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He Li Fang
Hematology
About me
Loudi Central Hospital, Department of Hematology, Attending Physician.
Proficient in diseases
Specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of common diseases in hematology.
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Is iron deficiency anemia severe?
Iron deficiency anemia refers to a type of benign anemia that occurs when the body's iron stores are depleted and can no longer meet the needs of normal red blood cell production. Before the production of red blood cells is restricted, the body's iron stores are depleted, but at this time there are no anemic changes in routine blood tests. This condition is referred to as iron deficiency. The characteristic of iron deficiency anemia is the lack of available iron in bone marrow and other tissues, with a decrease in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation. The blood picture, including the bone marrow appearance, presents as a microcytic hypochromic anemia. The severity of iron deficiency anemia depends on the degree of the anemia. Mild anemia generally does not significantly impact the patient's daily activities, as most patients can tolerate it. However, moderate, severe, or very severe anemia can severely affect the patient's body and the essential blood and oxygen supply, leading to tissue ischemia and hypoxia. In severe cases of anemia, some patients may experience palpitations, shortness of breath, heart failure, anemia-induced heart disease, arrhythmias, and even transient fainting, which are serious complications. Therefore, it is advised to treat iron deficiency anemia early and regularly, identify the causes promptly, and address them fundamentally to achieve complete recovery.
Should I take vitamin C for iron deficiency anemia?
Patients with iron deficiency anemia mostly suffer from anemia due to lack of iron, but in a small proportion of cases, the essence of their anemia is due to the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin per unit volume of blood being below normal levels. Therefore, any factor that can lead to reduced production or excessive destruction, or loss of red blood cells or hemoglobin can cause anemia. Can patients with iron deficiency anemia consume vitamin C? The main treatment plan for iron deficiency anemia includes four aspects. First, general treatment aims to prevent and reduce various factors that induce iron deficiency. Second, etiological treatment involves identifying a cause whenever possible and controlling the primary iron deficiency related to that cause, such as actively combatting hookworm infection in cases of hookworm disease, stopping bleeding and actively treating ulcers in cases of ulcerative bleeding, and actively controlling menstrual flow in women with heavy periods. Third is the supplementation of iron, which should ideally be taken with vitamin C as it can enhance the absorption of iron. Therefore, patients with iron deficiency anemia can indeed consume vitamin C.
Prevention and treatment of iron deficiency anemia
Some cases of iron deficiency anemia are preventable, which highlights the importance of education on nutritional knowledge and maternal and child healthcare. This includes improving infant feeding practices, advocating for breastfeeding, and timely introduction of complementary foods. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should appropriately supplement with iron. In areas where hookworm is prevalent, large-scale parasite prevention and control measures should be implemented, and timely treatment of various chronic gastrointestinal bleeding disorders should be carried out to reduce iron loss. Additionally, increasing iron intake can help prevent and control iron deficiency anemia. Also, high-risk groups, including infants, preterm babies, twins, pregnant women, individuals who have undergone gastrectomy, and those who frequently donate blood, should prevent and supplement with oral iron supplements for treatment.
Can people with iron deficiency anemia drink tea?
The first aspect of treating patients with iron deficiency anemia is etiological treatment. It is necessary to remove the causes of iron deficiency as much as possible. While simple iron supplementation can restore blood indices, if the primary disease is not actively treated, it cannot fundamentally solve anemia. If left untreated, anemia in patients is prone to recurrence. Secondly, iron supplementation is the clinical priority, with oral iron supplements being the most commonly used treatment. Ferrous preparations such as ferrous succinate and ferrous fumarate are most often used. These medications are generally taken with meals or after meals to reduce gastrointestinal irritation. This raises the issue of whether patients with iron deficiency anemia can drink tea. When iron supplements are taken with tea, they can bind with the tannins in the tea to form an insoluble precipitate that is difficult to absorb. Thus, it is clinically advised that patients with iron deficiency anemia should avoid drinking tea, as it can reduce the absorption of iron and thus result in suboptimal treatment outcomes.
What department should I go to for iron deficiency anemia?
Iron is one of the essential trace elements for the human body, and it is the most likely to be deficient among trace elements. Iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia, which is also identified by the World Health Organization as one of the global nutritional deficiency diseases and a major public health nutrition issue in China. According to epidemiological surveys, iron deficiency is related to the following factors: improper feeding during infancy, picky eating and nosebleeds during childhood and adolescence. In women, it is associated with excessive menstrual flow, poor nutrition, inadequate protein intake (especially low intake of animal proteins), inappropriate consumption methods of dairy products, as well as repeated pregnancies, breastfeeding, and certain diseases such as atrophic gastritis, chronic diarrhea, significant gastric resection, and hookworm infections, all of which can cause iron deficiency. Therefore, patients with iron deficiency anemia should consult the department of hematology, as iron deficiency anemia falls under the category of red blood cell disorders within hematology. Of course, infants, children, and adolescents under the age of 14 can visit pediatrics, and a portion of patients, such as pregnant and lactating women, can visit the obstetrics department.
