IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA

Anemia occurs when your blood doesn't have enough hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. A common cause of anemia is not having enough iron. (Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin.)

Symptoms of anemia

• Often, no symptoms
• Paleness
• Feeling tired
• Unusual shortness of breath during exercise
• Fast heartbeat

What can cause low iron levels?

A number of things can cause you to be low in iron:

• Lack of iron in the diet: often a problem for children and young women, including those who drink a lot of milk, don't eat iron-rich foods, or follow "fad" diets.
• Growth spurts: particularly children under age 3.
• Pregnancy & breast feeding:. Anemia often first presents itself during pregnancy.
• Blood loss: the most common cause in adults (heavy menstrual periods, stomach and colon, etc.)

How is anemia diagnosed?

Talk to your doctor if you think you might have anemia. A blood test will probably be done to diagnose anemia. Other tests may be needed to find out what's causing the anemia.

Can anemia be prevented?

Some types can be prevented, such as those caused by diet. You can help prevent this type of anemia by making sure you eat foods that have iron. See the box below for a list of iron-rich foods.

Foods high in iron:

• liver, other meats
• seafood
• fruits (apricots, prunes, raisins)
• nuts
• beans, esp. lima beans
• green leafy vegetable ( spinach, broccoli)
• blackstrap molasses
• whole grains
• iron-fortified breads & cereals

How is anemia treated?

It depends on what's causing the anemia. For example, if anemia results from losing too much blood, the cause of the blood loss will need to be treated. If anemia results from a diet that's low in iron, your doctor may recommend a change in your diet or iron pills.

How can I increase the iron in my diet?

Your body best absorbs the iron in meats. Eating a small amount of meat along with other sources of iron, such as certain vegetables, can help you get even more iron out of these foods. Taking vitamin C pills or eating foods high in vitamin C, such as citrus fruits or juice, at the same time you eat iron-rich foods or take your iron pill can help your body absorb the iron better.

Note: Some foods block the absorption of iron. These include coffee, tea, egg yolks, milk, fiber and soy protein. Try to avoid these when you're eating food high in iron.

Can iron pills cause problems?

Iron pills can cause stomach upset, heartburn and constipation. Be sure to tell your doctor about any discomfort you notice. The tips in the box below may help reduce this discomfort.

Tips on taking iron pills:

• Take the pills with food.
• Start slowly. Try taking 1 pill a day for 3 to 5 days, then 2 pills a day until you aren't bothered by that amount. Increase the number of pills until you're taking the amount your doctor recommended.
• Increase the fiber in your diet if you have constipation. This is worth trying, even though fiber may get in the way of how well your body can absorb iron. You'll still be able to absorb some iron, and it's better than not taking any iron if you need it.
• Don't take iron pills at bedtime if they upset your stomach.
• If one type of iron pill causes problems, talk to your doctor about trying a different formula or brand.

Adapted from American Academy of Family Physicians