Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in the U.S. Anemia refers to a situation in which there are too few red blood cells or the hemoglobin count is too low. Iron deficiency anemia is more common in women.
Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can include dizziness, fatigue, lightheadedness, fast heart rate, palpitations, brittle nails, pallor, and shortness of breath. Other associated symptoms can include hair loss, loss of energy, headache, difficulty concentrating, leg cramps, and insomnia. These symptoms may occur with all types of anemia and are not limited to anemia caused by iron deficiency.
Causes of iron deficiency anemia
Increased blood loss, a decrease in iron taken into the body, or an increased need for iron causes iron deficiency anemia.
Other iron deficiency anemia symptoms and signs
- Brittle Nails
- Difficulty Concentrating
- Dizziness
- Fast Heart Rate
- Fatigue
- Hair Loss
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Leg Cramps
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of Energy
- Pallor
- Palpitations
- Shortness of Breath
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Examples of Medications for Iron Deficiency Anemia Symptoms and Signs
- carbonyl iron
- chloramphenicol
- Elelyso (taliglucerase alfa)
- Feiba Vh (Anti-Inhibitor Coagulant Complex)
- Ferrlecit (sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose)
- ferrous sulfate
- iron dextran (Dexferrum, INFeD)
- Iron Supplements
- Kanuma (sebelipase alfa)
- red blood cells
- Side Effects of Dexferrum (iron dextran)
- washed red blood cells
- Zavesca (miglustat)
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