Iron Deficiency FAQ

Talking to Your Healthcare Provider: Tests for Iron Deficiency

If you are concerned about iron deficiency, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she may assess the iron in your blood with two common blood tests:

1. A test to measure the hemoglobin in your blood

2. A hematocrit to determine the percent of red blood cells in your blood

If your hemoglobin and your hematocrit are low, you may have iron deficiency. Your healthcare provider will rule out serious health problems that could have caused low iron in your blood, and discuss ways you can get rid of your iron deficiency.

You may need to consume more foods that contain iron, or you may need to add an iron supplement to take care of your iron deficiency. You do not have to live with iron deficiency. You can do something about it!

And it’s important that you do take action to stop your iron deficiency. If you don’t take care of the low iron in your blood, iron deficiency can become a serious problem.

Iron deficiency means that you have low iron levels in your blood. Sometimes, all the iron that’s usually stored in your body is already used up.

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems. There are many reasons why women have to guard against iron deficiency: 1,2,3

• Women lose blood every month during their menstrual periods. Therefore, they have an especially high risk of iron deficiency. More than 1 in every 10 women of childbearing age has iron deficiency. Iron deficiency is even more common in African American women and women of Mexican descent.

• A woman’s iron requirement is increased during pregnancy, because her baby needs iron to grow. About half of all pregnant women experience iron deficiency while they are carrying their babies.

• Many women do not include enough red meat and eggs in their diet. Meat and egg yolks are some of the best sources of heme iron (the type of iron with the best iron absorption by your body). Not eating enough of these foods can cause iron deficiency.

• After children have left the house, women may find it hard to continue cooking nutritious meals for just one or two people. That can be a setup for iron deficiency.

• Menopausal women may take supplements like calcium and certain medications that can make it harder for their bodies to extract iron from food. Not enough iron absorption also can lead to iron deficiency.

• Iron deficiency can cause severe fatigue that interferes with your daily routine.

• People with iron deficiency often have trouble concentrating or remembering things.

• Iron deficiency can lead to irregular heartbeats, chest pain, and even a heart attack.

• Mothers with iron deficiency often give birth to underweight or preterm babies.

• In babies, iron deficiency can interfere with normal physical and mental growth.

Why is Iron Vital to the Body?

Iron is essential for healthy red blood cells. Iron is part of the hemoglobin molecule that gives red blood cells (RBC) their color. When oxygen moves from your lungs into the blood, iron helps your RBCs to pick up the oxygen and to carry it to all parts of your body. Each and every cell in your body needs oxygen to produce energy. With enough energy in every one of your body cells, you feel “full” of energy. Without enough iron, your cells produce less energy. You may not know it right away, but after living some time with low iron in your blood, you feel tired, weak, and irritable.

Iron deficiency means that you have low iron levels in your blood. Sometimes, all the iron that’s usually stored in your body is already used up.

Iron deficiency is a serious condition. ^1,2

• Iron deficiency can cause severe fatigue that interferes with your daily routine.

• People with iron deficiency often have trouble concentrating or remembering things.

• Iron deficiency can lead to irregular heartbeats, chest pain, and even a heart attack.

• Mothers with iron deficiency often give birth to underweight or preterm babies.

• In babies, iron deficiency can interfere with normal physical and mental growth.