Iron-Deficiency Anemia Screening and Treatment
If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms associated with iron-deficiency anemia, it’s crucial to see your doctor to find out what’s going on.
“The first screening test is just to figure out whether you are anemic or not,” says Landau. This will look to see if you’re lacking adequate red blood cells. If you are anemic, your doctor will try to establish whether it’s due to iron deficiency or some other cause, like a vitamin deficiency, underlying chronic inflammation, kidney disease, or poor thyroid function. Possible loss of blood from your gastrointestinal tract may also be investigated.
If you’re found to be iron-deficient, Landau says, your doctor will most likely start you on an oral supplement, which may be iron tablets or simply a multivitamin containing iron, depending on the amount you need.
If you’re found to have a severe iron deficiency, you may be given an intravenous (IV) iron infusion right away. This can help restore energy and resolve symptoms quickly.
You may also receive oral iron supplements, which will likely result in slow and steady progress rather than an instant improvement.
Landau notes that if a person doesn’t tolerate oral iron supplements well and experiences nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, that person may also be a candidate for IV iron, even if they’re not severely anemic. “Intravenous iron works fantastically,” he says, “if the patient can’t tolerate oral iron for any reason.”
While an iron-rich diet may help you maintain healthy iron levels, if you’re already anemic, Landau points out that dietary changes alone are unlikely to do you much good. “Diet, by itself, is an inefficient way to fix the iron issue,” he says.
Proper treatment of iron deficiency, according to Landau, can make a big difference for people with heart conditions. “If you fix the iron deficiency,” he says, “they usually feel better.”
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