Anaemia
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Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition
where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red
blood cells.
Iron is used to produce red blood cells,
which help store and carry oxygen in the blood. If you have fewer red blood
cells than is normal, your organs and tissues won't get as much oxygen as they
usually would.
There are several different types of
anaemia, and each one has a different cause. Iron deficiency anaemia is the
most common type.
Other types of anaemia can be caused by a
lack of vitamin B12 or folate in the body – read more about vitamin B12 and
folate deficiency anaemia.
SYMPTOMS►Many people with iron deficiency anaemia only
have a few symptoms. The severity of the symptoms largely depends on how
quickly anaemia develops.
You may notice symptoms immediately, or they
may develop gradually if your anaemia is caused by a long-term problem, such as
a stomach ulcer.
The most common symptoms include:
Tiredness and lack of energy (lethargy)
Shortness of breath
Noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations)
A pale complexion
Less common symptoms include:
Headache
Hearing sounds that come from inside the
body, rather than from an outside source (tinnitus)
An altered sense of taste
Feeling itchy
A sore or abnormally smooth tongue
Hair loss
A desire to eat non-food items, such as
ice, paper or clay (pica)
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Painful open sores (ulcers) on the corners
of your mouth
Spoon-shaped nails
cAUSES►
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There are many things that can lead to a
lack of iron in the body. In men and post-menopausal women, the most common
cause is bleeding in the stomach and intestines.
This can be caused by a stomach ulcer,
stomach cancer, bowel cancer, or by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs).
In women of reproductive age, heavy periods
and pregnancy are the most common causes of iron deficiency anaemia as your
body needs extra iron for your baby during pregnancy.
Unless you're pregnant, it's rare for iron
deficiency anaemia to be caused just by a lack of iron in your diet. However,
if you do lack dietary iron, it may mean you're more likely to develop anaemia
than if you have one of the problems mentioned above
TREATMENT►
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Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia
involves taking iron supplements to boost the low levels of iron in your body.
This is usually effective, and the condition rarely causes long-term problems.
You'll need to be monitored every few
months to check the treatment is working and your iron levels have returned to
normal.
The underlying cause will need to be
treated so you don't get anaemia again. Increasing the amount of iron in your
diet may also be recommended.
Good sources of iron include:
Dark-green leafy vegetables, such as
watercress and curly kale
Iron-fortified cereals or bread
Brown rice
Pulses and beans
Nuts and seeds
Meat, fish and tofu
Eggs
Dried fruit, such as dried apricots, prunes
and raisins
COMPLICATIONS►If iron deficiency anaemia is left untreated,
it can make you more susceptible to illness and infection, as a lack of iron
affects the body's natural defence system (the immune system).
Severe iron deficiency anaemia may increase
your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as
an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart
is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Pregnant women with severe or untreated
anaemia also have a higher risk of complications before and after birth.
