When it comes to taking an iron supplement there are a few things that you should consider, like knowing the differences between the available products, avoiding iron absorption inhibitors, and so forth. So, without further ado, let’s get to the 5 Dos that you can follow to help you get the most out of your iron supplement and help you stay on track. Continue reading
Author: LEONA, RN & BLOOD SPECIALIST
Iron Deficiency Should Be Looked For During Regular Screening
Iron deficiency, which can cause a slew of health problems, is easily treated yet remains the most common nutritional deficiency in the world!
Iron deficiency can affect people differently, with symptoms including anemia, weakness, headaches, irritability, shortness of breath, reduced exercise tolerance, lack of cognitive function, etc. A paper published in the Journal of Hematology and Thrombotic Diseases (Oct 2014) says that correcting iron deficiency can improve symptoms and quality of life in those living with chronic disease, including (but not limited to): Continue reading
Having Trouble with Your Iron Supplement? Here’s What You Can Do
So, you’ve started taking an iron supplement and now it’s not going so well. Maybe it’s the side effects, or you keep forgetting to take all of your doses each day, or perhaps you just don’t feel like it’s working. What should you do? Well, here are a few tips for you:
Is Your Family At Risk?
World Health Day is tomorrow (April 7th) making this the perfect time to talk about iron deficiency, which happens to be the world’s most common nutrient deficiency and one that affects people of all ages. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that 2 billion people are anemic, many due to iron deficiency. That’s more than 30% of the world’s population!
Is Your Iron Intake Up to Par?
Your iron consumption may not be something you consciously think about every day like Vitamin C or calcium, but iron is an essential nutrient to your daily diet and to your overall health. So, are you getting enough?
Iron Deficiency Anemia with Chronic Kidney Disease
March is National Kidney Month, making today’s topic of Chronic Kidney Disease (also known as CKD) very fitting. A common issue of CKD is iron deficiency anemia, particularly for patients on dialysis.
Kelly: From the Challenges of Iron Deficiency to an IronMan Challenger
My name is Kelly and I am iron deficient. My iron levels were never great after the birth of my first child. The blood loss was massive, the doctors pondered my need for a blood transfusion and prescribed me ferrous sulfate to help out. It brought my levels up enough, but I had low iron levels from then on; never low enough to cause alarm, but enough (I would think) to play havoc with my energy levels.
Experiencing Chronic Fatigue? It May Be Iron Deficiency
Many of us may live a busier life than we would care to. We’re always on the go and trying to juggle a dozen things at once. So, feeling tired is normal then, right? Well, feeling tired after a long and busy day is typical, but feeling that you are constantly in a state of fatigue is not. In fact, chronic fatigue falls under my ‘triad of symptoms related to iron deficiency.’
Ways to Enhance Your Iron Absorption
If you’re looking to up the iron you consume, then you’ll want to ensure that you are absorbing as much as possible! Here are a few tips on how to increase your iron absorption.
I’m Iron Deficient… What Are the Treatment Options?
If you’ve been diagnosed with iron deficiency, you have a few different options when it comes to treatment. It is likely that your doctor will recommend a combination of an iron-rich diet along with an iron supplement.
Here’s an overview of the options so that you, together with your doctor or pharmacist, can come up with the best plan of action.
Enhance Absorption with These Top 10 Vitamin C-Rich Foods
Vitamin C helps your body to better absorb iron – both from the iron-rich foods you eat and from iron supplements – along with all kinds of other great health benefits! In past articles, I’ve mentioned that to enhance absorption you can consume non-heme foods with a good source of Vitamin C, and you can take your iron supplement with orange, grapefruit or prune juice (note: this has been proven beneficial only with iron salt formulations).
So, to help you make the most of the iron you consume, here are 10 Vitamin C-rich foods that you can easily add to your daily diet:
A Woman’s Need for Iron Throughout Her Life
In honour of International Women’s Day (March 8th), I thought it was fitting to make today’s post all about the ladies. Did you know that simply being female puts you at a higher risk for developing iron deficiency?
It is estimated that 20% of women of childbearing age are iron deficient and 50% of pregnant women develop iron deficiency. Each life stage can bring about different causes (or types) of the condition, which include:
- Increased blood volume
- Blood loss
- Reduced absorption
Let’s have a look at the risk that each stage of life brings with it and why…
Who Do I Need to See to Diagnose & Treat Iron Deficiency?
Most of the time, your primary care physician will be the first doctor you see about iron deficiency. Depending on your symptoms, blood work results, and cause of your iron deficiency, you may be referred to a different healthcare professional or specialist.
Let’s take a look at which healthcare professionals may be involved in diagnosing and treating you…
I Wonder if MY 70 Blood Donors Know The Importance of Post-Donation Iron Supplementation
As the recipient of 70 units of blood last year (for bone marrow failure), I know first-hand how important blood donation is, and I am forever grateful for those who helped me when I was in need. On the weekend, I heard an announcement from Canadian Blood Services (CBS); while they are always in need of donors, their current inventory of O-negative blood is very low and they are asking for donors to come forward.
10 Clever Ways to Get More Iron into Your Child’s Diet
Got a picky eater on your hands and want to make sure they’re getting enough iron? Forget a nightly standoff between you, your child, and that plate of kale and try some of these clever ways to get more iron into your child without a fuss.
Iron & Your Heart Part 2: Hemochromatosis
We’ve talked about the impact that chronic iron deficiency can have on your heart and now, continuing on with our series of Iron and Your Heart (in honour of Heart Month), I want to talk about the effect that too much iron – also known as hemochromatosis – can have on your heart.
My Story: From the Bottom of My Heart…
As I begin to close out my posts related to Heart Month, health and iron deficiency, I want to take this opportunity to share with you my own personal health story. This is possibly one of the most difficult articles I have written. I live my life by a very simple guideline; I face each issue actively and decide if it’s:
- an insurmountable obstacle that will stop me in my tracks
- a temporary impedance that may slow me down, but not permanently stop my progress
- a crutch which I may choose to use to curry sympathy
Most of my issues are temporary impedances, which is why I have difficulty sharing them. I do not cope well with sympathy, however, I have been told that sharing my struggles may encourage others to carry on in spite of their barriers, and perhaps lend a bit of extra credibility to my knowledge. You see, I am not just an expert in the field of iron deficiency, I am profoundly iron deficient, and this is my story…
Iron & Your Heart Part 1: Chronic Iron Deficiency
We’ve been talking about heart-related issues in honour of Heart Month, and this particular article may be among the most important of all because it will give you a look into the impact of iron deficiency anemia on your heart.
I want to ask you a question: How quickly would you get yourself to a doctor after experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency? Now, how quickly would you get yourself to a doctor if you were experiencing symptoms of an acute heart disease? A lot quicker, right?
Is it Just Valentine’s Day or is Heart Palpitation Sending Your Heart Aflutter?
I imagine with Valentine’s Day upon us and romance in the air – not to mention all the chocolate – many hearts are probably beating faster. If, however, you feel your heart aflutter when it shouldn’t be, then you might be experiencing heart palpitations… read on for the heart-pounding details!
The Connection between Iron Deficiency and Heart Failure
Today, in honour of Heart Month, I want to talk about the link between iron deficiency and heart failure because it’s far more common than you might realize.
According to a paper published in the Cardiology Journal Heart, iron deficiency is present in 30 – 50% of patients with heart failure and has been associated with poorer medical outcomes including a higher risk of death.