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Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia, which occurs when there is not enough iron to form hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood. Symptoms include fatigue, pale skin, and heart problems. Causes include a low iron diet and gastrointestinal issues. Diagnosis is confirmed through blood tests.
Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia. Iron deficiency causes anemia because iron is needed to form a protein called hemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in the bloodstream. The most common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include fatigue and pale skin. More serious symptoms of this type of anemia can include an enlarged spleen and an increased heart rate.
Iron deficiency anemia has a number of possible causes. A low iron diet is a common cause. Anemia can also develop despite an iron-rich diet because certain diseases or abnormalities of the gastrointestinal tract can reduce the amount of iron that can be absorbed from food.
Most of the iron in the body is stored in hemoglobin and about a third is stored in other forms in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. With most of the iron stored in the blood, extreme or rapid blood loss can cause iron deficiency anemia. Gastrointestinal bleeding, traumatic injury, and occasionally heavy or prolonged menstruation can lead to symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
The most common symptoms are pale skin and fatigue, and other possible symptoms include irritability, a swollen tongue and an enlarged spleen. Sometimes, people with iron deficiency anemia have cravings for unusual substances like dirt and ice. If the heart becomes affected by anemia, possible symptoms may include arrhythmia, heart murmur or unusual heartbeat, and even heart failure. People with iron deficiency anemia also have an increased risk of infection and have a tendency to develop restless legs syndrome. This condition causes discomfort in the legs, accompanied by a strong desire to constantly move the legs.
Most of these iron deficiency anemia symptoms develop because iron deficiency leads to a decrease in the hemoglobin that carries iron in the blood. The reduced availability of hemoglobin means there is less oxygen in the blood. Reduced oxygen availability leads to fatigue and irritability, and pale skin develops because oxygenated hemoglobin gives blood its deep red color. When the amount of hemoglobin is reduced, this red color is diluted.
Heart problems can develop from iron deficiency anemia because the heart has to pump harder to circulate oxygen around the body. When the heart is forced to pump harder, a faster heartbeat is a common consequence. Chronic anemia can lead to heart failure because the extra work the heart is forced to do eventually causes it to weaken.
Many symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are nonspecific, meaning they are also symptoms of other medical conditions. For this reason, a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is confirmed with blood tests to determine blood iron levels. Also, other tests may be needed to determine the cause of the anemia.
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