Category: Risk Groups

Groups at-risk of iron deficiency/anemia

School is (almost) out for the summer

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Iron Deficiency in ChildrenRing those bells. Next week is the last week of the school year!

Did you know that kids are a risk group for iron deficiency? As your kids count down the minutes until the final bell, here are some tips to ensure your child is meeting their iron needs this summer:

  • Got a picky eater? Try some of these clever ways to get iron in your child’s diet.
  • Not sure about what foods are high in iron? Check out this article on the amount of iron in these popular foods.

Think your child might be iron deficient? Use our symptom checker to take with you to your doctor’s appointment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or employer.

Could it be iron deficiency?

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Many of the symptoms related to iron deficiency can be attributed to other causes in today’s often busy lifestyle. You may not even realize that you or a loved one could be iron deficient.

Here’s a quick snapshot and a link to a symptoms checker for adults. Be sure to share with your friends!

Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs. The content and advice shared on The Iron Maiden are the opinions of the writer and not her employers. 

Iron & Pregnancy Series with Dr. McLeod: Post-Partum

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It’s perfectly normal for a new mother to be tired as she adjusts to life with a new baby, but if she is suffering from iron deficiency, then the fatigue and other symptoms can make it especially difficult and may even lead to long-term consequences for her and her baby.

Iron deficiency in pregnancy is common, as I noted in Part 2 of this series. The risk increases near the end of the pregnancy when the baby stores iron that it takes from the mother. And, the risk of anemia increases even further if she loses and excess amount of blood during child birth, as approximately 5% of women do.

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Iron & Pregnancy Series with Dr. McLeod: During Pregnancy

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It’s no surprise that a woman’s body will undergo changes during pregnancy to accommodate the baby as it grows. One of the biggest changes is that of her blood. While this might not be an obvious change (like that of a growing belly), it’s a very important change that requires some effort on the mother’s part to avoid putting herself and her baby in harm’s way.

Iron deficiency in pregnancy is not only dangerous, but also far too common. In Canada, an estimated 50% of pregnant women are iron deficient. Women of childbearing age are already at a higher risk of developing iron deficiency due to regular blood loss and subsequent iron loss (from menstruation), but the risk increases significantly once pregnant.

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Iron Articles Just for Mom

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Throughout the month of May we are honouring women – mothers in particular. Moms do A LOT for their families, and it’s important that they take time for themselves once in a while and ensure that their health is in check too! Iron deficiency can affect one’s entire family, but women and children are among the highest groups at-risk for developing this preventable condition.

So, I wanted to pull together handpicked articles for mom around iron deficiency and iron needs as well as some tips and information around iron and her children. Let’s get to it!

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Is Your Child Overly Tired and Sleeping A Lot? It Might Be Iron Deficiency…

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As a parent, you can’t help but be tickled pink when your child is a good sleeper. Getting enough sleep is important for them (and you!), but if your child seems to be sleeping an awful lot, then there might be a problem. There’s a difference between sleeping through the night and having chronic fatigue, which is a tell-tale sign of iron deficiency.

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Is Your Family At Risk?

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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!

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Kelly: From the Challenges of Iron Deficiency to an IronMan Challenger

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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.

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A Woman’s Need for Iron Throughout Her Life

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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…

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I Wonder if MY 70 Blood Donors Know The Importance of Post-Donation Iron Supplementation

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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.

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Iron & Your Heart Part 1: Chronic Iron Deficiency

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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?

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The Connection between Iron Deficiency and Heart Failure

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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.

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What’s the Link Between Celiac Disease and Iron Deficiency?

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Celiac disease is a digestive disorder in which gluten – a protein found in wheat – damages the lining of the small intestine, which is the same part of the gut that absorbs nutrients from food. According to the Canadian Digestive Health Foundation, it is believed that 333,000 Canadians (approximately 1% of the population) are affected by celiac disease, but only about 110,000 have actually been diagnosed.

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Vegetarian or Vegan Doesn’t Have to Mean Iron Deficiency…

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Are you a vegetarian, vegan, or flexitarian? What’s a flexitarian, you ask? According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary that officially listed the word in 2012, a flexitarian is “one whose normally meatless diet occasionally includes meat or fish”, in other words, a semi-vegetarian!

With an estimated 4% of Canadians living a vegetarian lifestyle, as many as 40% of North Americans living a flexitarian lifestyle, and an unknown (but growing) number of people following vegan diets, iron deficiency in these groups is worth a mention – allow me to explain why…

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Are You a Blood Donor? You May Need to Replenish Your Iron!

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Each year, Canadian Blood Services (CBS) collects about 950,000 units of blood from approximately 600,000 donors. That’s a lot of blood, and a lot of lives that can be saved because of it! Did you know that a single donation can save up to 3 lives?

While donating blood is an extremely generous act to help others who are in need, it is also important to take care of yourself in the process. Continue reading →