Experiences with

Iron deficiency anaemia

Check if you have iron deficiency anaemia

Symptoms can include:

• tiredness and lack of energy
• shortness of breath
• noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• pale skin

Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia

Once the reason you have anaemia has been found (for example, an ulcer or heavy periods) the GP will recommend treatment.

If the blood test shows your red blood cell count is low, iron tablets will be recommended to replace the iron that's missing from your body.

You’ll need to take them for about 6 months. Drinking orange juice after you've taken a tablet may help your body absorb the iron.

Follow the GP’s advice about how to take iron tablets.

Some people get side effects when taking iron tablets like:

• constipation or diarrhoea
• tummy pain
• heartburn
• feeling sick
• black poo

Try taking the tablets with or soon after food to reduce the chance of side effects.

It's important to keep taking the tablets, even if you get side effects.

Your GP may carry out repeat blood tests over the next few months to check that your iron level is getting back to normal.

Keep iron supplement tablets out of the reach of children. An overdose of iron in a young child can be fatal.

Things you can do yourself

If your diet is partly causing your iron deficiency anaemia, your GP will tell you what foods are rich in iron so you can eat more of them.

Eat and drink more:

• dark-green leafy vegetables like watercress and curly kale
• cereals and bread with extra iron in them (fortified)
• meat
• dried fruit like apricots, prunes and raisins
• pulses (beans, peas and lentils)

Eat and drink less:

• tea
• coffee
• milk and dairy
• foods with high levels of phytic acid, such as wholegrain cereals, which can stop your body absorbing iron from other foods and pills

Large amounts of these foods and drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron.

You might be referred to a specialist dietitian if you're finding it hard to include iron in your diet.

Causes of iron deficiency anaemia

In pregnancy, iron deficiency anaemia is most often caused by a lack of iron in your diet.

Heavy periods and pregnancy are very common causes of iron deficiency anaemia. Heavy periods can be treated with medicine.

For men and for women whose periods have stopped, bleeding in the stomach and intestines is the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia. This can be caused by:

• taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin
• stomach ulcers
• inflammation of the bowel or food pipe (oesophagus)
• piles
• cancers of the bowel or stomach – but this is less common

Any other conditions or actions that cause blood loss could also lead to iron deficiency anaemia.

There may be no symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia at first. If it gets worse, you may get symptoms like tiredness or shortness of breath.

Treatments for iron deficiency anaemia include taking iron supplements and eating iron-rich foods.

Common causes of iron deficiency anaemia include pregnancy and heavy periods.

Related links

Iron deficiency anaemia

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