If you haven’t heard of iron deficiency anaemia before, then you came to the right place! 

Maybe you’re already experiencing the symptoms but not quite sure what is going on in your body. In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about iron deficiency and how to battle it. 

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type of anaemia. It occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron, which your body needs to make haemoglobin. When there isn’t enough iron in your blood, the rest of your body can’t get the amount of oxygen it needs.

Iron deficiency anaemia is especially common for women of childbearing age. The major causes of iron deficiency anaemia include blood loss, a lack of iron in the diet, the inability to absorb iron, and pregnancy. Women need much more iron to make up for the higher blood loss of up to 200 ml per menstrual period. If you are a very active person then your iron need is even greater, as more iron than usual is secreted in sweat and urine.  

Women, children, vegetarians, and frequent blood donors are at increased risk of iron deficiency anaemia.

What are some of the most common symptoms and signs of iron deficiency anaemia?

Some most common symptoms and signs include:

• general fatigue

• weakness

• headaches

• pale skin

• shortness of breath

• dizziness

• strange cravings to eat items with no nutritional value

• nails are brittle or spoon

• cracks at the corners of your mouth

If you think you might have low iron levels, you should first see your doctor. It’s important to find out why you have iron deficiency and what you can do about it. To confirm whether you have iron deficiency, your doctor will talk to you and order a blood test to check your iron levels. 

How can I treat iron deficiency anaemia?

After the blood test, the second step is to bring the iron levels back to normal. This can be done in a number of different ways. Your doctor may recommend that you:

• eat more foods high in iron (red meat, eggs, nuts, spinach, beet, oats, tofu..)

• eat more foods containing vitamin C to help you absorb iron better (oranges, lemon, broccoli, cabbage, kale..)

• consume less foods and drinks that stop you from absorbing iron, like calcium, fibre, tea, coffee, and wine

• take iron tablets or liquid iron supplements

• have an intravenous infusion 

You have to be aware of the fact that Iron deficiency can't be corrected overnight. You may need to take iron supplements for several months or even longer to replenish your iron reserves. The good news is that generally, you'll start to feel better after a week or so of treatment. It’s important that you have your blood checked to keep track of your iron levels. 

You can also book a blood test with us. The best part of our services is that you can get professionally tested wherever you are. Our team will happily travel to you. You can book our blood collection services online or by chatting with us on WhatsApp.