Major Cause -
- Blood loss. Blood contains iron within red
blood cells. So if you lose blood, you lose some iron. Women with
heavy periods are at risk of iron deficiency anemia because they
lose blood during menstruation. Slow, chronic blood loss within the
body — such as from a peptic ulcer, a hiatal hernia, a colon polyp
or colorectal cancer — can cause iron deficiency anemia.
Gastrointestinal bleeding can result from regular use of some
over-the-counter pain relievers, especially aspirin.
- A lack of iron in your diet. Your body
regularly gets iron from the foods you eat. If you consume too
little iron, over time your body can become iron deficient.
Examples of iron-rich foods include meat, eggs, leafy green
vegetables and iron-fortified foods. For proper growth and
development, infants and children need iron from their diets,
too.
- An inability to absorb iron. Iron from food is
absorbed into your bloodstream in your small intestine. An
intestinal disorder, such as celiac disease, which affects your
intestine's ability to absorb nutrients from digested food, can
lead to iron deficiency anemia. If part of your small intestine has
been bypassed or removed surgically, that may affect your ability
to absorb iron and other nutrients.
- Pregnancy. Without iron supplementation, iron
deficiency anemia occurs in many pregnant women because their iron
stores need to serve their own increased blood volume as well as be
a source of hemoglobin for the growing fetus.
Group at risk of iron deficiency -
- Women. Because women lose blood during
menstruation, women in general are at greater risk of iron
deficiency anemia.
- Infants and children. Infants, especially
those who were low birth weight or born prematurely, who don't get
enough iron from breast milk or formula may be at risk of iron
deficiency. Children need extra iron during growth spurts. If your
child isn't eating a healthy, varied diet, he or she may be at risk
of anemia.
- Vegetarians. People who don't eat meat may
have a greater risk of iron deficiency anemia if they don't eat
other iron-rich foods.
- Frequent blood donors. People who routinely
donate blood may have an increased risk of iron deficiency anemia
since blood donation can deplete iron stores. Low hemoglobin
related to blood donation may be a temporary problem remedied by
eating more iron-rich foods. If you're told that you can't donate
blood because of low hemoglobin, ask your doctor whether you should
be concerned.
THANKS FOR READING, I HOPE IT HELPS.
PLEASE GIVE GOOD RATING, AS I HAVE SOLVED YOUR QUERY IN
BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
DR. PRADY