Iron Deficiency Anemia: Symptoms and Diagnostics
                     IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA: 
SYMPTOMS AND 
DIAGNOSTICS
Presenter Name
Introduction
Anemia occurs when you have a decreased level of 
hemoglobin in your red blood cells (RBCs). Hemoglobin is the 
protein in your RBCs that’s responsible for carrying oxygen to 
your tissues.
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Iron-deficiency anemia
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia. It 
occurs when your body doesn’t have enough iron, which your 
body needs to make hemoglobin. When there isn’t enough iron 
in your blood, the rest of your body can’t get the amount of 
oxygen it needs.
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Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia
The symptoms of moderate to severe iron-deficiency anemia can 
include:
• general fatigue
• weakness
• pale skin
• shortness of breath
• dizziness
• strange cravings to eat items with no nutritional value
• a tingling or crawling feeling in the legs
• tongue swelling or soreness
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CAUSES OF IRON-
DEFICIENCY ANEMIA
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Inadequate iron intake
• Eating too little iron over an extended amount of time can 
cause a shortage in your body. Foods such as meat, eggs, and 
some green leafy vegetables are high in iron. 
• Because iron is essential during times of rapid growth and 
development, pregnant women and young children may need 
even more iron-rich foods in their diet.
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Pregnancy or blood loss due to 
menstruation
• Heavy menstrual bleeding is a common cause of iron-
deficiency anemia in women of childbearing age. So is 
pregnancy, because your body needs more iron during this 
time in order to create enough oxygen for the baby.
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Internal bleeding
• Certain medical conditions can cause internal bleeding, which 
can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. 
• Examples include a stomach ulcer, polyps in the colon or 
intestines, or colon cancer. Regular use of certain pain 
relievers, such as aspirin, can also lead to bleeding in the 
stomach.
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Inability to absorb iron
• Certain disorders or surgeries that affect the intestines can 
also interfere with how your body absorbs iron. 
• Even if you get enough iron in your diet, celiac disease or 
intestinal surgery such as gastric bypass may limit the 
amount of iron your body can absorb.
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Endometriosis
• If you have endometriosis, you may have heavy blood loss 
during menstrual periods. 
• You may not even know you have endometriosis because it 
occurs hidden in the abdominal or pelvic area outside of the 
uterus.
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Risk factors of iron-deficiency anemia
Some people may be at greater risk of iron-deficiency anemia 
than others, including:
• women of childbearing age
• pregnant women
• people with poor diets
• people who donate blood frequently
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Diagnosis
A complete blood count (CBC) is usually the first test a doctor will 
use. A CBC measures the amount of cellular or cell-related 
components in the blood, including:
• red blood cells (RBCs)
• white blood cells (WBCs)
• hemoglobin
• hematocrit
• platelets
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