vitamin C are fruits and vegetables, especially guava, red sweet pepper,
kiwi, oranges and orange juice, green pepper, and grapefruit juice.
If you're taking medicines, ask your doctor or
pharmacist whether you can eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. This fruit
can affect the strength of a few medicines and how well they work.
Other fruits rich in vitamin C are strawberries,
cantaloupe, papaya, pineapple, and mango. Vegetables high in vitamin C include
vegetable and tomato juices, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, broccoli, sweet
potato, cauliflower, and kale.
Fresh and frozen fruits, vegetables, and juices
usually have more vitamin C than canned ones.
Treatment To Stop Bleeding
If blood loss is causing iron-deficiency anemia,
treatment will depend on the cause of the bleeding. For example, if you have a
bleeding ulcer, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics and other medicines to
treat the ulcer.
If your blood loss is due to a polyp or a cancerous
tumor in your intestine, you may need surgery to remove the growth.
If blood loss is due to heavy menstrual flow, your
doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives to help reduce your monthly blood
flow. In some cases, surgery may be advised.
Treatments for Severe Iron-Deficiency Anemia
If your iron-deficiency anemia is severe, you may
get a transfusion of red blood cells. A blood transfusion is a safe, common
procedure in which blood is given to you through an IV line in one of your
blood vessels. Transfusions require careful matching of donated blood with the
recipient's blood.
A transfusion of red blood cells will treat your
anemia right away. The red blood cells also give a source of iron that your
body can reuse. However, transfusions are only a short-term treatment. Your
doctor will need to find and treat the cause of your anemia.
Iron also may be injected into a muscle or through
an IV tube into a vein. However, IV iron therapy presents some safety concerns.
It must be done in a hospital or clinical setting by experienced staff. This
therapy usually is given to people who need iron long-term but cant take
iron supplements by mouth or who need to be treated for iron-deficiency anemia
right away. |