Iron deficiency anemia – causes and treatment

Iron deficiency anemia happens when your body doesn’t get enough iron, so it can’t make enough healthy red blood cells. These cells are essential for your health, as they carry oxygen around your body.

Most people get enough iron from the food they eat. But certain things can cause your body to either use or lose more iron than it takes in (absorbs).

Iron deficiency anemia is usually treated with iron supplements, although you may also need other treatment, depending on what’s causing it.

Left untreated, the condition can also lead to other health problems, including heart or lung conditions.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are usually mild to start with, and can get worse over time. If you have a mild case, you may not notice any signs at all.

Symptoms can include:

• lack of energy, tiredness, or feeling weak
• heartbeats that are noticeable (palpitations)
• headaches
• dizziness
• paler skin
• cold hands and feet
• trouble concentrating
• feeling short of breath.

You may also develop these symptoms, although they’re less common:

• hair loss
• a sore tongue or mouth ulcers
• a strong urge to move your legs (restless legs syndrome)
• cravings for non-food items (pica)
• changes to the shape and strength of your nails
• ringing or buzzing noises in your head (tinnitus).

Many of these symptoms are similar to the signs of other conditions, so iron deficiency anemia needs to be diagnosed by a doctor.

What causes iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia happens when your body doesn’t have enough iron. Lots of things can play a part in this. But the most common causes include:

• diet – most of us can get the iron we need from food such as spinach, beans, red meat, tofu, and eggs. But if you’re not eating enough iron-rich foods you may have low iron levels
• pregnancy – when you’re pregnant you need more iron to support extra blood production and your growing baby
• blood loss – as iron is found in red blood cells, losing blood means your levels drop. Causes of blood loss can include heavy periods, injuries, stomach ulcers, and frequent blood donations
• trouble absorbing iron – some health conditions, including digestive conditions such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease, can affect your gut’s ability to absorb iron, leading to low levels.

Less common causes of iron deficiency anemia include:

• kidney disease
• some cancers and cancer treatments
• surgery to parts of your digestive system, such as your stomach or gut
• inherited (genetic) conditions that stop your body absorbing iron, or make it harder to stop bleeding.

What are the other types of anemia?

Anemia is the ‘umbrella’ name for conditions where your body doesn’t make or have enough healthy red blood cells. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common.

Other types include:

• pernicious anemia – an autoimmune condition that stops your body absorbing vitamin B12, leading to a lack of red blood cells
• sickle cell anemia – a genetic disorder that causes your red blood cells to be an unusual shape
• aplastic anemia – a rare condition where your body stops making enough red blood cells.

Other types of anemia can have similar symptoms to iron deficiency anemia, but they often also have different signs – such as diarrhea, loss of appetite, swelling, growth problems, or bruising.

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

It’s important to see your doctor if you have symptoms of iron deficiency anemia. It can lead to more serious health problems if it isn’t treated, including heart and lung conditions.

You shouldn’t try to diagnose yourself with iron deficiency anemia. Taking iron supplements when you don’t need them can cause iron levels in your blood to get too high, which can be dangerous.

Your doctor will ask about your medical history, and order blood tests to measure your red blood cells and iron levels, and check for other types of anemia.

If the results show you have iron deficiency anemia, but the cause is unclear, they may refer you to a specialist for more tests – such as an ultrasound scan, or a procedure with a tiny camera to look at your digestive system (endoscopy).

What are the treatments for iron deficiency anemia?

Treatment will depend on how bad your iron deficiency anemia is, and what’s causing it.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend iron supplements to help boost iron levels in your body. You should follow their advice on how much to take and when. They may also advise eating more iron-rich foods.

Here’s what you need to know about iron supplements:

• side-effects can include nausea or vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, belly pain, darker-colored poop, and heartburn. Speak to your doctor if you get these
• you can help increase the amount of iron that’s absorbed by taking them with something that contains vitamin C – such as a glass of orange juice
• antacid medications, dairy products, caffeine, and eggs can reduce iron absorption, so wait a couple of hours after having these before taking a supplement.

If iron deficiency anemia is due to an underlying cause, for example, heavy periods or a stomach ulcer, you may need other treatment, such as medication or surgery.

Help for iron deficiency anemia caused by diet

If your diet is the cause of iron deficiency anemia, you can help your condition by:

• eating plenty of iron-rich foods – such as dark-green leafy vegetables; seafood; chicken; red meat; iron-fortified cereals, pasta, and bread; dried fruit; beans and peas
• increasing the amount of vitamin C in your diet – to help your body absorb more iron. Try foods such as oranges, tomatoes, broccoli, peppers, and strawberries
• limiting foods that reduce iron absorption – such as dairy products and drinks that contain caffeine. Do not cut out food groups without speaking to your doctor first.