Iron deficiency anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the blood doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues.

Not getting enough iron can cause iron deficiency. So can losing blood from having periods or bleeding inside the body. Without iron, the body can't make enough of the part of red blood cells that lets them carry oxygen, called hemoglobin. As a result, iron deficiency anemia can cause tiredness and shortness of breath.

Taking iron supplements most often can correct iron deficiency anemia. But a healthcare professional needs to look for the cause of iron deficiency anemia.

At first, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that you don't notice it. But as the amount of iron gets lower and the anemia gets worse, the symptoms get worse as well.

Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include:

• Extreme tiredness.
• Weakness.
• Pale skin.
• Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
• Headache or being dizzy or lightheaded.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Irritation or soreness of the tongue.
• Brittle nails.
• Restless legs syndrome.

Iron deficiency anemia also can cause:

• Wanting to eat things that aren't food, such as ice, dirt or clay.
• Not wanting to eat, especially in infants and children.
• Odd smell cravings, such as for rubber, detergents or cleaning agents.

If you or your child gets symptoms that might be from iron deficiency anemia, see your healthcare professional. Don't try to diagnose or treat it on your own.

And talk to a healthcare professional before taking iron supplements. Too much iron in the body can be harmful. The iron can build up and damage the liver and other organs.

Iron deficiency anemia happens when the body doesn't get enough iron or loses too much iron. As a result, the body can't make enough hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives blood its red color. Hemoglobin lets the red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

• Blood loss. Blood has iron in its red blood cells. Losing blood means losing iron. People who have heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because of the amount of blood lost during their periods.

  Slow blood loss inside the body can cause iron deficiency anemia. This can be from a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp or colorectal cancer.

  Regular use of some pain relievers you can get without a prescription can cause bleeding inside the body. These pain relievers include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).

• Not enough iron in the diet. The body gets iron from food. To get enough iron, eat iron-rich foods. Iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, leafy green vegetables and ready-made foods that have iron added to them. Infants and children need to get enough iron from their diets too.
• Not being able to take in iron. Iron from food goes into the bloodstream in the small intestine. Some intestinal conditions, such as celiac disease, can affect the body's ability to take in iron. Surgery to bypass or remove part of the small intestine also can affect the body's ability to take in iron.
• Pregnancy. Without iron supplements, many pregnant people get iron deficiency anemia. The body needs more iron during pregnancy because of the higher blood volume. Iron also is a source of hemoglobin for the unborn baby.

These groups of people may have a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia:

• People who have heavy periods. Losing blood during periods puts people at greater risk of iron deficiency anemia.
• Infants and children. Infants who don't get enough iron from breast milk or formula may be at risk of iron deficiency. This is mainly true for those whose birth weight was low or who were born too early.

  Children need extra iron during growth spurts. Children who don't eat a healthy, varied diet might be at risk of anemia.

• Vegetarians and vegans. People who don't eat meat may have a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia if they don't eat enough other iron-rich foods.
• People who had gastric bypass or other stomach surgeries. Bypassing or removing intestinal tissues that help take in iron and other nutrients raises the risk of iron deficiency anemia.
• People who have certain conditions that affect digestion. These include celiac disease, bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, kidney disease, and peptic ulcers.
• People who donate blood often. These blood donors may have a higher risk of iron deficiency anemia. Giving blood can lower iron in the body. Eating more iron-rich foods might help with low hemoglobin linked to giving blood.

  If you try to donate blood and can't because of low hemoglobin, talk to your healthcare professional.

People with mild iron deficiency anemia may have no complications. But iron deficiency anemia that isn't treated can get worse. It can lead to health issues, such as:

• Heart issues. This may include a fast or irregular heartbeat. The heart must pump more blood to make up for the lack of oxygen. This can lead to an enlarged heart or heart failure.
• Issues during pregnancy. In pregnant people, serious iron deficiency anemia has been linked to babies born too early and weighing too little at birth. Taking iron supplements as part of prenatal care can prevent the condition.
• Growth issues. In infants and children, serious iron deficiency can delay growth and development. Iron deficiency anemia also is linked to having more infections.

You can lower your risk of iron deficiency anemia by choosing foods rich in iron. Also, choosing foods high in vitamin C helps your body take in iron.

Iron-rich foods

Foods rich in iron include:

• Organ meats, such as liver.
• Beef, pork, lamb and poultry.
• Seafood.
• Beans.
• Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach.
• Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots.
• Foods with added iron, such as cereals, breads and pastas.
• Legumes, including lima beans, peas, pinto beans and black-eyed peas.

If you don't eat meat, you may need to eat more plant-based foods that are rich in iron to get enough iron.

Foods high in vitamin C

When you eat foods high in iron, you can help your body take in more iron by eating foods or drinking juices high in vitamin C at the same time.

Good sources of vitamin C include:

• Broccoli.
• Grapefruit.
• Kiwi.
• Leafy greens.
• Melons.
• Oranges and orange juice.
• Peppers.
• Strawberries.
• Tangerines.
• Tomatoes.

Preventing iron deficiency anemia in infants

To keep infants from having iron deficiency anemia, feed your baby breast milk or iron-fortified formula for the first year. Breastfed children need iron supplements starting at 4 months.

Cow's milk is not a good source of iron for infants. It isn't suggested for children younger than 1 year old.

After 6 months, babies can eat cereals with added iron or pureed meats at least twice a day to boost iron intake. Children older than 1 year shouldn't drink more than 24 fluid ounces (720 milliliters) of milk a day. Too much milk often takes the place of other foods, including those that are rich in iron.