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The Lost Powerhouse: How to Spot the Early Signs of Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Anemia is an insufficient number or size of red blood cells, or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin, which limits the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and tissue cells. According to global data analysis, young children, women and the elderly are high-risk groups for anemia. Adequate iron supplementation is critical to preventing and treating anemia, especially iron deficiency anemia, the most common nutritional anemia.
According to the standards of the World Health Organization, children under 5 years old and pregnant women are considered anemic if their hemoglobin concentration is lower than 110 g/L, while adult men are considered anemic if their hemoglobin concentration is lower than 130 g/L.
Nutritional anemia can be divided into nutrition-related and non-nutritional anemia, among which nutritional anemia can be subdivided into iron deficiency anemia, pernicious anemia, etc. Signs and symptoms of anemia include pale skin, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Severe anemia may lead to shock or death. Therefore, understanding the early signs of iron deficiency anemia is crucial for prompt medical treatment and treatment.
Types and causes of iron deficiency anemia
Among various nutritional anemias, iron deficiency anemia is caused by insufficient iron intake or malabsorption of iron. The condition is typically characterized by microscopic red blood cells in the blood, accompanied by a drop in hemoglobin levels. Iron deficiency anemia is usually caused by prolonged iron deficiency.
The course of iron deficiency anemia may be gradual, and most symptoms are not obvious in the early stages, so they are easily overlooked or misdiagnosed.
In addition, there are several other nutritional anemias, such as:
- Megaloblastic anemia: Due to the lack of vitamin B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12, the production of blood cells is affected.
- Protein energy malnutrition anemia: Malnutrition will directly affect the synthesis of hemoglobin.
- Copper deficiency anemia: Copper deficiency affects iron utilization and red blood cell formation.
- Siderocytic anemia: This is a genetic disorder that affects heme synthesis.
Symptoms and effects of anemia
Symptoms of nutritional anemia may include fatigue, lack of energy, etc. As the disease progresses, patients may experience the following conditions:
- Shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat
- Pale skin, especially on hands, eyelids and nails
- Ankle swelling and hair loss
- Bald head, loss of appetite or unusual dietary needs
- Chest pain and muscle twitching
Because the symptoms of mild anemia are mild and easily overlooked, many patients may not be aware of their health problems in the early stages of the disease.
Diagnosis and treatment of anemia
Ways to diagnose anemia include a complete blood count, iron testing, and more. If you have concerns about anemia, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. In terms of treatment, supplementing deficient nutrients is the first step to improve health. A balanced diet that includes iron-rich foods such as red meat, green leafy vegetables, and whole grains is particularly important for improving anemia symptoms.
Before starting any supplements, patients should consult their doctor to ensure they are getting a treatment plan that is right for them.
Faced with iron deficiency anemia, understand what kind of diet and lifestyle can help heal yourself. Can you form good habits to prevent the occurrence of anemia?
