Bleeding from the kidneys or bladder may cause red or brown urine. Women may notice long, heavy menstrual periods. Some disorders that cause chronic bleeding, such as stomach ulcers, cause abdominal discomfort. Other disorders, such as diverticulosis and intestinal cancers and polyps at an early stage, cause no symptoms. Doctors do blood tests to detect anemia when people describe symptoms of anemia, have noticed bleeding, or both.
Stool and urine are tested for blood in an effort to identify the source of bleeding. For large or rapid blood loss, the source of bleeding must be found and the bleeding stopped. Transfusion of red blood cells Red blood cells People are sometimes given transfusions of whole blood during severe bleeding for example after an injury or pregnancy complications , but usually they are given only the blood component they With slow or small blood loss, the body may produce enough red blood cells to correct the anemia without the need for blood transfusions when the bleeding is stopped.
Because iron, which is required to produce red blood cells, is lost as a result of bleeding, most people who have anemia due to bleeding need to take iron supplements, usually tablets, for several months. Sometimes they are given iron intravenously. Merck and Co. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Manual was first published in as a service to the community.
Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Common Health Topics. Rapid blood loss. Taking them before you eat, though, may give you an upset stomach or constipation. Talk with your doctor about the best way to handle side effects. Some people have digestive problems when they take iron. Do not drink milk or take antacids at the same time as your iron supplements.
They may interfere with absorbing the iron. It usually takes about 2 to 3 weeks of regular iron supplements before your symptoms start to improve. You may need to keep taking iron for several months to build up your reserves of iron and prevent your anemia from returning. Take your pills for as long as your doctor recommends, even if your symptoms have improved.
Diet and nutrition. Eating more iron-rich foods is a good, natural way to improve your health. Even if you eat more iron, though, most people with anemia still need to take iron supplements.
If you think you have anemia, see your doctor. Your doctor will do a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor will take some of your blood to run tests. These tests may include a complete blood count to look at your red blood cells and an iron test that shows how much iron is in your blood. Your doctor will probably have you take iron supplement pills and eat foods rich in iron to treat your anemia.
Most people begin to feel better after a few days of taking iron pills. But do not stop taking the pills even if you feel better. You will need to keep taking the pills for several months to build up the iron in your body.
If your doctor finds an exact cause of your anemia, such as a bleeding ulcer, your doctor will also treat that problem. If you think you have anemia, do not try to treat yourself.
Do not take iron pills on your own without seeing your doctor first. If you take iron pills without talking with your doctor first, the pills may cause you to have too much iron in your blood, or even iron poisoning. Your low iron level may be caused by a serious problem, such as a bleeding ulcer or colon cancer. These other problems need different treatment than iron pills. You can get the most benefit from iron pills if you take them with vitamin C or drink orange juice.
Do not take your iron pills with milk, caffeine, foods with high fiber, or antacids. You can prevent anemia by eating foods that contain iron every day. Iron-rich foods include meats, vegetables, and whole grains such as iron-fortified cereals. You can prevent anemia in babies and children by following recommendations for feeding infants and making sure babies and children get enough iron.
If you are pregnant, you can prevent anemia by taking prenatal vitamins. Your doctor will give you prenatal vitamins that include iron. Your doctor will also test your blood to see if you are anemic.
If you are anemic, you will take a higher-dose iron pill. Mild iron deficiency anemia may not cause noticeable symptoms. If anemia is severe, symptoms may include:. Babies and small children with iron deficiency anemia may not grow as expected and may have delays in skills such as walking and talking.
Children may be irritable and have a short attention span. These problems usually go away when the deficiency is treated. If it is not treated, mental and behavior problems may be permanent. If your doctor suspects iron deficiency anemia, he or she will do a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and your medical history. Your doctor will want to know about:. Your doctor will recommend tests to check for low iron levels and anemia.
Possible tests include:. If your doctor suspects that bleeding in your stomach or intestines is causing your anemia, you will have tests to determine the cause of the bleeding. These may include:.
If blood tests don't find the problem, you may need a test called a bone marrow aspiration. Bone marrow aspiration removes a small amount of bone marrow fluid through a needle inserted into the bone. Because iron is stored in the bone marrow, this test can provide a good idea of how much iron is in the body. But bone marrow aspirations are not done very often. Treatment for iron deficiency anemia focuses on increasing your iron stores so they reach normal levels and identifying and controlling any conditions that caused the anemia.
If your anemia is caused by:. Taking iron supplement pills and getting enough iron in your food will correct most cases of iron deficiency anemia. You usually take iron pills 1 to 3 times a day. To get the most benefit from the pills, take them with vitamin C ascorbic acid pills or orange juice. Vitamin C helps your body absorb more iron. Most people start to feel better within a few days of beginning treatment.
Even though you feel better, you will need to keep taking the pills for several months to build up your iron stores. Sometimes it takes up to 6 months of treatment with iron supplements before iron levels return to normal. You may need to get iron through an IV if you have problems with the iron pills or if your body doesn't absorb enough iron from food or iron pills. For those patients, Paranjape recommends foods fortified with iron and vitamin B12, such as cereals, bread products, and soy milk.
According to the Mayo Clinic, untreated iron-deficiency anemia can lead to serious health concerns including a rapid or irregular heartbeat , developmental delays in children, and, in pregnant women, an increased risk for premature births and low birth weight babies. A recent study from researchers at the University of California, San Francisco suggests that older adults with anemia may be more likely to develop dementia.
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