Some greens are good sources of both iron and vitamin C, such as collard greens and Swiss chard. All meat and poultry contain heme iron. Red meat, lamb, and venison are the best sources.
Poultry and chicken have lower amounts. Eating meat or poultry with nonheme iron foods, such as leafy greens, along with a vitamin C-rich fruit can increase iron absorption. Liver is arguably the most popular organ meat. Some other iron-rich organ meats are heart, kidney, and beef tongue. Some seafood provides heme iron. Shellfish such as oysters, clams, scallops, crabs, and shrimp are good sources.
Most fish contain iron. Shop for canned tuna online. Calcium may bind with iron and reduces its absorption. Many foods are fortified with iron. Beans are good sources of iron for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Shop for canned beans. Many types of nuts and seeds are good sources of iron. They taste great on their own or sprinkled on salads or yogurt. Find raw pumpkin seeds , raw cashews , and raw pine nuts online. Almonds are also a good source of iron. No single food will cure anemia.
Possible tests include:. If your doctor suspects that bleeding in your stomach or intestines is causing your anemia, you will have tests to determine the cause of the bleeding. These may include:.
If blood tests don't find the problem, you may need a test called a bone marrow aspiration. Bone marrow aspiration removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid through a needle inserted into the bone. Because iron is stored in the bone marrow, this test can provide a good idea of how much iron is in the body. But bone marrow aspirations are not done very often.
Treatment for iron deficiency anemia focuses on increasing your iron stores so they reach normal levels and identifying and controlling any conditions that caused the anemia. If your anemia is caused by:. Taking iron supplement pills and getting enough iron in your food will correct most cases of iron deficiency anemia.
You usually take iron pills 1 to 3 times a day. To get the most benefit from the pills, take them with vitamin C ascorbic acid pills or orange juice. Vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron. Most people start to feel better within a few days of beginning treatment. Even though you feel better, you will need to keep taking the pills for several months to build up your iron stores.
Sometimes it takes up to 6 months of treatment with iron supplements before iron levels return to normal. You may need to get iron through an IV if you have problems with the iron pills or if your body doesn't absorb enough iron from food or iron pills.
If your anemia is severe, your doctor may give you a blood transfusion to correct your anemia quickly and then have you start on iron supplement pills and a diet high in iron. Usually, people can eliminate iron deficiency anemia by taking iron as pills and adding iron in their diet.
If your anemia is not corrected with these treatments, your doctor might do more testing to look for other causes of your anemia, such as new bleeding or difficulty absorbing iron from pills. These tests may be the same as those initially used to diagnose your anemia.
If you suspect you have iron deficiency anemia, do not take iron pills without consulting your doctor. Taking iron pills could delay the diagnosis of a serious problem such as colorectal cancer or a bleeding ulcer. If the anemia is not due to iron deficiency, taking iron pills will not relieve the anemia and could cause poisoning iron toxicity. It could also cause an iron overload condition called hemochromatosis , especially in people who have a genetic tendency toward storing too much iron in their bodies.
In some people, iron pills cause stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and black stool. Iron is best absorbed if taken on an empty stomach. But if you are having stomach problems, you may need to take the pills with food.
Do not take iron pills with milk, caffeinated drinks, or antacids. If the side effects of your iron pills make you feel too sick, talk to your doctor. He or she may know of another type of iron pill you can take. If you get iron through an IV, there is a risk of an allergic reaction. If you have iron deficiency anemia, talk with your doctor about taking iron supplement pills and getting enough iron in your food each day.
In some people, iron supplements can cause stomach discomfort, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and black stool. If you think you have anemia, do not take iron pills without talking with your doctor. If the iron loss is from intestinal bleeding, taking iron pills may delay the diagnosis of a serious problem such as a bleeding ulcer or colon cancer.
If the anemia is not due to iron deficiency, taking iron pills will not relieve the anemia and may cause poisoning iron toxicity or iron overload hemochromatosis.
You can prevent anemia in babies and children by following recommendations for feeding infants and by making sure babies and children get enough iron. If you are pregnant, your doctor will test your iron level at your first prenatal visit, and he or she will give you prenatal vitamins that include iron 30 mg a day. If you are anemic, your doctor will give you a higher-dose pill to take.
Current as of: September 23, Rhoads MD - Internal Medicine. Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
Updated visitor guidelines. You are here Home » Iron Deficiency Anemia. Top of the page. Topic Overview What is iron deficiency anemia? What causes iron deficiency anemia? You might have low iron levels because you: Have heavy menstrual bleeding. Are not getting enough iron in food. This can happen in people who need a lot of iron, such as small children, teens, and pregnant women. Have bleeding inside your body. This bleeding may be caused by problems such as ulcers , hemorrhoids , or cancer.
This bleeding can also happen with regular aspirin use. Bleeding inside the body is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia in men and in women after menopause. Cannot absorb iron well in your body.
This problem may occur if you have celiac disease or if you have had part of your stomach or small intestine removed.
What are the symptoms? Once the reason you have anaemia has been found for example, an ulcer or heavy periods the GP will recommend treatment. If the blood test shows your red blood cell count is low, you'll be prescribed iron tablets to replace the iron that's missing from your body. The prescribed tablets are stronger than the supplements you can buy in pharmacies and supermarkets.
Drinking orange juice after you've taken a tablet may help your body absorb the iron. Try taking the tablets with or soon after food to reduce the chance of side effects. It's important to keep taking the tablets, even if you get side effects. Your GP may carry out repeat blood tests over the next few months to check that your iron level is getting back to normal.
Keep iron supplement tablets out of the reach of children. An overdose of iron in a young child can be fatal. If your diet is partly causing your iron deficiency anaemia, your GP will tell you what foods are rich in iron so you can eat more of them.
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