WHY DOES IRON DEFICIENCY OCCUR?
Dietary intake may be insufficient. Iron is mainly found in animal foods, especially red meat. You may be getting insufficient iron for reasons such as economic inadequacies, diets for weight loss, unconscious nutrition, irregular food intake due to the difficulties of business life. Vegetarians also develop iron deficiency over time.
Absorption disorder: Iron absorption is impaired in people who have had their stomach, duodenum or small intestine removed by surgery and those with Celiac disease.
Increased requirement. High birth rate in female patients is a common cause of iron deficiency anemia. Each pregnancy causes a loss of approximately 500-1,000 mg of iron. As the need increases in young people in the growing period, iron deficiency may develop.
Blood losses. It is important in women. About 20 mg of iron is lost each month through a woman’s normal menstrual bleeding. Iron deficiency is common in women with excessive bleeding. Uterine fibroids can cause significant blood loss.
Gastrointestinal tract (Gastrointestinal tract) is important in blood loss. Among these, we can give the following examples: esophageal varices, gastric hernia, reflux esophagitis, peptic ulcer, gastritis, chronic aspirin use, gastric polyps and cancers, colon cancers, ulcerative colitis, large intestine polyps, diverticula, hemorrhoids.
Especially when iron deficiency is detected in adult males, the gastrointestinal tract should be examined first as a source of blood loss.
SYMPTOMS AND FINDINGS IN IRON DEFICIENCY
These patients present with symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath with exertion, palpitations, pallor and reluctance.
Small bumps called papillae on the tongue are flattened or erased. Sometimes there may be a burning sensation in the tongue. Cracks form on the edge of the mouth. Nails become easily broken. In advanced cases, a membrane may form in the esophagus, which can cause difficulty in swallowing. Gastritis is common in iron deficiency anemia.
Eating abnormal things is called PICA. These patients often eat clay, ice, and the like. PICA is common in iron deficiency.
TREATMENT IN IRON DEFICIENCY
It is done with oral pills. It is recommended to take the drug preferably on an empty stomach, as it will be better absorbed. However, iron preparations taken on an empty stomach often cause gastrointestinal complaints. In this case, doses can be taken with meals. Iron therapy is continued for at least 6 months.
SIDE EFFECTS OF IRON THERAPY
Iron drugs often have side effects in the stomach. Problems such as pain, burning, nausea can be seen. Constipation, on the contrary, in some patients, stool softening or even diarrhea can be seen. The color of stool may darken when using iron.
IRON THERAPY WITH THE NEEDLE
It is not true that iron therapy with a needle is more effective than that with an oral pill. Unfortunately, this wrong thought is also reflected in the practice of some of our physicians.
Injection iron therapy can have serious side effects. Therefore, it should be applied only in special cases and under the supervision of a physician.
