Iron Deficiency and Excess

DEFINITIONS

Iron is a component of many enzymes that affect all the important chemical reactions in the body.
Iron is also a component of hemoglobin, which enables red blood cells carry oxygen and deliver it to tissues.

2 types of food contain iron, namely:
- Heme iron, which is mainly found in foods of animal products
- Substance non-heme iron, which is more than 85% iron in the daily diet.
Heme is absorbed better than non-heme. But the absorption of non-heme iron increases when consumed along with animal protein and vitamin C.

Iron deficiency is the lack of food substances most commonly found in the world, causing anemia in men, women and children.

IRON DEFICIENCY

Bleeding that resulted in the loss of iron from the body causes iron deficiency should be treated by additional iron.

Iron deficiency may be a result of food intake is insufficient.
Such deficiencies often occur during pregnancy because a large amount of iron must be provided for the growth of the fetus's mother.

Anemia due to iron deficiency can also occur in teenage girls who are growing and begin to experience menstrual cycle, if they consume foods that do not contain meat.

If the reserve of iron in the body decreases, anemia can occur.
Symptoms include:
- Pale
- 'Nails spoon' (spoon nails, a disease of the nails which looked thin and concave-shaped / curved)
- Weakness accompanied by reduced muscle strength
- Changes in cognitive behavior.

Diagnosis is established based on symptoms and results of blood tests showed anemia and iron levels and low ferritin (ferritin is a protein that contains / stores iron).

Given high doses of iron 1 times / day for several weeks.
Treatment should be continued until the blood cells and red iron stores back to normal.

IRON EXCESS

Excess iron can cause poisoning, which occurs vomiting, diarrhea and intestinal damage.
Iron can accumulate in the body if the person:
- Obtain iron therapy in excessive amounts or in a very long time
- Received several blood transfusions
- Suffering from chronic alcoholism.

Hemokromatosis is a disease of excess iron is derived, which can be fatal but easily treatable, where too much iron is absorbed, attacking more than 1 million people in the United States.

Usually the symptoms do not appear until middle age and develop hidden, in the form:
- Skin becomes red copper
- Cirrhosis
- Liver cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart failure, which can cause sudden death developed.

Other symptoms are:
- Arthritis
- Impotence
- Infertility
- Hypothyroidism
- Chronic fatigue.

Blood tests may show an excess of iron.
The entire family of the patient should also be examined, because this disease is a hereditary disease.

Bloodletting is a treatment option.
Early diagnosis and treatment allows patients to live healthier and live longer.