Which is the Best Iron Supplement? 10 Tips to Cure Your Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia, known as anemia in the society, is the transport of oxygen in the structure of red blood cells in the blood and a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin that makes these cells red. Iron deficiency can also be a symptom of many important diseases, primarily stomach cancer and intestinal cancer.

Anemia due to iron deficiency does not show any symptoms in some cases. Iron deficiency can be diagnosed in blood tests done at routine health checkups. Symptoms of iron deficiency include;

Skin wilt,
Body weakness, fatigue,
Impairment of concentration,
Headache,
Numbness in hands and feet,
Irritability,
Howling of the ears,
Cracks in the lips and sores on the rim,
Quick break of nails,
Hair loss can be counted.

Among the advanced symptoms of iron deficiency; Palpitations, soil or ice eating, slowed thyroid function, and restless legs syndrome are also seen. In the symptoms of iron deficiency in children, delay in walking-sitting-talking and learning difficulties may occur in children.

There are many causes of iron deficiency. Anemia occurs due to iron, folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency and can cause major problems if left untreated. Insufficient intake of iron, which is one of the causes of iron deficiency, may be insufficient due to wrong diet programs. In addition, the need for iron is high in pregnancy, breastfeeding, growing children, low birth weight and preterm babies. Feeding children with non-iron supplements instead of breast milk, passing cow's milk before the age of 1, feeding with ready-to-eat foods and insufficient intake of animal foods may cause iron deficiency. The most obvious causes of iron deficiency in adults are; excessive consumption of tea and coffee, roasting or overcooking the meat in the oven, and frequent consumption of processed foods such as sausage and salami. In some people, iron is not sufficiently absorbed by the intestine. This is another factor that causes iron deficiency. Excessive menstrual bleeding in women, frequent and excessive births, miscarriages, having abortions, benign or malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract are also causes of iron deficiency.

Correct diagnosis is very important in the treatment of iron deficiency. For a correct diagnosis, the patient's complaints and how iron deficiency symptoms progress should be well known. During the evaluation, especially important health problems experienced by the patient, family history, medications used and current diseases are also discussed. With the necessary tests, the cause of iron deficiency anemia is determined. There are many methods in the treatment of iron deficiency, from bone marrow transplantation to blood donation, depending on the type of anemia. The most effective part of the treatment is the treatment of the factor that causes the iron deficiency. If the patient has an ulcer, treatment of this will stop the bleeding and prevent the anemia from recurring. Controlling the menstrual process is also very important in the treatment of iron deficiency. It is recommended that women with heavy menstrual bleeding take hormonal support and regulate their menstrual periods. At the same time, the missing substances and minerals in the blood should be supplemented. Iron in iron deficiency, vitamin B12 in vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid in folic acid deficiency, erythropoietin in chronic kidney failure are given. If anemia due to iron deficiency is so severe that it reduces your quality of life, blood transfusion is another option for treatment. Drugs that suppress the immune system are also used in the treatment of iron deficiency. These drugs are used especially in cases where the immune system stops making or breaks down red blood cells. In addition, bone marrow transplantation is among the options for anemia due to bone marrow diseases.

In addition to a balanced and healthy diet, regular drug use increases the chance of success in the treatment of iron deficiency. Iron deficiency drugs should be used on an empty stomach and should never be consumed with milk and dairy products. In order to store enough iron in the body, the use of medication should be continued for at least 6 months. Iron drugs should be used under the guidance of a doctor and should not be left without consulting the doctor. In addition to the medications to be taken to prevent iron deficiency, it is also beneficial to consume foods such as offal, red meat, molasses and foods containing vitamin C.

“What should we eat for iron deficiency?” The question is one of the most asked questions in society. To prevent iron deficiency, apricots, dried legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits should be consumed in abundance. One of the best things to do about what to eat in iron deficiency is to consume vitamin C frequently. Vitamin C increases the absorption of iron from the intestines. The question of what not to eat in iron deficiency is also very important. Caffeinated beverages, milk and bran should not be consumed frequently as they reduce iron absorption. In addition, the intake of vitamin B 12 is very important in iron deficiency. Because B12 enables red blood cells to be produced in the bone marrow and can lead to anemia.

Iron deficiency is more common in women than men. Especially those of childbearing age, pregnant and lactating mothers with increased iron needs take the first place. After women, iron deficiency is most common in children and people who use aspirin and painkillers for a long time. Although iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia at a rate of 90%, it is seen that it affects women and children more. Iron deficiency is seen at a rate of 30-40% in women and 20% in men worldwide. Anemia is sometimes considered a symptom of uterine cancer in women. For this reason, anemia should be taken seriously and the underlying causes should be investigated. Hemoglobin values ​​below 13gr/dl in adult men, 12gr/dl in women, 6gr/dl in children aged 6 months to 11 years and below 6gr/dl in children aged 14-12 years indicate anemia. The spiral used by women is another factor that causes iron deficiency. Birth control pills, on the other hand, reduce the blood and iron lost in menstrual bleeding by 50-60%. For this reason, it can be used against iron deficiency under the leadership of an expert gynecologist.

Iron deficiency occurs in 50 percent of pregnant women. Iron deficiency can cause complaints such as fatigue, palpitation, shortness of breath, and inclination to sleep in pregnant women. Treating iron deficiency before getting pregnant makes the pregnancy process go much more smoothly. It is also recommended to consume “blood builder” and iron-rich foods against iron deficiency. From the 4th month, the use of folic acid is also very important. Because from this month, anemia due to iron deficiency may be encountered. If iron deficiency is advanced, iron medications can be started in the early stages of pregnancy. Iron pills should never be taken with milk or tea. Because these products neutralize the absorption of iron by reducing it. Taking it with vitamin C will increase its absorption. The use of iron medication during pregnancy should be under the supervision of a doctor.