What Is Iron-Deficiency Anemia?
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common, easily treated
condition that occurs when you don't have enough iron in your body.
Low iron levels usually are due to blood loss, poor
diet, or an inability to absorb enough iron from foods.
Overview
Iron-deficiency anemia is a common type of
anemia.
The term "anemia" usually refers to a condition in which your blood has a lower
than normal number of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen and remove
carbon dioxide (a waste product) from your body.
Anemia also can occur if your red blood cells
dont contain enough hemoglobin (HEE-muh-glow-bin). Hemoglobin is an
iron-rich protein that helps carry oxygen to your body.
Iron-deficiency anemia usually develops over time if
your body doesnt have enough iron to build healthy red blood cells.
Without enough iron, your body starts using the iron it has stored. Soon, the
stored iron gets used up.
After the stored iron is gone, your body makes fewer
red blood cells. The red blood cells it does make will have less hemoglobin
than normal.
Iron-deficiency anemia can cause fatigue
(tiredness), shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms. Severe
iron-deficiency anemia can lead to heart problems, infections, problems with
growth and development in children, and other complications.
People at highest risk for iron-deficiency anemia
include infants and young children, women, and adults who have internal
bleeding.
Outlook
Iron-deficiency anemia usually can be successfully
treated. Treatment will depend on the cause and severity of the condition.
Treatments may include changes to your diet, medicines, and surgery.
Severe iron-deficiency anemia may require treatment
in a hospital,
blood
transfusions, iron injections, or intravenous iron therapy.
February 2009
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