Your GP will prescribe an iron supplement to restore the iron missing from your body. The most commonly prescribed supplement is ferrous sulphate, which is taken as a tablet, usually twice a day. These side effects should settle down over time. However, your GP may recommend taking the tablets with food or shortly after eating if you have troublesome side effects. Your GP may also advise you to only take one or two tablets a day, instead of three, if you're finding side effects difficult to cope with.
If you can't take ferrous sulphate because you get severe side effects, you may be prescribed a different iron supplement called ferrous gluconate. This supplement should cause fewer side effects because it contains a less concentrated dose of iron. However, it may take longer for the iron levels in your body to be restored.
In a few cases — for example, if you have chronic kidney disease CKD — iron injections may be recommended instead of tablets. As with all medications, it's important to store iron supplements out of the reach of children.
An overdose of iron supplements in a young child can be fatal. If a lack of iron in your diet is thought to be contributing to your iron deficiency anaemia, your GP will tell you how to up your intake. Your diet should include foods from all the major food groups to ensure it's healthy and balanced. In particular, food and drink containing vitamin C are important as vitamin C helps your body absorb iron. However, consuming large amounts of some foods and drinks, as well as certain medicines, may make it harder for your body to absorb iron.
These include:. You may be referred to a nutrition specialist called a dietitian if you're finding it difficult to include iron in your diet. They'll be able to give you detailed, personalised advice about how you can improve your diet. Your GP will also need to ensure the underlying cause of your anaemia is treated so it doesn't happen again. For example, if non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs are causing bleeding in your stomach, your GP may prescribe a different medicine to help minimise the risk of stomach bleeding.
Your GP will ask you to return two to four weeks after you've started taking iron supplements to check how well you've responded to the treatment. You'll have a blood test to check your haemoglobin levels. If your blood test results show an improvement, you'll be asked to continue taking iron supplements and return in two to four months for another blood test.
Once your haemoglobin levels and red blood cells are normal, your GP will usually recommend continuing to take iron supplements for three months to help build up the iron levels in your body. After this, you should be able to stop taking the supplements, depending on the cause of your iron deficiency anaemia.
Your condition will be monitored every three months over the course of a year, and again a year later. This could happen if you don't get enough iron in your diet, you're pregnant, or you have consistently heavy periods. In such cases, you may be prescribed an ongoing iron supplement to help stop your anaemia returning. This will usually be a tablet, which you'll have to take once a day.
If your iron levels don't improve, your GP will ask how regularly you've been taking your iron supplements. Some people are put off taking the medication because of the side effects. However, your condition won't improve if you don't take the supplements. If you've been taking the supplements as prescribed and your iron levels still haven't improved, your GP may refer you to a specialist for an assessment. Iron deficiency anaemia rarely causes serious or long-term complications, although some people with the condition find it affects their daily life.
Iron deficiency anaemia can make you feel tired and lacking in energy lethargic. This may result in you being less productive at work, and you may find it difficult to stay awake or not feel able to exercise regularly.
Research has shown iron deficiency anaemia can affect your immune system — the body's natural defence system. This increases your vulnerability to infection. Adults with severe anaemia may be at risk of developing complications that affect their heart or lungs.
For example, you may develop tachycardia , which is an abnormally fast heartbeat, or heart failure , where the heart fails to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure. Pregnant women with severe anaemia have an increased risk of developing complications, particularly during and after birth.
They may also develop postnatal depression , which some women experience after having a baby. Some cases of restless legs syndrome are thought to be caused by iron deficiency anaemia. Doctors often refer to this as secondary restless legs syndrome. Restless legs syndrome is a common condition that affects the nervous system, and causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs. It also causes an unpleasant feeling in the feet, calves and thighs. Restless legs syndrome caused by iron deficiency anaemia can usually be treated with iron supplements.
Home Illnesses and conditions Nutritional Iron deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia See all parts of this guide Hide guide parts 1. About iron deficiency anaemia 2. Causes of iron deficiency anaemia 3. Diagnosing iron deficiency anaemia 4. Treating iron deficiency anaemia 5. Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues.
Having anemia, also referred to as low hemoglobin, can make you feel tired and weak. There are many forms of anemia, each with its own cause. Anemia can be temporary or long term and can range from mild to severe. In most cases, anemia has more than one cause. See your doctor if you suspect that you have anemia. It can be a warning sign of serious illness. Treatments for anemia, which depend on the cause, range from taking supplements to having medical procedures.
You might be able to prevent some types of anemia by eating a healthy, varied diet. Anemia signs and symptoms vary depending on the cause and severity of anemia. Depending on the causes of your anemia, you might have no symptoms. Fatigue has many causes besides anemia, so don't assume that if you're tired you must be anemic.
Some people learn that their hemoglobin is low, which indicates anemia, when they donate blood. If you're told that you can't donate because of low hemoglobin, make an appointment with your doctor.
Anemia can be due to a condition present at birth congenital or to a condition you develop acquired. Iron can cause stomach upset, but taking it with a meal usually helps to reduce this side effect. If you have more concerns about your medication regimen or the anemia, please make an appointment with your doctor to discuss your concerns. When it comes to treating iron deficiency anemia, eating iron-rich foods is essential.
But there are also certain factors that can determine how well What Are the Symptoms of Anemia? Is it tiredness or anemia? Treating severe anemia takes more than just diet and lifestyle changes, although eating a healthy diet with lots of iron can help keep you healthy.
In all types of anemia, blood transfusions can help replace your lost or defective red blood cells and reduce symptoms. However, it usually does not address the underlying cause. In this procedure, your bone marrow is replaced with donor marrow that can make healthy cells. Anemia in general causes 1. It is usually treatable if caught quickly, although some types are chronic, which means they need continual treatment.
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The average American gets all the iron they need from the food they eat. Pregnant women and people with certain conditions sometimes need extra iron. Whether you have cold feet and hands naturally or there's a cause that you need to remedy, here's what to know and what you can do about it. Heart palpitations can be caused by anxiety.
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