Iron woman

Proven content

It would seem that in the XNUMXst century we already have such knowledge and such opportunities that we can overcome most of the diseases that were struggled with a hundred years ago. The growing number of cases of anemia shows how illusory this belief is.

In the past, pallor, fatigue and fainting, typical symptoms of anemia – commonly known as anemia – were associated with poor nutrition and lack of exercise. In the XNUMXth century, people with this diagnosis were sent to waters for treatment. Nowadays, we associate these symptoms with stress and too fast pace of life. If they become so bothersome that we visit a doctor, we expect him to prescribe tablets that will immediately heal us and allow us to return to normal functioning. We refuse to accept that we need to change our lifestyle, and we too rarely look for the real causes of malaise. And if left untreated, anemia worsens symptoms and may contribute to the development of other diseases.

Pale and weak

Anemia is defined as low levels of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cells. Anemia can be caused by many factors – deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid, it can be associated with chronic, genetic and autoimmune diseases, it can also be a side effect of drugs or toxic agents. However, it is estimated that in about 80% of cases anemia is caused by iron deficiency (Latin anaemia sideropenica). Its demand in the body varies and depends on age, sex and health. It is assumed that the daily dose for men is 1 mg, and for women – 1,4 mg. However, you should consume much more daily, i.e. 10-20 mg, because only about 10% of the iron is absorbed in the duodenum and intestines. The rest is expelled.

You should also know that the daily iron concentration fluctuates – it is highest in the morning and lowest in the evening. As a result, it can cause quite significant differences, i.e. 10-40%, in the test results within one or several days.

Problems with iron deficiency more often affect women than men, because they are the ones who lose blood more easily, e.g. during heavy and irregular menstruation (on average 10-30 mg) during puberty, but also during menopause. Also, pregnant women (about 95% of all pregnant women) have problems with maintaining the proper level of iron. This is due to the increased need for iron in the developing fetus, but also due to the thinning of the blood due to more fluid in the body.

– The classic symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are: pale skin and conjunctiva, fatigue, brittle hair and nails, mouth corners, burning sensation in the mouth and esophagus. The general ones include irritability, rapid breathing, headaches and dizziness, apathy, trouble concentrating, feeling cold – lists Dr. Jarosław Mrożek from Medicover. In the elderly, anemia may also reveal or worsen symptoms of coronary artery disease. However, when we do observe these signs at home, it’s important not to self-medicate. Even if there are textbook symptoms, we can never tell for ourselves whether the anemia is caused only by a lack of iron, or if it accompanies another disease, for example, a developing cancer.

Morphology is the key

As always in such cases, prevention is important. Let us remember that prevention is better than cure. It is enough to perform a blood count once a year. If the results are at the borderline of normal, it is worth visiting a doctor. Perhaps the reduction of parameters occurs slowly (as a result of nutritional deficiencies or latent bleeding) and the body adapts to this situation to some extent. The symptoms are then not as severe as in people who experience sudden blood loss, e.g. as a result of heavy bleeding. However, the specialist will read much more from the study than we do, because he will take into account other elements of the morphology result, including blood cell size and weight. About the type of anemia we have, more specialized tests can be established – the level of serum iron, ferritin and transferrin, which are proteins that transport and store iron.

Even if the morphology is good, but the ferritin level is low, it can be expected that if we do not supply iron, anemia will occur in some time. The decrease in ferritin indicates the depletion of iron stores in the body – explains Dr. Mrożek.

Consultation with a doctor is also recommended in cases of constantly deteriorating well-being, even with good test results. It may turn out that the body has started processes that are not yet visible in the blood picture. The analysis of this mechanism allows us to distinguish between iron deficiency without anemia and iron deficiency anemia. To understand this, however, you need to know how blood cells form and function.

How is blood formed?

Is anemia not enough blood or its poor quality? Both. Blood loss is important, but so are blood defects. Red blood cells are formed in the marrow, the most of which in adults is found in the flat bones, i.e. in the sternum, ribs and bones of the pelvis. This process is stimulated by erythropoietin produced by the kidneys, the amount of which increases when the body is hypoxic. However, increasing the rate of blood cell production often leads to a depletion of iron stores.

A healthy blood cell can be likened to a tower made of bricks. When a fragment is missing or damaged, the tower will wobble or collapse. Iron is one of those building blocks. When it is not enough, the cell cannot fulfill its primary function of transporting oxygen to the body’s cells. We are talking then about iron deficiency anemia. However, the body is preventive, it has anticipated such a situation and it stores up supplies – it stores iron, mainly in the liver and spleen. So when he starts to run out of it, he first turns to the reserves. Only when it runs out of them will it produce weaker cells. Then we are dealing with iron deficiency without anemia. The problem is that this lack of iron will not be “seen” in research until some time later. This is because a red blood cell has an average lifespan of approximately 100-120 days. So we have time to replenish our supplies.

Iron Diet

The easiest way to provide iron to the body is through the use of an appropriate diet. Meat, especially liver and offal, is at the top of the list of foods rich in this mineral. It has also been proven that it is absorbed much better from animal products than from plants. Therefore, vegetarians must especially take care to diversify their menu. Vegetables (Brussels sprouts, beans, peas), thick groats, whole grain bread, nuts, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds also contain a lot of iron.

The main principle of composing a healthy menu, however, is its diversity. Iron, by nature, is difficult to absorb in the digestive tract. However, this does not mean that we should eat liver every day to increase its dose. Monotony is more harmful than it helps, because in this way we do not provide the body with other important vitamins and minerals. It is also worth remembering that even a diet rich in beneficial ingredients, but poorly balanced, does not give positive effects. It is known that some products reduce iron absorption. They include, among others milk, egg yolk, tea, and some medications. Others, on the other hand, increase its absorption, especially those containing vitamin C (strawberries, black currants, citrus fruits, tomatoes, sauerkraut, parsley). It is worth remembering about this when preparing meals every day.

Who are the supplements for?

It is best to supply the body with all nutrients naturally. However, in the case of unfavorable research, when there is a need for rapid iron supplementation, use pharmacological agents. Preparations containing divalent iron, available by prescription, contain more of it, so visit your doctor first. Tablets are usually used in treatment, only in extreme cases – most often in hospital conditions – iron is administered by injection, so that the substance can reach the blood faster and more easily.

Supplementation is recommended in women with heavy menstruation, pregnant and lactating, premature babies, but also in people with iron malabsorption, after surgery or after bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract and genital tract. However, it should be remembered that in order for the treatment to bring the expected effect, it should last from 3 to 6 months – due to the cycles of formation of new blood cells (approx. 120 days), which can be used by the iron provided by us.

The tablets should be taken on an empty stomach, two hours before a meal. This system improves absorption, but not everyone responds well to it. Some people may then develop abdominal pain and nausea. Then it is better to use the preparations during meals.

Better late than never

Unfortunately, all these recommendations often fall into a vacuum. In Poland, women tend to underestimate their own health. They behave as if they are indestructible. They work professionally, take care of the house, children, grandchildren and health of everyone, but not their own. They do not have enough time for themselves, but often feel that the family cannot do without their help. Thus, pale and sleepy ones force themselves to even greater effort.

Of course, such a lifestyle does not serve the body, which has to rebel in the end. And if it affects the elderly, it will only aggravate their health problems. It is known that autoimmune and neoplastic diseases increase with age. The ability to absorb iron also decreases, and some products begin to be less tolerated and it is easier to develop anemia.

– In old age it is important to undergo regular checkups. If your blood counts aren’t good, it’s important to find the cause of your anemia. Sometimes it is really serious and is not only associated with the use of an inadequate diet. For this reason, women who no longer have periods should also continue to see their gynecologist. This significantly increases the chance of detecting, for example, fibroids or malignant lesions at an early stage, sums up Dr. Mrożek.

Consultation with a doctor is also recommended in cases of constantly deteriorating well-being, even with good test results. It may turn out that the body has started processes that are not yet visible in the blood picture.

Is it anemia already?

We talk about anemia when the blood count shows a low level of hemoglobin, hematocrit (the ratio of the volume of blood morphotic elements, mainly red blood cells, to the total blood) and the number of erythrocytes. Norms vary by lab, but on average, the lower limit for the most important of the three – hemoglobin – is 12 g / dL for women and 13,5 g / dL for men.

Types of anemia

There are many types of anemia. They are divided into three groups:

• haemorrhagic caused by gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, tumors; due to reduced red blood cell production and disturbed hemoglobin production and due to a shortened life span of red blood cells.

• iron deficiency (also called sideropenic or hypochromic);

• megaloblastic – from deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid, as well as Addison-Biermer disease, called pernicious anemia, which is caused by the destruction of cells in the stomach;

• aplastic – associated with bone marrow failure;

• haemolytic – causing premature breakdown of red blood cells;

• occurs in chronic diseases;

• genetically determined.

Text: Monika Brodowska

Consultation: lek. med. Jarosław Mrożek, Medicover