Why do we need iron?
Iron is used to make red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body thus making it very important to our immune system, mental function, muscle strength, and energy. We get the iron we need from the food we eat but we lose small amounts every day.
Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is caused by insufficient iron intake that the body needs.
In older people, low iron may be a sign of hidden bleeding, especially from the stomach or bowel, and could mean there is another medical problem causing it.
Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA)
If not treated, Iron Deficiency Anaemia can be life-threatening. This is a serious problem as it means you do not have enough iron to make new red blood cells.
How will I know if I am low in iron?
The symptoms are mild at the start, but will become more serious if not treated.
These can include:
- Feeling weak, tired, and lacking energy
- Feeling short of breath, dizzy, or an irregular heartbeat
- Not able to exercise as much
- Losing interest in sexual activities
- Getting more infections than normal
- Finding it hard to remember things or to concentrate
- Not performing as well at work or at school
- Feeling irritable or children having problems with their behaviour.
How do I find out if I have a problem with my iron?
Low iron is found with a blood test and a review of your medical history as well as your diet and any medications you are taking. This can be done by your GP.
If you are low in iron, it is very important that the exact cause is found. You may need to see a medical specialist, such as a gastroenterologist or haematologist, and have further tests.
How do I improve my iron levels?
The treatment of low iron will depend on how low your iron is, and what has caused it. If you have low iron, you will need to test your levels regularly – your doctor will tell you how often.
Iron and food
There are 2 types of iron in food:
- Haem iron – from animals (red meat, chicken, pork and fish)
- Non-heam iron – from plants (green leafy vegetables, nuts and whole grain cereals).
You can increase the iron you get from food by also eating food with lots of vitamin C, like citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, and broccoli.
Oral iron supplements
You can get iron replacement in tablet, capsule or liquid form.
Choosing which one is right for you can be hard and it is important to get advice because some brands do not have enough iron to treat low iron.
You should see your doctor to talk about trying another type of iron.
Intravenous iron (IV) iron
There are several types of IV iron, some are given quickly (5 to 20 minutes), and others are given over several hours.
The iron will be injected directly into a vein. Your doctor may suggest this if you have very little iron or you need to fill up your iron stores very quickly.
IV iron can have side effects, this include nausea, headache, dizziness, or a skin reaction where you have the IV cannula and can happen up to 3 days after treatment.
Tell the doctor or nurse straight away if you notice discomfort, burning, redness or
swelling during the treatment.
Allergic reactions are very rare, but can be serious and even life threatening so you must tell staff if you feel different during your treatment.
The information above originally appeared on the NSW Government’s health website.
