Signs Of Iron Deficiency Anemia And How To Cure It
Signs Of Iron
Deficiency Anemia And How To Cure It
Iron deficiency anemia was not a term I was very conversant
with a few years back. That's when a close friend who wasn't exactly the most
vivacious of people suddenly became more reserved. At first, we, as her
friends, limited ourselves to teasing her that her being indoors always was the
reason she looked so pale. When she started complaining of some other severe
symptoms, we forced her to see a doctor. After a couple of visits and lab
tests, she got a diagnosis: iron
deficiency anemia.
This is a relatively common health issue that could present with several
symptoms. Below are some signs that might be pointing to iron
deficiency anemia and what you can do about it.
Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia
Fatigue
Constant fatigue is one of the significant symptoms of iron deficiency
anemia. What kept my friend indoors so much wasn't that she suddenly disliked
all the activities we used to enjoy together, she just never felt she had
enough strength to go through things like a visit to the mall or going to a
park. If you find yourself quickly tiring out for no reason, iron deficiency
anemia may be the causative factor. Iron is essential for the synthesis of the
hemoglobin component of red blood cells. When the muscles are deprived of
adequate oxygen, they don't generate sufficient energy to power the different
physical activities you engage in, so you quickly get fatigued.
Shortness Of Breath
I have a friend who didn't have to go out to feel all out of breath. She
thought it was the ventilation in the house at first. If you catch yourself
gasping on multiple occasions or generally feeling short of breath, iron
deficiency anemia could be the cause. Iron is crucial for oxygen transport by
the red blood cells.
Paleness
This was a major sticking point with my friend. We often implored her to go
out more often when we saw how pale she was. Being unusually pale may be a
pointer to you having iron deficiency anemia. It indeed turned out so with my
friend.
Cold Hands And Feet
My friend didn't seriously experience this, but I found out it was a likely
pointer too. The body extremities- the hands and feet may sometimes feel cold
to touch even in the absence of low ambient temperatures. A reason for this is
inadequate blood supply due to reduced blood volume in iron deficiency anemia.
How To Cure Iron Deficiency Anemia
When looking to manage iron deficiency anemia effectively, there are several
steps you can take, including:
Dietary
Modifications To Improve The Intake Of Food Rich In Iron
I like the dietary changes approach as they are natural and an effective
long term strategy for dealing with iron deficiency. Some foods rich in iron
that you can add to your meal servings include beans, dark leafy vegetables
like spinach, whole grains, fruits like cashew and Slendez
Meal by BE International, an instant solution to this condition is by
eating foods rich in iron or taking iron supplements to treat the symptoms by
increasing the iron Level needed in our body
Iron Supplements
Sometimes dietary changes may not suffice - my friend needed iron
supplements too. Some of these as tablets are available on an over the
counter basis. They may be used to boost the body iron levels and consequently
manage iron deficiency anemia. However, I would strongly advise seeking medical
expertise regarding the optimal use of iron supplements.
Treat The
Underlying Cause
Sometimes it's not only iron being deficient in your diet that can lead to
iron deficiency anemia. It may be as a result of several underlying factors
other than reduced dietary intake of iron. These may include excessive blood
loss as may occur in accidents, occult bleeding, or heavy menstruation. It may
also arise from malabsorption states in which your body cannot absorb iron from
the diet. In this case, you must treat and resolve the underlying issues
combined with improving your iron intake.