Weebly



Iron deficiency anemia

Information taken from the article below and summarized by C. Bremser to be more specific to the endurance athlete.

[pic]

Original Article:

[pic]

Definition

Iron deficiency anemia is a common type of anemia — a condition in which blood lacks adequate healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen to the body's tissues, giving your body energy and your skin a healthy color.

As the name implies, iron deficiency anemia is due to insufficient iron. Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen. As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired, weak and pale. Symptoms

Initially, iron deficiency anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed. But as the body becomes more deficient in iron and anemia worsens, the signs and symptoms intensify. Iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include: extreme fatigue, pale skin, headache, dizziness or lightheadedness.

For the endurance athlete it may just be the inability to produce at a hard workout or in competition and having a difficult time recovering. You feel like you are running out of gas or just hitting the wall sooner than you use to.

When to see a doctor

If you or your child develops signs and symptoms that suggest iron deficiency anemia, see your doctor. Iron deficiency anemia isn't something to self-diagnose or treat. Take iron supplements only with a doctor's supervision.

Causes

Normally, your body uses iron from the food you eat or recycled iron from old red blood cells to produce hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the part of red blood cells that gives blood its red color and enables the red blood cells to carry oxygenated blood throughout your body. If you aren't consuming enough iron, or if you're losing too much iron, your body can't produce enough hemoglobin, and iron deficiency anemia will eventually develop. Common reasons that iron deficiency anemia develops include: blood loss or lack of iron in your diet.

Tests and diagnosis

Doctors diagnose iron deficiency anemia mainly through blood tests. You doctor will check your blood for:

Red blood cell size and color. With iron deficiency anemia, red blood cells are smaller and paler in color than normal.

Hematocrit. This is the percentage of your blood volume made up by red blood cells. Normal levels are generally between 34.9 and 44.5 percent for adult women and 38.8 to 50 percent for adult men. These values may change depending on your age.

Hemoglobin. Normal levels of hemoglobin range between 11.1 and 15.0 grams per deciliter (111 to 150 grams per liter), depending on your age, sex and race. A lower than normal hemoglobin level indicates anemia.

Ferritin. This protein helps store iron in your body, and a low level of ferritin usually indicates a low level of stored iron.

Treatments and drugs

Once you become deficient in iron to the point you develop anemia, increased intake of iron-rich foods is beneficial, but usually isn't enough to correct the problem. You need iron supplementation to build back your iron reserves, as well as to meet your body's daily iron requirements. For children or adults with mild iron deficiency anemia, doctors may recommend a daily multivitamin containing iron. But typically, doctors recommend iron tablets — such as prescription ferrous sulfate tablets or an over-the-counter supplement. These oral iron supplements are usually best absorbed from an otherwise empty stomach. However, because iron can irritate your stomach, you may need to take the supplements with food. Your doctor may recommend that you take iron supplements with orange juice or with a vitamin C tablet. Vitamin C helps increase iron absorption. Additionally, take iron supplements two hours before or four hours after taking an antacid, as these medications can interfere with iron absorption.

Iron supplements can cause constipation, so your doctor may also recommend a stool softener. Iron almost always turns stools black, which is a harmless side effect. Iron can be given by injection, but this usually isn't necessary.

Iron deficiency can't be corrected overnight. You may need to take iron supplements for several months or longer to replenish your iron reserves. Generally, you'll start to feel better after a week or so of treatment. Ask your doctor when you need to return to have your blood rechecked.

Prevention

You can help prevent iron deficiency anemia by eating foods rich in iron, as part of a balanced diet. Eating plenty of iron-containing foods is particularly important for people who have higher iron requirements, such as children and menstruating or pregnant women.

Foods rich in iron include: red meat, pork, seafood, poultry, eggs, iron fortified cereals, beans, peas, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and dried fruits.

Meat sources of iron are more readily absorbed by your body.

You can enhance your body's absorption of iron by drinking citrus juice when you eat an iron-containing food. Vitamin C in citrus juices, like orange juice, helps your body better absorb dietary iron.

Vitamin C is also found in: melon, strawberries, apricots, kiwi, mangos, broccoli, peppers and tomatoes.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download