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 reserve, and 30% of it is part of the so-called non-heme units: protein molecules, enzymes, cell 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 mentioned substance is not enough, a person may notice signs of a lack of iron in the body. This article is devoted to this topic.
Why does a person 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, thanks to which we continue to live. In addition, iron in human blood performs a number of equally useful functions, including binding and removing free radicals. Moreover, this substance directly affectsthe formation of a person's natural immunity and is involved in the myelination of nerve cells, or rather, fibers.
A low level of iron in the blood can provoke a number of complex disorders. This phenomenon is especially dangerous for children, since their body is not fully formed. Iron deficiency during pregnancy is also a danger. In this case, the body of both the mother and the fetus suffers.
Daily Value of Iron
So that a person is not disturbed by the unpleasant signs of a lack of iron in the body, you should pay attention to information about the daily need 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.
If these consumption norms are observed, 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 replenish the lost milligrams from it.
Causes of iron deficiency in adults
Adult malnutrition occurs for several reasons. The norm of iron in the blood, as mentioned above, is different for men and women, and it is women who most often 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 severediets. In the male part of the population, iron deficiency is formed more often due to increased physical exertion and problems with the digestive organs: peptic ulcer, diverticulosis and hemorrhoids. In both sex groups, iron deficiency can occur due to long-term treatment with antibiotics and aspirin. This type of disease is also known as drug anemia.
Iron deficiency in children: causes
In childhood, the rate of iron in the blood depends on several factors (weight and age, for example), and its deficiency can occur for several reasons, which do not always depend on the child's nutrition and activity. First, it is worth distinguishing between two groups of such disorders, some of which occur even during fetal development, while others develop in the process of growth and development of the baby after 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 in women play a role.
In the second case, the causes of iron deficiency lie in the early ligation of the umbilical cord, artificial feeding in the first months of a 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 insufficientferrum digestibility and hormonal changes.
Signs of iron deficiency 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 often be noticed in the earliest stages. The following symptoms usually occur:
- fatigue, fatigue and memory impairment;
- headaches and muscle pain;
- sleep disorders;
- hair breakage and hair loss;
- pallor of skin and mucous membranes;
- burning sensation on the tongue.
How else can iron deficiency manifest itself? Symptoms of iron deficiency, especially in childhood, may include increased nervousness, tearfulness, and lack of appetite. Often, a child suffering from this type of anemia develops perverted food addictions (eating earth, sand, chalk). It is also often possible to notice a craving for the inhalation of kerosene and gasoline vapors behind the patient. Or he may feel like sniffing soaps and other chemicals frequently.
In a complicated course and untreated, 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 dryness in the mouth and the difficulty in swallowing food caused by this phenomenon. The perception of taste also changes due to pathological changes in the taste buds (“polished” or “varnished” tongue).
How to treat iron deficiency?
BIn the case of iron deficiency anemia, treatment should be started as early as possible. Mandatory therapeutic procedures include compensating for the lack of the mentioned substance with the use of medicines (s alt or non-s alt), normalizing nutrition and maintaining a sufficient level of iron in the blood.
It is worth noting that without pills, that is, drugs for oral administration, it is almost impossible to get rid of iron deficiency anemia. That is why specialists first of all evaluate the condition of the patient's gastrointestinal tract, and only then prescribe the most suitable medicines for him.
To achieve the maximum therapeutic effect from taking iron supplements, it is important to observe several conditions:
- Dose medicines based on the needs of the body of each individual patient.
- Take medicines during the period of the greatest activity of the gastrointestinal tract, that is, after eating.
- In combination with iron preparations, prescribe ascorbic acid and pancreatin for better absorption of drugs and protection of the gastrointestinal tract from exposure to the resulting chemical compounds.
- Minimum course of treatment with iron supplements should be at least 2 months.
If these norms are observed, it is possible to restore the balance of substances in the body, as a result of which the patient will restore the normal functioning of almost all organs.
Medicines containing iron
Most often in the treatment of iron deficiency anemia specialistsuse preparations containing hydrogen reduced iron, as well as organic compounds: lactate or ferrous carbonate, iron malate, iron ascorbate or lactic iron.
The most effective drugs are Hemostimulin, Ferroaloe, Ferroplex, Ferrokal, Fervoken and many others. In addition, the patient will need to include veal, offal (kidneys and liver), vegetables of the nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants) and berries (cranberries, currants, sea buckthorn and rose hips) in the diet. It will be useful to drink drinks from nettle leaves 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. Self-selection of drugs is not allowed, especially in the case of iron deficiency anemia in children and pregnant women.
