what exactly is the difference between iron deficency and anemia?

Question

I have an iron deficency, I was prescribed iron pills, although I dont think they are helping...i have been taking them for over 3 months had my blood re drawn and my iron is still low. I think it is more serous, lately every time i stand up I get vert light headed, sometimes to the point where everything goes black. but i have never fallen on the floor... could it be more serious? i never understood exactly what the difference between iron deficencey and amenia were

Answer 1

Hi Jessie. I would like to complement you on your insights about your condition and your clear thinking to recognize your confusion between iron deficiency and anemia.

Anemia simply means a decrease in the number of blood cells. There are many causes of anemia. In women, iron deficiency is the leading cause of anemia. Iron is critical for completing the production of mature red blood cells.

There are many other causes of anemia, including other causes of an iron deficiency type of anemia. Copper is a common mineral deficiency and it mimics an iron deficiency anemia because copper is needed for proper iron metabolism in the body. Vitamin C is needed to help iron absorption, so a low amount of vitamin C in your diet (50% of Americans consume less than the RDA for vitamin C) can contribute to an iron deficiency.

Many other vitamin deficiencies can cause anemias, such as: B6, B12 and folic acid (a B-vitamin), and vitamin A. Zinc deficiency is common and is another mineral that can cause anemia.

Additionally, you may not be absorbing nutrients adequately. This is fairly common, but rarely diagnosed by medical doctors. You may need to be tested for Celiac Disease, which is a major cause of anemia, but it is rarely diagnosed by medical doctors. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that is caused by an allergic reaction to wheat, rye and barley.

Additionally, use of acid-inhibiting drugs like Nexium, Pepcid, Prilosec, etc. can cause an iron deficiency anemia. Low production of stomach acid (hypochlorhydria) results in poor absorption of minerals like iron.

I have given you a lot of information here, but you sound intelligent enough to make sense of it. My best advice is to find a better doctor. Clearly, your present doctor is thinking 'too simplistically' about your problem. You may also want to see a Naturopathic Physician, Chiropractor or Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN) for a more thorough nutritional evaluation of the cause of your anemia.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 2

I just reviewed anemia in class this week...you are in luck! I was taught by the leading anemia expert in the midwest!

Iron deficiency is generally a subclass of anemia. There are 3 big classes of anemia, with several sub-classes beneath those.

To be diagnosed as anemic, you would have these symptoms:
-dyspnea (difficulty breathing when you exert yourself)
-fatigue
-hypoxia (not enough blood being sent out to your body...often is noticably as bluish nail beds)
-pale skin
-tachycardia (increased heart rate)
You would also have these lab value;
-low hemoglobin (normal is 12-16)
-low hematocrit (normal is 35-45%)

If you have Iron Deficient Anemia, you will also have:
-weird lab values: low iron, low MCV, high TIBC, high RDW, low % saturation, low MCHC, low reticulocytes (if you had a blood work up, all of these should be listed)
-brittle nails
-cracking at lips
-pica (this is an interesting medical condition...it means you crave weird things to eat, from anything from giant ice cubes to dirt!)

I hope that cleared it up a bit. Anemia should be corrected in about 6 weeks. But it may take 3-6 months for your iron stores to get back to normal.

Be careful when taking the oral iron...antacids, medicine like Prilosec or Zantac, and some antibiotics will all prevent the iron from being absorbed. And iron usually upsets your stomach so if you take your iron, then pop a Tums, you will be preventing ALL of that iron from being absorbed. (great, huh?) Make sure to take your iron with a meal. Be careful though...coffee, milk (any dairy, really), eggs, and tea will all prevent your iron from being absorbed. Gastric bypass and lap band surgery will also decrease your absorption.

You also want to be sure you are not bleeding and not realizing it...such as with hemorrhoids or peptic ulcers.

If you're doing it all correctly, I would consider going to a hematologist. He can make sure you are getting the right dose and even calculate how deficient you are and set up the perfect plan for your body.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Anemia is having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less hemoglobin than normal in the blood.

People with anemia can feel tired, fatigue easily, appear pale, develop palpitations, and become short of breath.

In adults, iron deficiency anemia is most often due to chronic blood loss. This can be from menstruation or from small amounts of repeated bleeding (which can be very subtle) due, for instance, to colon cancer.

Iron deficiency is a leading cause of anemia

Answer 4

Hey, Iron deficiency is known as anemia. It is usually cause by a mass loss of blood and is common in miscarriages and anything else that involves a lot of bleeding. It could be more serious than that and doctors do make mistakes sometimes so be persistent, you know when something is not right so follow your instincts. Iron deficiency can be caused by many other serious disorders like cirrhosis which is a type of liver failure. Also it may be helpful to know that there are many types of anemia and if left untreated iron deficiency can cause congestive heart failure. I don't think it is that serious and I don't mean to get you worried but it's good to know. Blacking out is never a good sign but usually would be because of male nutrition (iron deficiency).
All in all I would say make sure you are eating right (foods high in vitamin c and iron) also iron deficiency can be caused by heavy menstruation so maybe your doctor would prescribe birth control pills to lighten it if it is . Be careful and I hope the best for you, Hope this was helpful.
Shorty

Answer 5

Anemia is a condition where red blood cells are not providing adequate oxygen to body tissues. There are many types and causes of anemia.


Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red cells in the blood caused by too little iron. Iron and copper are two essential nutrients that work together to form hemoglobin- the oxygen carrying protein part of the red blood cell . Hemoglobin gives these blood cells their red color.


Iron Deficiency Anemia is the most common form of Anemia.


The body stores iron for use during times when dietary intake is inadequate. If your need for dietary iron isn’t met, your body’s iron stores( usually in the bome marrow ) will decline over time in the following way::

Iron depletion – hemoglobin levels are normal, but the body only has a small amount of stored iron, which will soon run out. This stage usually has no obvious symptoms.

Iron deficiency – stored and blood-borne iron stores are low, and hemoglobin levels have dropped below normal. You may experience some symptoms, including tiredness.

Iron deficiency anemia – hemoglobin levels are so low that the blood is unable to deliver enough oxygen to the cells. Symptoms include looking very pale, breathlessness and fatigue;vertigo, and lightheadedness; feeling like fainting .


Anemia can be caused by iron deficiency or copper deficiency (or B-12 or other vitamin deficiencies), but most people and doctors assume that anemia is always caused by iron deficiency. A balance of iron, copper and zinc is needed. Taking large amounts of iron when it is copper that is deficient will cause copper to be further depleted and lead to a worsening of the anemia

Moreover, If one of the pair gets deficient then the other will not be able to be used effectively and will build up in the liver or other tissues.

Iron absorption from foods is very limited. The Nutrition Almanac states that only 2 to 10% of the iron in beans, fruits, and vegetables is absorbed. Animal sources of iron are better absorbed. While the body can use several forms of iron, such as ferric or ferrous iron (ferrous is better), the best form is heme iron. Actually heme iron makes other forms of iron more absorbable, so it's probably best to take an iron supplement with a meal of red meat.

Some things can interfere with iron absorption. Lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is a big reason. Person on a low salt diet might not be getting enough chlorine (the Cl in NaCl) and therefore not able to produce enough HCl. Taking a good digestive enzyme with the iron supplement should assist the absorption.

Too high an alkaline diet might interfere since iron needs an acid environment. Eat more acid foods with your iron. Too much roughage in the diet can speed up intestinal transit time and reduce iron absorption. Too much coffee, tea, phytates (from grains), oxalates (spinach, rhubarb), and phosphates can all interfere with iron absorption.

There are nutrients which need to be present for iron absorption: B-12 (try a high potency, 3000 mcg); folic acid (400-800 mcg); vitamin C (1000 mgs); vitamin A; copper; calcium; manganese; molybdenum; and other of the B complex vitamins.

Excessive intake of vitamin E and zinc can interfere with iron absorption. Vitamin E in amounts like 800-1000 IU per day can cause iron deficiency (causing ear aches). Don't take more zinc than iron, since that can also deplete iron.

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Oral iron supplements are available (ferrous sulfate). The best absorption of iron is on an empty stomach, but many people are unable to tolerate this and may need to take it with food.Take it with red meat. Milk and antacids may interfere with absorption of iron and should not be taken at the same time as iron supplements. Vitamin C can increase absorption and is essential in the production of hemoglobin

Supplemental iron is needed during pregnancy and lactation because normal dietary intake rarely supplies the required amount

Iron-rich foods include raisins, meats (liver is the highest source), fish, poultry, eggs (yolk), legumes (peas and beans), and whole grain bread.

Answer 6

Iron deficiency anaemia is due to lack of iron. B12 deficiency anaemia is due to lack of B12. Folate deficiency anaemia is due to lack of folic acid. Aplastic anaemia is due to low bone marrow activity. Haemolytic anaemia is due to auto-immune blood cell breakdown. Blood loss either acute or chronic leads to anaemia. Thalassaemia is a genetic condition where patients cannot produce adult haemoglobin. Sickle cell anaemia is due to a faulty haemoglobin, Haemoglobin S, which gets broken down in the spleen........... Sorry I have other questions to answer, can I suggest you buy a book.

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Answer 7

Hemorrhoids are associated with constipation and straining at bowel movements. How to get rid of hemorrhoids https://tr.im/l83GG
Pregnancy is also associated with hemorrhoids. These conditions lead to increased pressure within the hemorrhoidal veins that causes them to swell. Other conditions, for example chronic liver disease, may also cause increased venous pressure and may be associated with hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are very common and are estimated to occur in up to one-half of the population by age 50.

Answer 8

in my opinion anemia is a serious case of iron deficiency, that the difference, anemia is more severe than the other one

Answer 9

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Answer 10

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