Iron Deficiency Should Be Looked For During Regular Screening

April 13, 2015January 27, 2016Leave a comment

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 →

Iron Deficiency Anemia with Chronic Kidney Disease

March 30, 2015January 27, 20161 Comment

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.

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

March 27, 2015January 27, 2016Leave a comment

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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I’m Iron Deficient… What Are the Treatment Options?

March 16, 2015January 27, 2016Leave a comment

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.

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Getting Your Iron Through IV Injection

February 2, 2015January 27, 201645 Comments

Getting more iron by eating iron-rich foods and taking an oral iron supplement are effective ways to treat iron deficiency, and while this is the preferred method of iron therapy, there are certain circumstances where intravenous (IV) iron may be necessary.

IV iron therapy is beneficial when iron supplements are unsatisfactory or impossible, such as dialysis associated anemia related to chronic kidney disease. The British Columbia Ministry of Health Guidelines and Protocols state that oral iron supplementation (compared to IV iron therapy) is safer, more cost-effective and convenient.

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