Iron deficiency anemia lacks what element?
Iron deficiency anemia refers to a type of anemia caused by a lack of stored iron in the body, which affects the synthesis of hemoglobin. Its characteristics include a lack of stainable iron in organs such as the bone marrow, liver, and spleen, leading to decreased serum iron concentration, decreased transferrin saturation, and decreased serum ferritin. Typical iron deficiency anemia presents as microcytic hypochromic anemia. Therefore, iron deficiency anemia involves a deficiency in iron, a trace element essential for the human body, which is widely present in cells and participates in the body's metabolic processes. The human body has a strict iron metabolism regulatory mechanism to maintain normal physiological levels. Once this homeostasis is disrupted, it can lead to the occurrence of iron deficiency anemia. Factors that affect the distribution, absorption, transport, and storage of iron can all cause iron deficiency anemia.
What is good to eat for iron deficiency anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is a commonly seen type of nutritional anemia in clinical settings, with many causes. It can be caused by an insufficient intake of dietary iron needed to meet the body's demands. This insufficiency can also arise when the body's requirement for iron increases, or due to certain diseases, such as atrophic gastritis, lack of stomach acid, or the excessive use of antacids, which affect iron absorption. Increased bodily consumption due to conditions like diarrhea or hookworm infection can also lead to iron deficiency. For patients with iron deficiency anemia, it is generally recommended to improve the utilization of dietary iron. The first step is to modify dietary habits and lifestyle. For instance, it is suggested that vegetarians change their dietary patterns to include more iron-rich foods, such as animal liver, beef kidney, and chicken gizzards. Iron-rich vegetarian options include soy, black fungus, sesame paste, brown sugar, and dried fruits. Therefore, it is advisable for patients with iron deficiency anemia to increase their intake of these types of foods.
How long should iron supplements be taken for iron deficiency anemia?
First, it's important to understand that in treating iron deficiency anemia, addressing the underlying cause is the top priority. It's crucial to eliminate the causes of iron deficiency as much as possible. Solely supplementing with iron can only restore the blood picture, and neglecting the treatment of the primary illness will not lead to a thorough treatment of the anemia. Once the medication for anemia is stopped, it can easily relapse. So how long should iron supplements be taken for iron deficiency anemia? Generally, after patients start taking iron supplements, they can quickly feel an improvement in symptoms. The reticulocyte count tends to rise within three to four days after starting the supplements, reaching a peak around seven days. Hemoglobin shows a significant increase two weeks after starting the medication and can return to normal levels within one to two months. However, even after hemoglobin returns to normal, iron treatment should continue until the serum ferritin level has returned to 50 micrograms per liter before stopping the medication. If it's not possible to monitor serum ferritin, then iron supplements should be continued for three more months after hemoglobin has normalized, to replenish the body's iron stores. Therefore, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia with iron supplements generally lasts for three to six months.
Diet for Iron Deficiency Anemia
Patients with iron-deficiency anemia need to undergo pharmacological treatment with oral or injective iron supplements. In addition, patient health education should be enhanced to guide them in following a scientific and reasonable diet. For example, patients who are picky eaters or have insufficient intake should change their dietary structure and lifestyle in order to increase iron intake and bioavailability. This ensures that all key nutrients involved in the production of red blood cells are sufficient. Moreover, it is necessary to increase the intake of iron-rich foods, mainly including animal liver, blood, as well as soybeans, black fungus, egg yolks, brown sugar, lean meat, sheep kidneys, dried fruits, and sesame paste.
What to eat for dietary supplementation in iron deficiency anemia
The dietary plan for patients with iron-deficiency anemia first involves increasing the intake of iron-rich foods, such as animal liver, blood, soybeans, black fungus, sesame paste, brown sugar, lean meat, egg yolks, pork and lamb kidneys, and dried fruits. Second, it is recommended to appropriately supplement with vitamin C, as taking iron supplements and vitamin C together can increase iron absorption, thereby achieving better iron supplementation effects. Thirdly, patients are advised to change their dietary habits to increase the intake and bioavailability of nutrients like vitamin A, vitamin B2, folic acid, and vitamin B12, which are involved in the production of red blood cells. Supplementing these nutrients can also enhance the utilization of iron from food, thereby assisting in the treatment.