The condition affects more than 1 billion people worldwide. See if you feel these symptoms.
If you’ve been feeling unusually tired lately, you may be wondering if iron-deficiency anemia is to blame. After all, you wouldn’t be alone. More than 1.2 billion people worldwide are estimated to have the condition, in which the body lacks enough iron to produce hemoglobin, the substance in blood responsible for transporting oxygen.
But while fatigue is one of the hallmark symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia, it’s not the most telling, considering there are plenty of reasons people get tired.
“Fatigue can be caused by so many different things,” said Dr. Vivek G. Patel, a Vanderbilt Health hematologist. “It’s really hard to isolate it as being caused by iron deficiency.”
That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the other symptoms, which include:
- A craving to chew ice or clay
- Brittle nails and hair loss
- Headache with increased activity
- Pale skin
- Restless legs
- Shortness of breath
- Sore tongue
“Interestingly enough, some of the more common things we see with iron-deficiency anemia are a craving for ice chips, having restless legs at night and hair loss someone just can’t explain,” said Patel.
What causes iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency has several causes. One of the most common causes of iron deficiency is menstruation, which likely explains why anemia is so much more common in females than males.
“Anytime you lose blood, your iron goes down,” said Patel. “So that’s a common cause of iron deficiency anemia in younger female patients.”
“In some cases, iron-deficiency anemia is the sign of a colon polyp or even an early sign of colon cancer.”
Dietary restrictions also play a role. People who follow strict diets, including vegans, may not get enough iron from food. The greatest concentrations of iron are found in lean red meat, salmon, eggs, beans and tofu.
“People on a very particular diet, especially one that doesn’t include meat or eggs, are more likely to have low iron levels,” said Patel.
In middle-aged and older adults, slow blood loss through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can lead to iron deficiency. Conditions like colon polyps and stomach ulcers can cause this type of blood loss.
“It’s really important to determine what’s causing a patient’s anemia because in some cases, it’s the sign of a polyp or even an early sign of colon cancer,” said Patel.
Diagnosing iron-deficiency anemia
The good news is that iron-deficiency anemia can be diagnosed with a simple blood test. To confirm the diagnosis, your provider will check the iron levels in your blood.
Given how common anemia is among women of childbearing age, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adolescent girls and women get checked for anemia every five to 10 years.
Treatment options
Once diagnosed, treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause and replenishing iron stores in the body. Typically, this can be done with an oral supplement. But intravenous (IV) iron can also be prescribed.
“For patients who can’t tolerate the oral iron pills, we can give them IV iron in clinic,” said Patel.
This delivery is also recommended for patients who have very low iron levels and need to increase their levels quickly.
Preventing recurrence
Preventing a recurrence of iron deficiency largely depends on identifying and treating the cause. For some, this might mean dietary adjustments or addressing chronic conditions that lead to blood loss. Regular monitoring and follow-up with health care providers are crucial to ensure that iron levels remain stable.
The importance of primary care
It’s important to have a primary care provider to oversee all of your health care needs. As an overall category of health care, primary care includes the specialties of family and internal medicine, women’s health, geriatrics and pediatrics. A trusted partner in health and wellness, Vanderbilt Primary Care provides expertise in all of these areas.
