Early Warning Signs of Anemia You Shouldn’t Ignore

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when your body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and helps red blood cells move oxygenated blood around your body.

If you do not consume enough iron, or too much iron, your body cannot produce enough hemoglobin, and you eventually develop iron deficiency anemia.

Causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

Bleeding. The blood contains iron within the red blood cells. If you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women who have heavy periods are at risk for iron deficiency anemia because they lose a lot of blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss within the body, such as bleeding from peptic ulcers, hiatal hernias, colon polyps, or colon and rectal cancer, causes iron deficiency anemia. Upper gastrointestinal bleeding can result from the routine use of certain over-the-counter painkillers, especially aspirin.
Lack of iron in your diet. Your body always gets iron from what you eat. If you consume less iron, your body becomes iron deficient over time. Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, fiber-rich green vegetables, and foods fortified with folic acid. To maintain the growth and development of infants and children, children must also take iron from their diet.
Inability to absorb iron. Iron absorbed from food travels through the bloodstream to the small intestine. Gut disorders, such as celiac disease, affect your gut’s ability to absorb nutrients from digested food and cause iron deficiency anemia. Having part of your intestine surgically removed can affect your ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.
Pregnancy Without iron supplementation, iron deficiency anemia occurs in many pregnant women because their iron stores must be sufficient to increase their blood volume and also be a source of hemoglobin to help the fetus grow . . . .
Risk factors
These groups of people may be at increased risk for iron deficiency anemia:

women. Because women lose blood during their menstrual cycle, they are usually more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia.
Infants and children. Infants, especially those who were low birth weight or premature and who do not get enough iron from breast milk or formula, may be at risk for iron deficiency. Children need extra iron as they grow. If your child does not eat a healthy, varied diet, he or she may be at risk for anemia.
Vegetarian. People who do not eat meat may be more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia if they do not consume other iron-rich foods.
Frequent blood donor. People who donate blood regularly may be at increased risk for iron deficiency anemia because blood donation can deplete iron stores. Low hemoglobin associated with blood donation can be a temporary problem that can be treated by eating more iron-rich foods. If you have been told that you cannot donate blood because of low hemoglobin, ask your doctor if you should be concerned.
Complexity
Mild iron deficiency anemia usually does not cause complications. However, iron deficiency anemia left untreated can be severe and lead to health problems including:

Heart problems. Iron deficiency anemia can cause a rapid or irregular heartbeat. An anemic person’s heart must pump more blood to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the blood. This can cause the heart to enlarge or fail.
Problems during pregnancy. Anemia due to severe iron deficiency in pregnant women is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight babies. However, this condition can be prevented in pregnant women who take iron supplements as part of their prenatal care.
Problems of development. Severe iron deficiency in infants and children can lead to anemia as well as developmental delays. In addition, iron deficiency can increase susceptibility to infection from anemia.