Iron-deficiency anaemia. When we are left without Iron.

This is the most frequent type of anaemia in the world, due to deficiency or when no absorption has taken place. This precious mineral aids in the production of haemoglobin and in the transportation of oxygen to all body tissues.

A simple blood test will give a diagnostic.

The most frequent symptoms are:

• Tiredness.
• Pale skin.
• Intolerance to exercise or to minimum effort.
• Hair loss.
• Nail fragility.
• Rhagades or fissures on the skin around the mouth.
• Tachycardia in extreme cases.
• Etc. 

It should always be taken into account that chronic anaemia can sometimes produce organismal adaptation and hardly produces any symptoms.

I want to highlight that an important symptom that sometimes goes unnoticed and would have a diagnostic of Iron-deficiency anaemia, is a disproportionate yearning to eat ice, without being in a hot climate, with it even taking place in room or cold temperatures. This phenomenon is called ‘Pica’, and sometimes it is not just reduced to a yearning of eating ice but also to wanting to eat soil, wood, inorganic objects, etc. It is sometimes diagnosed as a psychological disorder however; the levels of minerals in the blood should always be studied including Iron and it should always be taken into account, especially in children.

In the majority of cases, patients that tend to suffer from this pathology are:

• Women with abundant menstruations or with gynaecological problems whereby abundant losses of blood are produced.
• Pregnant and lactating women, as they require a larger quantity of this mineral.
• Patients with gastric problems, which makes absorption more difficult.
• Intestinal parasites have to also be taken into account fundamentally in children.
• A lack of adequate food can also lead to Iron deficiency.

The treatment for Iron-deficiency anaemia is Iron in the form of capsules, syrups, etc. These treatments have to have a minimum duration of three months in order to sufficiently fill Iron deposits, and a minimum of dose of maintenance would be necessary in a lot of cases especially those of women that have continuous blood losses.

The diet would consist in foods that are rich in iron such as:

• Meats such as beef.
• Vegetables such as watercress, swiss chard, spinach, etc.
• Nuts such as almonds, pistachios, etc.
• Legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, peas, broad beans, etc

And never forget that when taking iron as a treatment or foods that are rich in it if it is not accompanied by vitamin C, it will not be absorbed.

Therefore orange juice, grapefruit, lemon, strawberries or stews where there is tomato, peppers, broccoli, etc. should always accompany Iron.

Let us remember that a simple blood count would easily detect Iron-deficiency Anaemia and that by it being accessible to everybody, it would allow people to experience a better life.

Dr. J. Hurtado Martínez

Medical Director of HealthSalus