The human body has a very complex structure and functions. One of the important roles in human life is played by iron. In the blood, this substance is contained in an amount of 70% of the total body supply, and 30% of it is part of the so-called non-heme units: protein molecules, enzymes, and cellular structures.
Ferrum is not synthesized inside the body, therefore, for the normal functioning and vital activity of the latter, it must come from the external environment. If the substance mentioned is not enough, a person may notice signs of iron deficiency in the body. This article is dedicated to this topic.
Why does man need iron
Almost all substances in the human body play a role, and iron is no exception. We all know from school that ferrum transports oxygen throughout the body, so we continue to live. In addition, iron in human blood performs a number of equally useful functions, including binding and elimination of free radicals. And also this substance directly affects the formation of the natural immunity of a person and is involved in the myelination of nerve cells, or rather fibers.
A lower level of iron in the blood can provoke a number of complex violations. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for children, since their body is not fully formed. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is also dangerous. In this case, the body of both the mother and the fetus suffers.
Daily iron norm
So that a person is not bothered by unpleasant signs of iron deficiency in the body, it is worth paying attention to information about the daily requirement for this substance. According to medical data, men require almost half as much iron as women and children. Their daily norm is about 10 mg, while the fairer sex needs to consume at least 15-20 mg of ferrum daily.
Subject to such consumption standards, signs of iron deficiency in the body may not occur even after heavy bleeding. The fact is that the body has the ability to accumulate a reserve supply of this substance and to replenish the lost milligrams from it.
Causes of Iron Deficiency in Adults
Lack of substances in adults occurs for several reasons. The rate of iron in the blood, as mentioned above, is different for men and women, and most often women suffer from a lack of this substance. The fact is that the main cause of iron deficiency in them is such factors as heavy bleeding during the menstrual period, the presence of pregnancy or strict diets. In the male part of the population, iron deficiency is formed more often due to increased physical activity and problems with the digestive organs: peptic ulcer, diverticulosis and hemorrhoids. In both sex groups, iron deficiency can occur due to prolonged treatment with antibiotics and aspirin. This type of disease is also known as the dosage form of anemia.
Iron deficiency in children: causes
In childhood, the norm of iron in the blood depends on several factors (weight and age, for example), and its lack may occur for several reasons that do not always depend on the nutrition and activity of the child. Firstly, it is worth distinguishing between two groups of such disorders, some of which arise during the period of intrauterine development, while others develop in the process of growth and development of the baby after his birth. The first case includes a variety of pathologies in the mother, leading to circulatory disorders in the placenta, bleeding during pregnancy. In addition, the presence of two or more fetuses in the uterus, prematurity and iron deficiency anemia play a role.
In the second case, the reasons for the lack of iron lie in the early dressing of the umbilical cord, artificial feeding in the first months of the child's life with unadapted mixtures. In addition, the cause of iron deficiency can be rapid growth due to improper feeding (this phenomenon occurs both in the first year of life and in adolescence), digestive disorders with insufficient digestibility of ferrum and hormonal changes.
Signs of a lack of iron in the body
Often a person who lacks any substances in the body does not experience any pronounced symptoms at the initial stage of deficiency. Signs of iron deficiency in the body, however, can very often be seen in the very early stages. The following symptoms usually occur:
- fatigue, fatigue and memory impairment;
- headaches and muscle aches;
- sleep disturbances;
- fragility and hair loss;
- pallor of the skin and mucous membranes;
- burning sensation on the tongue.
How else can a lack of iron manifest itself? Symptoms of iron deficiency, especially in childhood, may consist of increased nervousness, tearfulness and lack of appetite. Often a child suffering from this type of anemia develops perverse food addictions (eating earth, sand, chalk). It is also often possible to notice a patient craving for inhaling vapors of kerosene and gasoline. Or he often wants to smell soap and other chemicals.
With a complicated course and the absence of treatment, a lack of iron in the body can provoke changes in the mucous membranes of the mouth and pharynx. As a result, the patient is tormented by constant dry mouth and the difficulty caused by swallowing food caused by this phenomenon. The perception of taste also changes due to pathological changes in the taste buds (“polished” or “lacquer” tongue).
How to treat iron deficiency?
In case of iron deficiency anemia, treatment should be started as early as possible. Mandatory therapeutic procedures include redressing the shortage of the substance using medications (saline or non-saline), normalizing nutrition and maintaining an adequate level of iron in the blood.
It is worth noting that without tablets, that is, preparations for oral administration, it is almost impossible to get rid of iron deficiency anemia. That is why specialists first of all assess the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, and only then prescribe the most suitable drugs.
To achieve the maximum therapeutic effect from taking iron preparations, it is important to observe several conditions:
- Dose drugs based on the needs of the body of each individual patient.
- Take medicines during the period of the highest activity of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, after eating.
- In combination with iron preparations, prescribe ascorbic acid and pancreatin to better assimilate drugs and protect the gastrointestinal tract from exposure to the resulting chemical compounds.
- The minimum course of treatment with preparations containing iron should be at least 2 months.
If these norms are observed, the balance of substances in the body can be restored, as a result of which the patient will restore the normal functioning of almost all organs.
Iron-containing preparations
Most often, in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia, specialists use preparations containing hydrogen reduced iron, as well as organic compounds: lactate or iron oxide carbonate, malic acid, iron ascorbate or lactic iron.
The most effective drugs are Hemostimulin, Ferroaloe, Ferroplex, Ferrocal, Fervoken and many others. In addition, the patient will need to include in the diet veal, offal (kidneys and liver), solanaceous vegetables (tomatoes, eggplant) and berries (cranberries, currants, sea buckthorn and rose hips). It will be useful to drink drinks from the leaves of nettles and strawberries, as well as dried rose hips.
Treatment of iron deficiency in the body should be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Independent selection of drugs is not allowed, especially in the case of iron deficiency anemia in children and pregnant women.