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Iron deficiency is common but should be treated with a long term approach. A short term treatment can lead to the recurrence of the deficiency. The iron requirements of a body differ from men to women. Women who are pregnant or the ones having abnormally heavy periods have higher chances of being anemic. Women in this condition feel fatigued, their skin pales and is weak throughout the day. Why so? Because, iron is responsible for hemoglobin in the blood, which further is responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body. Low iron levels do not produce enough red blood cells/hemoglobin in the blood, which results in the above symptoms.
The treatment for the deficiency is relatively easy and is listed in this piece of content, but, the patient needs to consult a doctor first and get the levels checked. Do not start the treatment on your own because the wrong treatment can give severe harmful effects.
Iron deficiency anemia and heavy periods:
A woman usually feels weak during the menstruation days but an abnormally heavy period, called Menorrhagia makes them feel more tired than normal. A heavy blood loss because of this can cause iron deficiency anemia. A woman is unable to perform the routine chores because of extreme blood loss and stomach cramps. In this situation, the woman’s body doesn’t restock the red blood cells lost in the periods, and thus, it results in anemia.
Additionally, if the body tries to replenish the lost red blood cells, it starts using the stored iron. The whole process of menstruation depletes the total quantity of iron in the body. And it is quite an evident reason that makes the body feel more exhausted. It is quite surprising to know that 460 million non-pregnant women across the world are suffering from anemia. Even normal menstruation makes a woman lose around 220-250 milligrams of iron per pint of blood.
Also, women who have just started menstruating or the ones nearing the menopause have higher chances of getting plagued by Menorrhagia. To find out what are the symptoms relating to Menorrhagia and Anemia, read below. The below symptoms indicate that a woman has heavy periods than normal.
- A woman suffering from Menorrhagia soaks through more than one sanitary pad every hour throughout the day;
- They need to change the sanitary protection even during the nights;
- Their bleeding lasts for more than a week;
- Large blood clots pass through the periods;
- They feel extreme fatigue and exhausted;
- Women feel shortness of breath;
- Such women feel dizziness quite often.
So, having known the symptoms, let’s read further the causes of Menorrhagia.
Young women pass through hormonal roller coaster ride. During this, if there is menstruation without proper ovulation, chances of having Menorrhagia increases. While in older women who are nearing menopause, it usually indicates some physical problems. Here is the list of few common causes of Menorrhagia.
- Pregnancy;
- Cancer;
- Uterine fibroids;
- Hormonal imbalance;
- Ovarian dysfunction;
- Medications
Note: Please do not consider this article as a substitute for the doctor’s visit; instead, it is a must to evaluate the symptoms and then start the treatment for it.
So after diagnosing, the next part is its treatment. Keep reading to know the treatment of anemia and heavy periods.
The doctor may ask the patient to undergo hormone therapy or NSAIDs. This treatment is suggested for reducing blood loss during Menorrhagia. If it is the worst-case scenario, the person may have to pass through surgery for removing the fibroids or cancer cells.
If Menorrhagia is causing anemia to a woman, the same shall be addressed by the doctor. The doctor depending on the depleted iron levels shall suggest iron supplements that will restore the lost iron. These supplements still may not be sufficient in replacing the number of red blood cells lost due to Menorrhagia.
So how should a woman keep up the iron levels when they are anemic?
The treatment and the iron supplements requirement differs from woman to woman. But if they have found out the cause of anemia, a woman should also look up to the following.
Join a support group and share experiences:
Joining a support group for awareness about the iron-deficiency anemia on social media platforms is the best way to remain updated and composed. People on such platforms share experiences and also their ways to cope up with the deficiency. Many times, people get a lot of useful and relevant information on such sites, and also they start feeling mentally supported being in that particular group.
Consume iron supplements:
Depending on the deficiency level and body metabolism, the doctor may suggest consuming liquid iron supplementation than iron pills. It is because pills are hard to digest by the body. For better absorption through iron pills, patients should also consume Vitamin C rich diet on a regular basis.
What food to eat if the patient is suffering from iron-deficiency anemia?
It is known to very few people that, legumes, cereals, coffee, wine, calcium, soy, and milk proteins act as an iron inhibitor. If the patient suffering from iron deficiency anemia is consuming food containing the above, they have low iron absorption by the body. On the contrary, the person consuming ascorbic acid, meat, fish, poultry, citrus fruits, tomatoes, and peppers have better iron absorption because these are enhancers.
What about the Vegans? What should be included in their diet?
Vegans have very less food options while treating iron deficiency anemia. Women suffering from it should include leafy green vegetables like kale, broccoli, cabbage, and spinach; they are rich in producing non-heme iron. Other vegan food options are almonds, cashews, sprouted beans, dried fruits, and more.
A natural treatment to the deficiency?
A social media platform suggests using a cast-iron skillet for cooking in order to maintain the iron levels in the body.
We hope this information helps every woman out there to cope up with the deficiency and live healthily. Always remember: A correct and timely treatment from a doctor is life-changing.
