Low blood iron or iron deficiency anemia is a condition that affects the red blood cells in the body. When red blood cells do not have enough hemoglobin, they cannot carry enough oxygen to supply the body. Hemoglobin is made from iron stores in the body. This type of anemia can leave the patient feeling weak, looking pale and feeling fatigued, according to MayoClinic.com. Iron poor blood arises from multiple causes.
Blood Loss
According to MayoClinic.com, blood loss is the most common reason for iron deficiency anemia in the United States. Red blood cells carry a certain amount of iron within each cell. When bleeding occurs, iron is lost. Women with heavy periods are frequently anemic. Bleeding can also occur within the gastrointestinal tract. Iron deficiency anemia may be a warning sign of colon cancer. The tumor within the colon causes bleeding from the lining of the colon and blood loss occurs. Bloody stools should be reported to a healthcare provider urgently. Other sites of chronic bleeding include colon polyps, kidney or bladder tumor and uterine fibroids. Chronic blood loss from these areas is frequently occult blood loss, meaning that it cannot be seen. It is important to have regular checkups in order to detect these potential problem areas. Regular use of aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause bleeding from the stomach, also resulting in iron deficiency.
Poor Dietary Intake
Iron is absorbed from the food that is ingested daily. Diets that are iron deficient will cause iron deficiency anemia. Vegetarians are at risk for iron deficiency as meat and dairy products are two of the main sources of dietary iron. Other good sources of iron include egg yolk, legumes, fish, poultry and raisins, according to MedlinePlus. Occasionally, people with chronic inflammatory diseases of the bowel do not absorb iron from the food they eat. People with Crohn's disease, gastric bypass and celiac disease may suffer with iron deficiency anemia.
Pregnancy
Women are encouraged to take prenatal vitamins that contain iron supplements during pregnancy in order to prevent iron deficiency. Pregnant women have an increase in their blood volume, which means they need more iron to make more red blood cells. Also, the fetus absorbs much of the hemoglobin that the mother makes in order to develop its own red blood cells, muscles and tissues. Pregnant women should eat a healthy diet, rich with iron sources and take prenatal vitamins to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
