Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron Deficiency Anemia

1. What is Iron Deficiency Anemia?

It’s the most common type of anemia caused by a lack of iron in the body. Without enough iron, your body can’t make enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. The most frequent reason for IDA is not getting enough iron from food.

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2. Why Does Iron Deficiency Happen?

• Not eating enough iron-rich foods like meat, beans, or leafy greens.
• Increased need for iron, for example, during pregnancy, growth spurts in children, or if you lose a lot of blood during your periods.
• Trouble absorbing iron because of stomach or intestinal problems, or after certain surgeries.
• Chronic blood loss, often due to stomach ulcers or other hidden bleeding.

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3. How Does Iron Deficiency Progress?

The lack of iron develops step-by-step:

• First, iron stores in your body run out.
• Next, blood levels of ferritin (which stores iron) go down.
• Then, serum iron decreases, while your body tries to compensate by increasing iron-binding proteins (TIBC).
• Eventually, less iron is available to make hemoglobin, leading to small and pale red blood cells — the hallmark of microcytic, hypochromic anemia.

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4. What Will a Blood Test Show?

• Low hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, meaning fewer red blood cells.
• Red blood cells that are smaller (low MCV) and have less hemoglobin (low MCH and MCHC).
• High RDW, which shows that red blood cells vary more in size.
• Under a microscope, red blood cells look pale and smaller than normal.
• In bone marrow tests, iron stores are missing, and a special test called Prussian blue stain confirms the absence of iron.

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5. Key Changes in Blood Chemistry

• Levels of serum iron, ferritin, and transferrin saturation are low.
• TIBC (Total Iron Binding Capacity) and transferrin receptors are high, reflecting the body’s attempt to grab more iron.
• A drop in reticulocyte hemoglobin is an early warning sign of iron deficiency.

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6. Signs and Symptoms to Watch For

Signs and Symptoms

• Sore corners of the mouth (angular stomatitis) and a smooth, painful tongue (glossitis).
• Weak, brittle nails that look spoon-shaped (koilonychia).
• Restless legs that feel uncomfortable unless you move them.
• General symptoms of tiredness, pale skin, and weakness.
• Severe cases can lead to Plummer-Vinson syndrome, which involves difficulty swallowing, a sore tongue, and anemia.

In short, Iron Deficiency Anemia starts quietly but can lead to tiredness, unusual cravings, and other signs if untreated. The good news is that it's treatable with better nutrition, supplements, or addressing the cause of blood loss.