Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, which provide oxygen to body tissues. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red cells in the blood caused by too little iron.
Anemia resulting from a low hemoglobin level and a low hematocrit level. Symptoms include irritability, fatigue, inability or difficulty in concentrating, and headaches.
Anemia is a term used to describe a number of conditions in which red blood cell concentration or function is below normal. Iron deficiency anemia is caused by low dietary intake of iron and is characterized by small, lightly colored red blood cells with low concentrations of hemoglobin. Physical work capacity is diminished during iron deficiency anemia due to decreased ability of the body to transport and utilize oxygen.
Type of anemia caused by lack of adequate iron to synthesize hemoglobin. Symptoms include fatigue, pallor, and weakness.
A decrease in the number of red blood cells caused by inadequate stores of iron in the body. Iron is the central component of hemoglobin, the pigment in red blood cells that transports oxygen through the body. When the iron supply in the body is inadequate, hemoglobin production falls and anemia results.
Anemia resulting from a greater demand on stored iron than can be supplied. The red blood cell count may sometimes be normal, but there will be insufficient hemoglobin. Erythrocytes will be pale (hypochromia) and have abnormal shapes (poikilocytosis). This condition is present in about 8% of men and 14% of women aged 3 to 74 years in U.S.
The condition characterized by the inadequate production of an adequate number of red blood cells, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, headaches, and a diminished ability to combat infections. This condition is frequently observed during the period of pregnancy.
Iron-deficiency anemia, which is characterized by a scarcity of iron, an indispensable component of the oxygen-carrying pigment hemoglobin, stands as the prevailing manifestation of anemia in the bloodstream.
Iron loss attributable to heavy or persistent bleeding represents the most prevalent etiology of iron-deficiency anemia. Among women of childbearing age, notably heavy menstrual periods (referred to as menorrhagia) emerge as the leading cause. Although pregnancy suspends menstrual losses, the growing fetus poses an even greater demand on maternal iron reserves. Additional factors encompass gastrointestinal blood loss resulting from ailments like erosive gastritis, peptic ulcer, stomach cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, and bowel tumors. Prolonged usage of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may induce gastrointestinal hemorrhage. In certain regions, hookworm infestation of the digestive tract assumes significance as a cause of anemia. Rarely, bleeding may also arise due to urinary tract disorders such as kidney tumors or bladder tumors.
Insufficient dietary intake or inadequate absorption of iron can contribute to the development or exacerbation of iron deficiency. Malabsorption of iron can stem from various factors, such as the surgical removal of a portion or the entirety of the stomach, as well as coeliac disease, a condition that hampers the process of digestion.
The indications of iron-deficiency anemia encompass both the symptoms associated with the underlying cause as well as those typical of all types of anemia, including fatigue, headaches, and breathlessness. Additionally, individuals may experience a tender mouth or tongue as specific manifestations of the condition.
The diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia relies on a blood test that reveals the presence of abnormally small red blood cells, a condition known as microcytic. Confirmation of the diagnosis is achieved through measuring iron levels in the blood, although further investigation is necessary to ascertain the underlying cause. Treatment involves addressing the root cause, accompanied by a course of iron tablets or, in rare cases, iron injections to replenish the depleted iron stores.