Iron deficiency anemia is a common condition that affects the red blood cells in our body. It is crucial to treat it before it can escalate into serious health concerns such as irregular heartbeats, heart failure, pulmonary disorders, pregnancy-related complications, and developmental delays. Various treatment options can help individuals overcome the risks associated with iron deficiency anemia. Today, we are going to discuss various treatment options that are available for iron deficiency anemia.
What is iron deficiency anemia, and what is its type?
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a condition that occurs when the body's stored iron levels drop too low, leading to a decrease in the production of red blood cells (RBCs). It can be classified into two types:
- Hemolytic anemia is a condition that can lead to the rapid breakdown of the red blood cells.
- Aplastic anemia is a condition caused by a defect in the bone marrow, which is involved in the production of red blood cells.
How can I Identify that I have iron deficiency anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia can cause mild to severe symptoms in patients, but it is estimated that many people may not recognize their mild anemia unless they have a regular blood test. However, iron deficiency anemia can be identified by the following symptoms which are given below:
- General fatigue: You may experience unusual tiredness or weakness during the anemia.
- Pale skin: Individuals with anemaia may have pale skin and lips.
- Shortness of breath: Individuals may experience shortness of breath or breathing difficulty.
- Dizziness: Anemia patients may experience dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Food cravings: Patients may experience unusual cravings for food without dietary value.
- Tingling: You may experience a tingling or crawling feeling in the legs.
- Tongue swelling: Patients may experience soreness or swelling in the tongue.
- Feeling cold: Individuals may feel chill or cold in their hands and feet.
- Irregular heartbeat: You may have an irregular or abnormal heartbeat.
- Brittle nails: Patients may have easily brittle nails.
- Headache: You may experience headaches due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain.
How Can We Treat And Manage Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) can be treated and managed in the following ways, which are given below:
1. Medication:
Anti-anemic medicines are drugs which are used in treating anemia. It can classified into two types:
- Drugs that treat nutritional anemia are ferrous Sulphate, Ferrous Gluconate, Ferrous Fumarate (Oral medication), Iron dextran, and Iron sucrose (parental medicines). Iron (III) Isomaltoside (Feruno 500mg Injection) will help to be used as an iron replacement medicine to treat iron deficiency anemia in adults who are intolerant to oral iron or have not responded well to oral iron preparations.
- Drugs that treat decreased blood cell circulation are Epoetin Alpha, Epoetin Beta, and Epoetin lambda.
2. Dietary modifications:
Eating a diet rich in iron, like red meat, pork, seafood, beans, and dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, dried fruit, iron-fortified cereals, bread, pasta, and peas, is recommended.
3. Blood transfusions:
In advanced cases of iron deficiency, you may be advised to do a blood transfusion to restore hemoglobin levels quickly. This approach is typically reserved for emergencies or situations where other treatments have not been effective in treating the iron deficiency anemia.
4. Lifestyle changes:
Your healthcare provider may advise you to adopt a healthy lifestyle, like doing regular exercise, getting adequate sleep, achieving stress management activities, and avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol consumption.
5. Regular medical check-ups:
Your healthcare provider may recommend you to monitor your iron level and overall health. This will help him assess your treatment plan and tailor it to your health condition.
Iron deficiency anemia is a critical condition that requires a multifaceted approach to treatment and restore the health of affected individuals. It is advisable to monitor your health and blood count levels regularly to reduce the risk of anemia and its associated complications. Engage with your doctor to develop a tailored treatment plan for iron deficiency anemia.
