If you are constantly feeling tired and fatigued then anemia or low iron levels may be the culprit. Both of these issues can cause unpleasant symptoms. While they are very similar they are also very different in nature. Let’s take a look at the facts and differences between low iron and anemia.
Important Facts About Low Iron
1. Overview
Low iron, or iron deficiency, is the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Iron is needed in our bodies to produce hemoglobin which helps bring oxygen through out the body. Iron is also a large part of multiple enzymes in the body as well as cell functions. If you have low iron many different things are affected.
2. Symptoms
Some of the common and most tell tale signs of low iron in the body are a constant feeling of exhaustion. This is due to the lack of oxygen reaching tissues in your body. Feeling short of breath very easily, an increased heart beat, pale complexion, an under active thyroid, hair loss, overly smooth tongue, and a feeling of anxiety. Iron levels affect many different parts of the body and symptoms are often overlooked.
3. Treatments
Treatment for low iron, or iron deficiency, is fairly simple. Iron supplement pills and increasing your intake of iron rich foods is typically all that is needed to correct the balance of iron in your body.
4. Causes
Woman in child bearing years are much more prone to have an iron deficiency due to the iron lost through menstrual blood. Pregnant women also commonly have low iron because of iron being used for fetal development. An increased consumption of iron is very important for pregnant women.
Anemia Overview
1. Basics
Anemia is a blood disorder that causes there to be a lack of healthy red blood cells in the body. This affects oxygen distribution in the body which has many negative effects. There are multiple types of anemia each stemming from unique problems with the blood.
2. Symptoms
Common symptoms that are shared with all different types of anemia include fatigue, pale skin, chest pain, headache, unusually cold hands or feet, cognitive difficulty or “brain fog”, shortness of breath, and general weakness. All of these symptoms are due to a lack of oxygen in various body systems and tissues. These symptoms are often very mild and can go unnoticed and untreated for a long period of time before being diagnosed with anemia.
3. Types and Treatments
Vitamin Deficiency Anemia: Having a low amount of vitamin C and folic acid in the body can induce anemia. The treatment for this type of anemia includes supplements to replace the missing values of these vitamins.
Aplastic Anemia: Aplastic anemia is typically caused by diseases that affect red blood cell production. This is treated with blood transfusions and in severe cases bone marrow transplants may be necessary to help promote blood cell production.
Hemolytic Anemia:Immune system problems and certain medications can cause your red blood cells to be attacked and cause anemia. Avoiding medications that cause the problem and treating immune issues is usually all that is necessary to resolve this type of anemia.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: Induced by low iron levels, this is one of the most common forms of anemia that is diagnosed. Loss of blood is the common culprit. Identifying blood loss and stopping it, and iron supplements is usually the only treatment necessary.
Differences Between Low Iron and Anemia
1. Types
The biggest thing to understand with low iron and anemia is that they are often experienced together, or because of each other. Anemia has many different types and causes while low iron is in itself a form of anemia.
2. Causes
Anemia can have a plethora of different causes including diseases and deficiencies. Low iron is caused by a lack of iron in the body. This can be caused by blood loss or diet problems.
3. Treatment
The treatment for anemia depends completely on the type of anemia the person is suffering from. The treatments can range from taking supplements all the way to blood transfusions. For low iron, or iron deficiency, diet changes and iron supplements are the only treatment.