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 (SOB)
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.
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