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Overcoming Tiredness and Fatigue
The Iron in Your BloodIt’s vital to health, but some people have too little or too much If it weren’t for iron, your red blood cells wouldn’t be red. Iron is the “heme” in hemoglobin, the colorful pigment in those cells that transports oxygen around your body. Chances are you get enough iron in your diet, especially these days, when so many food products are iron-fortified. But it’s quite common to be deficient in iron—and it’s also possible to have too much of this vital mineral. Too little—iron deficiency anemiaWhen you’re anemic, your body doesn’t produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen adequately. “The symptoms include fatigue, irritability, pale skin and headaches,” says pathologist Bala Carver, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.Blood loss and poor diet are the usual causes of iron deficiency anemia, and that puts all menstruating women at risk. “About 10 percent of adolescent girls are iron-deficient, though only 2 percent are actually anemic. Those figures probably hold true throughout the childbearing years,” says family physician Jonathan Burke, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Anemia also can result from other causes of bleeding. “It’s a frequent clue to the presence of colon cancer,” Carver says. “And taking certain anti-inflammatory drugs every day—as many people with arthritis do—can cause enough minor bleeding for anemia to develop.” You shouldn’t get anemia from donating blood. In fact, all would-be donors are screened to ensure they have adequate iron. Donors who eat a healthy diet, Carver says, will rebuild their iron stores in six to eight weeks (which is why you’re not allowed to donate more often than that). Treatment for anemia usually involves iron supplements. The recommended daily allowance of iron is 10 milligrams for men of all ages and women over age 50, and 15 milligrams for younger women. (Supplements typically are much higher than this.) To help your body absorb iron, take a supplement with vitamin C or acid foods like orange juice. Don’t take it with coffee, tea, antacids or calcium-containing foods like milk. Be sure to get extra iron (30 milligrams) when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, Carver says, to nourish the developing baby and build up your iron level in preparation for the blood loss of delivery. Many people taking high iron supplements for anemia have trouble with stomach upset, constipation or diarrhea. Fortunately, Burke says, a few weeks of the regimen usually is sufficient. The dose also can be adjusted. Iron deficiency is a special concern in children, he says. “Iron is vital to healthy growth from infancy through adolescence, and a lack of it can affect cognitive skills and physical ability.” Breast milk is a good source, as are iron-fortified formulas. “In infants under 1 year old, avoid cow’s milk,” Burke says. “Babies commonly develop a milk allergy that can cause microscopic intestinal bleeding.” Watch your child’s diet, especially if there’s a family history of anemia. If you have a picky eater, talk to your doctor about iron-containing multivitamin. Too much—hemochromatosisPeople with this genetic dis-order can’t stop absorbing iron, because the body’s natural regulator (the ferrostat) doesn’t function correctly. “It’s estimated that in the United States, at least 2 or 3 Caucasians per 1,000 are at risk,” Carver says.Like anemia, hemochromatosis has no early symptoms. Eventually, the excess iron deposits in the body cause fatigue and weakness, bronze-colored skin, scarring of the liver, heart problems and diabetes. “The most common treatment is to have a pint of blood withdrawn regularly,” Carver says. (Although that blood is perfectly normal, blood banks can’t use it to transfuse others under current FDA rules.) It’s important to detect hemochromatosis early, Carver says, since organ damage can’t be reversed. Have yourself tested if the disorder runs in your family. Both hemochromatosis and iron deficiency can be detected with a blood test. Because of the lack of early symptoms, if you think you might need a test for either disorder, be sure to tell your doctor.
Want to Know More? For a detailed list of iron content in various foods,
call 610-402-CARE This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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