If you have been feeling fatigued or have any other signs of iron deficiency such as paleness, dizziness or a racing heart, you may want to speak to your doctor. It could be that you are iron deficient but there may be another condition causing your symptoms. To get the most out of your visit it is useful to think about the information that the doctor might need in order to work out what is causing your symptoms. You could also plan the questions that you would like to ask. This section expands on the points that you might want to mention to your doctor.

Testing for iron deficiency

How is Iron Deficiency Treated?

You don’t have to accept your fatigue and/or other symptoms and adjust the way that you live; iron deficiency can be treated. Once your doctor has understood your symptoms and looked at the results of your blood tests, he will be able to confirm if you are iron deficient or have iron deficiency anaemia and recommend the best treatment for you. It may take different lengths of time for you to feel better, depending on the treatment. It is best to find out from your doctor when you can expect to notice a positive effect. One treatment option may be to increase the amount of iron in your diet by eating more iron-rich foods like red meat, liver, enriched cereals and leafy greens.1 When planning meals, this guide may help you choose food that is rich in iron.

Your doctor may also decide that you need extra iron given through:

Oral iron supplements,1 available over-the-counter or on perscription, or
Intravenous iron,2,3,4 where iron is delivered directly into your blood stream.

Talking to your doctor

Your doctor will try to understand what is causing your symptoms. You might want to talk to your doctor about: 

  • How long you have felt fatigued (if applicable) and whether it is better or worse after sleeping or exercise
  • Any other symptoms, including when they started, how long they last, anything that makes them better or worse and if they affect your daily life8
  • Whether you have been to see another doctor or healthcare specialist or had to stay in hospital recently and if so, what was the cause of your visit8
  • What (if any) medications you are on8?
  • Whether you have any of the risk factors that make iron deficiency more likely, for example if you are pregnant, have coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, or have had bariatric surgery.
  • Whether your symptoms appeared after a certain event or change in your life9
  • What your everyday habits are, including whether you smoke or not, how much alcohol you drink and how much exercise you do8
  • How extreme your tiredness or fatigue feels and how much it affects your daily life8

What happens next?

Depending on their assessment of your symptoms, your doctor may ask you to adjust your lifestyle and return to them for a follow up visit. Your doctor may also ask you to have a blood test.

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Referanslar
References