Iron deficiency is the most common cause of anemia. Deficiency in iron causes anemia because iron is required to form a protein called hemoglobin, which is responsible for transporting oxygen in the bloodstream. Common symptoms of iron deficiency anemia include fatigue and pale skin. More serious symptoms of this type of anemia can include an enlarged spleen and an increased heart rate.
Iron deficiency anemia has a number of possible causes. A low-iron diet is a common cause. Anemia can even develop despite a high-iron diet, because certain gastrointestinal tract diseases or abnormalities can reduce the amount of iron that can be absorbed from food.
Most iron in the body is stored in hemoglobin, and about one-third is stored in other forms in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. With most iron stored in the blood, extreme or rapid blood loss can cause iron deficiency anemia. Gastrointestinal bleeding, traumatic injury and, occasionally, very heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding all can lead to symptoms of iron deficiency anemia.
The most common symptoms are pale skin and fatigue, and other possible symptoms include irritability, swollen tongue and spleen enlargement. Sometimes, people with iron deficiency anemia have cravings for unusual substances such as dirt and ice. If the heart becomes affected by anemia, possible symptoms can include arrhythmia, a heart murmur or unusual heartbeat sound and even heart failure. People with iron deficiency anemia also have an increased risk of infection and have a tendency to develop restless leg syndrome. This condition causes discomfort in the legs, accompanied by a strong desire to constantly move the legs.
Most of these symptoms of iron deficiency anemia develop because iron deficiency leads to reduced iron-carrying hemoglobin in the bloodstream. Reduced availability of hemoglobin means that there is less oxygen in the blood. Reduced oxygen availability leads to fatigue and irritability, and pale skin develops because oxygenated hemoglobin gives blood its deep red color. When the amount of hemoglobin is reduced, this red color is diluted.
Heart problems can develop as a result of iron deficiency anemia because the heart must pump harder to circulate oxygen within the body. When the heart is forced to pump harder, a more rapid heartbeat is a common consequence. Chronic anemia can lead to heart failure because the extra work that the heart is forced to do eventually causes it to weaken.
Many symptoms of iron deficiency anemia are non-specific, which means that they also are symptoms of other medical conditions. For this reason, a diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia is confirmed with blood tests to determine blood iron levels. In addition, other tests might be required to determine the cause of the anemia.