Iron Deficiency - New Path Family Clinic newpathclinics.com.sg

ARE YOU IRON DEFICIENT?

Iron deficiency is a condition known to affect 1 in 3 women and occasionally, men. It can cause unexplainable symptoms such as hair loss, fatigue, frequent headaches, breathlessness or giddiness. Find out if you're at risk of iron deficiency by taking a short quiz!

 Take a quiz to find out


What is Iron Deficiency?

An average person has 3000-4000mg of iron in the body, and every 1ml of blood contains 0.5mg of iron. Iron deficiency occurs due to excessive blood loss and/or poor absorption of iron, causing your body's ferritin levels to fall below a normal range. If left untreated, iron deficiency can affect your quality of life, your immune system and ultimately result in anaemia. 

Watch the video below to find out more about iron deficiency and how to combat it.

What are the common causes of iron deficiency?

Heavy menstruation

Iron deficiency is especially common in women due to monthly blood loss from menstruation.

vegetarian diet

Iron in vegetables or plant-based food products are poorly absorbed by our body. 

Poor absorption

Certain chronic conditions or gastrointestinal disturbances can reduce the body's natural ability to absorb iron from diet. 

regular blood donation

350-450ml of blood is typically taken during regular blood donation, this is equivalent to 3 months of iron absorbed from an optimal diet.

Find out if you’re iron deficient through a simple blood test at $98!*

GET THE SCREENING VOUCHER

*not including consultation with the doctor

Common Signs & Symptoms of Iron Deficiency

Iron deficiency can cause multiple signs and symptoms which most people may brush off as a side effect of a busy life. Most times, these signs may actually be an indication of a bigger problem. If left untreated, these symptoms may potentially worsen and affect your daily activities.

Fatigue
hair loss
headaches
low mood
poor concentration
frequent illness

ARE YOU AT RISK?

 

What treatments are available for iron deficiency?

Intravenous (iv) iron infusion

Treat iron deficiency and correct it rapidly with iron infusion of up to 1000mg. Skip the gastrointestinal side effects with this single-session treatment option.

iron rich diet

This is not really recommended as a treatment option, but as maintenance after iron deficiency has been corrected. 

Only up to 5% of plant-based iron and up to 25% from meat based iron can be absorbed by the body.

oral replacement

Iron supplements are available in tablet and liquid forms. However, very few formulations promote optimal absorption. In addition, continuous treatment of 6-12 months would be recommended as only about 10% of iron is absorbed orally.

However, you may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhoea, constipation, stomach-ache, etc. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I leave iron deficiency untreated?

In short, no.


Iron deficiency may seem like a small issue which causes annoying symptoms that you can simply ignore. However, if left untreated, the condition can only worsen. It does not improve on its own. 


Symptoms may worsen in severity and frequency, or you may start to experience new symptoms which can potentially affect daily life and performance. 

When should I seek medical help?

If you suspect you might have iron deficiency, it would be best to do a blood test to treat the problem earlier rather than later. 

What other symptoms can indicate iron deficiency?

Apart from the symptoms listed above, iron deficiency can present in other forms of symptoms such as

- Brittle nails

- Craving for ice, dirt or paper

- Breathlessness

- Depression

- Anaemia/pallor

- Taste disturbance

Is it possible for males to be iron deficient as well?

Yes! Iron deficiency can affect both males and females.


However, iron deficiency in males are less common and would require further investigation into the source of blood loss causing deficiency. This is usually caused by bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract due to reasons such as haemorrhoids, diverticular diseases or colon cancer.


Don't brush away your symptoms.

Seek help today!

Find out if you're iron deficient through a simple blood test at $98!*

GET YOUR SCREENING VOUCHER HERE!

*not including consultation with the doctor

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