{"id":2417,"date":"2023-02-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdbc2.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/low-iron-levels-common-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-for-iron-deficiency\/"},"modified":"2023-02-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T05:00:00","slug":"low-iron-levels-common-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-for-iron-deficiency","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/low-iron-levels-common-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-for-iron-deficiency\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Iron Levels: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Iron Deficiency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Humans need iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to transport oxygen through the blood vessels. If you don\u2019t have sufficient hemoglobin, your muscles and tissues won\u2019t get enough oxygen to function effectively. That leads to a condition known as anemia.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Many People Are Iron Deficient?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency, affecting <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmjopengastro.bmj.com\/content\/9\/1\/e000759\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 percent of the world\u2019s population<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. While it can affect anyone, it tends to affect women more than men. Women of reproductive age or who are pregnant have a much greater risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/data\/gho\/data\/themes\/topics\/anaemia_in_women_and_children\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">data from the World Health Organization<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (WHO), nearly 30 percent of women aged 15 and 49 and almost 40 percent of children aged 6 to 59 months had anemia in 2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies also suggest that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6367879\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">adults who don\u2019t eat meat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 female and male \u2014 have a higher prevalence of depleted iron stores and iron deficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Causes Iron Deficiency?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An insufficient intake of dietary iron can lead to iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia. Blood loss caused by menstruation, gastrointestinal bleeding (peptic ulcers, polyps, etc.), surgery, injuries, and frequent blood donation can also result in iron deficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other common causes of iron deficiency include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pregnancy.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnant people need more iron to meet their needs as well as the needs of their developing babies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Intestinal disorders.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conditions such as celiac disease can affect a person\u2019s ability to absorb iron and other nutrients.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Certain medications.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some research suggests that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30528320\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">acid-suppressing medications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> may decrease iron absorption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Chronic kidney disease.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Patients with CKD often have low levels of erythropoietin (EPO), a hormone that tells the body to make red blood cells. Lower levels of EPO can lead to lower levels of red blood cells and anemia.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Why Is Iron Important?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Along with being necessary for the production of hemoglobin, iron is an essential component of myoglobin, a protein responsible for supplying oxygen to the muscles. It\u2019s also vital for muscle metabolism, physical growth, brain development, and the production of some hormones.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What Are the Symptoms of Iron Deficiency?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the first and most common symptoms in many patients with iron deficiency is tiredness. The body\u2019s tissues and muscles aren\u2019t getting enough oxygen, depriving them of energy, which can leave a patient feeling fatigued.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional symptoms of iron deficiency include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical weakness\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pale skin<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling cold, particularly in the hands and feet<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Memory\/thinking problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heart palpitations<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brittle nails and hair<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inflammation and soreness of the tongue (glossitis)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Untreated iron deficiency can eventually lead to severe complications, including more frequent infections due to a weakened immune system, tachycardia, and heart failure. Pregnant women with iron deficiency may also experience issues such as premature birth, low birth weight, and an increased risk of postpartum depression.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Is Iron Deficiency Diagnosed and Treated?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diagnosing iron deficiency typically requires blood tests. A complete blood count (CBC) can help determine the number, size, and color of a patient\u2019s red blood cells. Blood tests can also check the patient\u2019s hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, ferritin levels, serum iron levels, and iron-binding capacity. Additional testing, such as an endoscopy or ultrasound, may be necessary to determine the cause of the patient\u2019s iron deficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few treatment options for iron deficiency, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/course\/screen-and-intervene-now-reducing-the-impact-of-malnutrition-in-your-patients\/?courseid=1062\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dietary changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to include more iron-rich foods<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oral iron supplements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IV iron\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Medical or surgical interventions to treat the underlying problem<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blood transfusions<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Stay Current on Clinical Guidelines With MDBriefCase<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your patients are your top priority. With a variety of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/courses-catalog\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MDBriefCase courses<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you can stay up to date on the latest trends, treatments, and clinical guidelines on iron deficiency and many other health concerns. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/user-account\/?action=eb_register\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Join our community<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for free to get started. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Humans need iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to transport oxygen through the blood vessels. If you don\u2019t have sufficient hemoglobin, your muscles and tissues won\u2019t get enough oxygen to function effectively. That leads to a condition known as anemia. How Many People Are Iron Deficient? Iron deficiency [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2418,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[64],"class_list":["post-2417","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-deep-understandingfurther-educationlearning-and-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Low Iron Levels: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Iron Deficiency - MDBriefCase<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mdbriefcase.com\/fr\/blog\/low-iron-levels-common-causes-symptoms-and-treatments-for-iron-deficiency\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"fr_CA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Low Iron Levels: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments for Iron Deficiency - MDBriefCase\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Humans need iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to transport oxygen through the blood vessels. 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