what is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia course hero

What foods can cure anemia?

 · Question : What is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia (IDA)? Student Answer: Decreased dietary intake Chronic blood loss Vitamin deficiency Autoimmune disease Instructor Explanation: The most common cause of IDA in well-developed countries is pregnancy and chronic blood loss.

How dangerous is iron deficiency anemia?

In women of childbearing age, the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia is a loss of iron in the blood due to heavy menstruation or pregnancy. A poor diet or certain intestinal diseases that affect how the body absorbs iron can also cause iron deficiency anemia. Doctors normally treat the condition with iron supplements or changes to diet.

What will happen if my anemia is left untreated?

The following are the most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: Abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin. Irritability. Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue) Increased heart rate (tachycardia) Sore or swollen tongue.

What diseases are caused by iron deficiency?

 · What happens if not treated. Undiagnosed or untreated iron-deficiency anemia may cause serious complications such as fatigue, headaches, restless legs syndrome, heart problems, pregnancy complications, and developmental delays in children. Iron-deficiency anemia can also make other chronic conditions worse or cause their treatments to work poorly.

What is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia?

Iron deficiency anemia results from low or depleted stores of iron, which is needed to produce red blood cells. Excessive bleeding is the most common cause.

What is the most common cause of iron deficiency in adults?

Heavy periods and pregnancy are very common causes of iron deficiency anaemia. Heavy periods can be treated with medicine. For men and for women whose periods have stopped, bleeding in the stomach and intestines is the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia.

What is the most common cause of anemia * 1 point?

The most common cause of anemia is low levels of iron in the body. This type of anemia is called iron-deficiency anemia. Your body needs a certain amount of iron to make hemoglobin, the substance that moves oxygen throughout your body. However, iron-deficiency anemia is just one type.

What causes anaemia?

Causes of anaemia dietary deficiency – lack of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid in the diet. malabsorption – where the body is not able to properly absorb or use the nutrients in the diet, caused by conditions such as coeliac disease. inherited disorders – such as thalassaemia or sickle cell disease.

What causes iron deficiency in females?

So if you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women with heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because they lose blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss within the body — such as from a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp or colorectal cancer — can cause iron deficiency anemia.

How common is iron deficiency anemia?

The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is 2 percent in adult men, 9 to 12 percent in non-Hispanic white women, and nearly 20 percent in black and Mexican-American women. Nine percent of patients older than 65 years with iron deficiency anemia have a gastrointestinal cancer when evaluated.

What are the different types of iron deficiency?

Many types of anemia exist, such as iron-deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia, aplastic anemia, and hemo- lytic anemia. The different types of anemia are linked to various diseases and conditions.

What are the 3 stages of iron deficiency?

3 Stages of Iron DeficiencyStage 1: Diminished total-body iron content. This stage is identified by a reduction in serum ferritin. ... Stage 2: Reduced red blood cell formation. This stage occurs when the iron supply is insufficient to support the formation of red blood cells. ... Stage 3: Iron deficiency anemia.

What is the most common cause of anemia?

What is iron-deficiency anemia? The most common cause of anemia worldwide is iron deficiency. Iron is needed to form hemoglobin, part of red blood cells that carry oxygen and remove carbon dioxide (a waste product) from the body. Iron is mostly stored in the body in the hemoglobin. About one-third of iron is also stored as ferritin ...

What are the symptoms of iron deficiency anemia?

Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue) Increased heart rate (tachycardia) Sore or swollen tongue. Enlarged spleen. A desire to eat peculiar substances such as dirt or ice (a condition called pica) The symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia may resemble other blood conditions or medical problems.

How much iron is absorbed in a diet?

Diets low in iron. Iron is obtained from foods in our diet; however, only 1 mg of iron is absorbed for every 10 to 20 mg of iron ingested. A person unable to have a balanced iron-rich diet may suffer from some degree of iron-deficiency anemia. Body changes.

Where is iron absorbed?

Most of the iron taken in by foods is absorbed in the upper small intestine. Any abnormalities in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract could alter iron absorption and result in iron-deficiency anemia. Surgery or medications that stop stomach acid production will also decrease iron absorption.

How do you know if you have anemia?

The following are the most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: Abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin. Irritability. Lack of energy or tiring easily (fatigue) Increased heart rate (tachycardia) Sore or swollen tongue.

How is iron deficiency anemia diagnosed?

How is iron-deficiency anemia diagnosed? Iron-deficiency anemia may be suspected from general findings on a complete medical history and physical examination, such as complaints of tiring easily, abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin, or a fast heartbeat (tachycardia).

How to tell if you have iron deficiency?

Iron-deficiency anemia may be suspected from general findings on a complete medical history and physical examination, such as complaints of tiring easily, abnormal paleness or lack of color of the skin, or a fast heartbeat (tachycardia). Iron-deficiency anemia is usually discovered during a medical examination through a blood test ...

What is the cause of vitamin deficiency anemia?

Vitamin-deficiency anemia may result from low levels of vitamin B12 or folate (folic acid), usually due to poor dietary intake. Pernicious anemia is a condition in which vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract.

What chronic conditions can cause anemia?

If you have any of the following chronic conditions, you might be at greater risk for developing anemia: Rheumatoid arthritis or other autoimmune disease. Kidney disease. Cancer. Liver disease. Thyroid disease. Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis)

How many people have anemia?

Anemia is the most common blood disorder, and according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, it affects more than 3 million Americans.

What is the role of red blood cells in anemia?

The Role of Red Blood Cells in Anemia. Red blood cells carry hemoglobin, an iron-rich protein that attaches to oxygen in the lungs and carries it to tissues throughout the body. Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly. It is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin value ...

What does it mean when you have anemia?

Anemia occurs when you do not have enough red blood cells or when your red blood cells do not function properly. It is diagnosed when a blood test shows a hemoglobin value of less than 13.5 gm/dl in a man or less than 12.0 gm/dl in a woman. Normal values for children vary with age. When you have anemia, your body lacks oxygen, ...

How do you know if you have anemia?

When you have anemia, your body lacks oxygen, so you may experience one or more of the following symptoms: Weakness. Shortness of breath. Dizziness. Fast or irregular heartbeat. Pounding or "whooshing" in your ears. Headache. Cold hands or feet. Pale or yellow skin.

What are the risks of anemia as you get older?

The risk of anemia increases as people grow older. If you have any of the following chronic conditions, you might be at greater risk for developing anemia: Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn disease or ulcerative colitis) The signs and symptoms of anemia can easily be overlooked.