Iron deficiency anemia
Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia that occurs when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a main part of red blood cells and binds oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or your hemoglobin is abnormal or low, the cells in your body will not get enough oxygen.
Causes[edit | edit source]
Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a shortage of iron in your body. Your bone marrow needs iron to make hemoglobin. Without adequate iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin for red blood cells. This leads to iron deficiency anemia.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be very mild at first, and you may not even notice them. According to the American Society of Hematology, most people don’t realize they have mild anemia until they have a routine blood test.
Diagnosis[edit | edit source]
Doctors usually can diagnose iron deficiency anemia by reviewing your medical history, performing a physical exam, and conducting certain tests.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for iron deficiency anemia involves taking iron supplements and changing your diet to increase your iron levels.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Iron deficiency anemia Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Translate to: East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD