Hi guys, in this weeks video were going to be “ironing” out the details iron deficiency
anemia. We're going to be looking at what is iron deficiency anemia, we're going to
be looking at the signs and symptoms of it, we're going to be looking at how to treat
iron deficiency anemia and loads more.
So first of all lets begin with Anemia. What is Anemia what does it mean? It’s the medical
term for when there’s a reduced number of red blood cells in your blood. There are a
variety of things that can cause it, but one of the most common causes is when you don’t
have enough iron in your blood – this is called iron deficiency
We all need a certain level of iron to allow our bodies to make healthy red blood cells,
and we need these to carry oxygen so that our cells and organs can work properly. When
there is not enough iron in the blood, you can end up feeling tired and that you don't
have enough energy. If left untreated, iron deficiency anemia
can also affect muscle performance, your immune system, and even your heart, and in pregnancy,
it can cause problems for both the mother and baby.
Other symptoms include having pale skin, feeling short of breath, and having a faster heartbeat.
Some people might also experience: brittle nails, hair loss, headaches, a sore tongue,
and an unusual desire to eat non-food objects, so things like cardboard or ice.
So, what causes it? Well, most often it is due to heavy periods or pregnancy. The World
Health Organisation estimates that about 1 in 3 of all women of reproductive age and
about 40% of all pregnant women are anaemic.For someone who is not pregnant or doesn’t have
periods, iron deficiency anemia can also be caused by any condition that causes blood
loss. For example, piles, stomach ulcers, or stomach bleeds caused by some medicines
such as Ibuprofen and Aspirin. Again, that’s why it’s so important that
if you think you do suffer from it, make sure you strike while the iron is hot, and speak
to your doctor or pharmacist straight away, as there’s sometimes an underlying cause
that may also need looking into. So, you’ve been to the doctor and have been
told that you have iron deficiency anemia, how do you treat it? Well, these are my top
tips. First of all, make sure you’re getting enough
iron in your diet. Now, there are two different types of iron that you can get from your diet.
One type mainly comes from red meat, poultry and fish, and the second type comes from vegetables,
fruit and pulses. It’s important to eat a balanced diet and
to try and include a mix of these different iron sources if you can. If you follow a vegetarian
diet, some particularly iron-rich options include spinach, kale, dried apricots, nuts,
and cereals. Also look out for iron-fortified products, as these are cereals and breads
with extra iron. And be sure to check out the description below for a full list.
Watch what you drink! Vitamin C has been shown to increase iron absorption, and as a result,
drinking a glass of orange juice with your iron tablet can help.
However, caffeinated drinks are not iron’s cup of tea. This is because drinks like tea
and coffee can reduce the amount of iron absorbed by your body. If you can’t cut them from
your diet because you love your coffee like me, try and space them at least one or two
hours after your meals. This is the same for dairy products. You need
these in your diet as they are a source of calcium needed for strong teeth and bones.
But like caffeine drinks, they can also interfere with iron absorption. Try having dairy products
as snacks rather than with meals and this can prevent them from interacting. Try and
space any iron tablets that you take a good one hour before or after you’ve had any
milk or dairy too. Now, it’s super important to remember that
even if you have a great diet full of iron, this is not enough to treat iron deficiency
anemia alone. This is especially the case if iron deficiency anemia occurs through pregnancy.
So, it may sound obvious, but for Tip 3 Make sure you take any prescribed iron tablets
that your doctor gives you, and that you take it exactly as prescribed. These help top up
your iron levels so that your body can make healthy red blood cells again.
Some people stop taking their iron tablets because they get side effects such as constipation,
diarrhoea or nausea. But if you get side-effects, be sure to speak to your pharmacist or doctor,
as they can recommend ways of helping prevent these.
This can include recommending that you take your iron tablets with food, lowering your
dose, or switching you to a different type of iron. In fact, be sure to check out my
video on how to take iron tablets for even more super tips on this. I’ll leave the
link in the description below. So, if you do think you have any symptoms,
so that’s long-term tiredness, pale skin, shortness of breath, or fast heartbeats, make
sure you speak to your doctor. They can send you for a blood test and start any treatment
if needed. Any symptoms of iron deficiency anemia should
always be discussed with your doctor, but this is especially the case if you are over
60, pregnant, or also have any rectal bleeding, as this may mean you need an urgent referral.
So that's the end of this week video I really hope you found this information useful, you
are now an iron deficiency anemia pro, you now know all about why it happens, you now
know all about the symptoms, you know all about the treatments, you also know when to
seek medical advice and all about the red flags as well so your an iron deficiency anemia
pro, so tell your family tell your loved ones tell everyone