What Causes Low Iron

Out of the many minerals found in our body, one of them is iron. The minerals are dominantly present in the red blood cells and its main task is to manufacture hemoglobin, a protein that transports oxygen to different parts of the body. The term low iron refers to shortage of iron in the body. With the presence of iron below normal levels, the body is unable to produce hemoglobin in adequate amounts, resulting in insufficient supply of oxygen to various tissues of the body. So, what are the symptoms of low iron? Due to inadequate supply of oxygen, the person gets easily tired, which is accompanied by overall weakness, headache and pale skin.

Causes

Unhealthy Diet
Certain foods are major sources of iron and so their exclusion from the diet can lead to low iron levels. A diet deficient in iron is the primary contributory factor of abnormally low levels of iron in blood. With more and more people getting attracted to fast foods, no wonder, cases of iron deficiency are rising. Including iron rich foods like dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, red meat and dried fruit in the diet is the key to prevent iron deficiency.

Heavy Blood Loss
A sever injury during an accident can trigger excessive bleeding. As blood is an important constituent of iron, heavy blood loss can lead to drastic fall in blood iron levels, eventually causing iron deficiency anemia. Heavy menstrual periods can also contribute to low iron blood levels in women. In fact recent study has cited that as bleeding is associated during menstruation, women are more vulnerable to iron deficiency than men.

Intestinal Disorders
As we all know, digestion mostly occurs in the intestine. The small intestines does the job of absorbing nutrients from the food that we eat. The nutrients are then eventually distributed through the blood vessels to various parts of the body. However, this can happen only when the small intestine is in a position to absorb nutrients properly. This absorption capability of the small intestine can go haywire if it is affected with certain ailments like Crohn's disease. In this condition, the lining of the small intestine is swollen and is accompanied by the development of ulcers. The inflammation restricts the functionality of the small intestine. That is why malnutrition is one of the most common side effect of Crohn's disease. Studies show that intestinal disorders like irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease are some of the common causes of low iron in men and women.

Pregnancy
Pregnancy comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Pregnant women are commonly diagnosed with iron deficiency. During pregnancy the requirements of essential nutrients like vitamins and iron increase dramatically due to the developing fetus. Unfortunately the daily food intake is unable to meet this demand, which may lead to low blood iron levels. In order to fulfill the body's increased demand, pregnant women may be advised to take iron supplements.

After knowing what causes low iron, it is important to take the necessary treatment. In most cases, doctors advice patients to follow a diet high in iron. Besides including foods containing iron in the diet, the patient may be required to take iron supplements for several weeks to overcome low iron levels in blood.