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Anemia, iron deficiency
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Anemia, iron deficiency
About
Treatments
About
Decrease in hemoglobin and/or red blood cells due to low iron content in the body
Symptoms may include tiredness and shortness of breath
Cause often the result of not eating enough food containing iron, loss of red blood cells or poor iron absorption
Cannot be spread from person to person
Affects males and females
Can occur at any age but more common in women before menopause
May be mild to severe depending on cause
Treatments
GENERAL THERAPY
Increase intake of iron rich foods, such as liver, eggs, whole-grain, beans, red meat, peas dried food, green leafy vegetables or iron-fortified foods
Steaming vegetables to maintain the iron content
Cooking can be done in iron pots
Over-the-counter medicines (refer to manufacturer’s recommendations for dosage):
Multivitamin containing iron
Iron supplements: take with vitamin C or orange juice to increase absorption
PRECAUTIONS AND AVOIDANCES
Avoid taking supplements:
Within 2 hours of antacids or tetracycline
With tea, coffee, chocolate, milk or other calcium or caffeine rich foods
With high-fiber foods: bran, whole grains, nuts, and raw green vegetables
Do not give cow’s milk or goat’s milk to children under 12 months; children 1-5 years should drink limited amounts of these milks
Supplements should be kept out of reach of children
SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IF
If you are pregnant
If you have nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion or diarrhea, seek help immediately
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