Doctors in India say that Iron deficiency is a common issue among young women, which affects around 90 percent. Many women experience low iron levels without realizing it, often having symptoms like fatigue and weakness due to other causes.
Iron deficiency is a common nutritional shortfall that happens when the body doesn’t have enough iron to support its functions.
This essential mineral plays an important role in transporting oxygen throughout the body, maintaining healthy red blood cells, and supporting overall energy levels.
Without adequate iron, people may experience fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, and impaired cognitive function.
Iron deficit among young women is a growing concern that is often unseen. Despite efforts to promote healthy eating and supplementation, 90 percent of young women still have a hard time with insufficient iron levels, says Dr Rajesh Bendre, National Technical Head and Chief Pathologist Apollo Diagnostics.
He said factors such as menstrual blood loss, restrictive diets, and heavy reliance on processed foods are behind the rise in iron deficiency among women.
Further, the doctor noted that the lack of education about iron-rich food sources and dietary requirements worsens the problem.
It is crucial to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining correct amounts of iron levels and provide resources for proper nutrition education, he said.
Experts say, many pregnant women also suffer from iron deficiency, leading to low hemoglobin, anemia, and its connected symptoms such as weakness, shortness of breath, and pale skin.
In many pregnant women, Iron deficiency is a pressing concern that can have far-reaching consequences. Beyond the immediate health risks to the mother, such as anemia and weakness. Inadequate iron levels in pregnant mothers may increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight, which can affect a child’s long-term health and cognitive development, says Dr Bendre.
In pregnant women, addressing iron deficiency goes beyond simply supplementing with iron pills. Experts should educate women about the importance of regular prenatal check-ups to monitor their iron levels throughout pregnancy, allowing timely intervention if deficiencies arise.
Anemia is one of the most widespread public health problems and has important health and welfare, social, and economic consequences. These include poor concentration, fewer hours at work, and low self-esteem causing impaired development and in severe cases high risk of death in pregnant women, mostly at the time of delivery.
About 50 to 60 percent of pregnant women are found to be deficient in iron, says Dr Abhya Bhave, Hematologist, at the Lilavati Hospital.
The incidence of anemia in our population is quite high, mostly in the student and marriageable age group.
Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia due to poor food intake or poor nutrition, worm infestation of the intestine, intestinal blood loss, and blood loss during the periods.
Iron deficiency anemia can have sinister reasons in the intestines including rare malignancies or malabsorption syndromes that will need a different line of treatment to prevent its recurrence. There are other causes of anemia such as folic acid and Vitamin B12 deficiency, excessive destruction, and poor production in the bone marrow, says Bhave.
According to Dr. Kekin Gala, Gynecologist, Apollo Spectra Mumbai, General weakness and fatigue are usually the beginning signs of iron deficiency.
Paying attention to your menstrual cycle can also be important in diagnosis, as heavy periods can lead to iron loss and subsequent deficiency. Screening tests for iron deficiency include a complete blood count (CBC), and additional tests such as serum ferritin and transferrin saturation can provide more exact information about iron levels in the body. Monitoring regularly through these tests helps to provide insight into the present iron status and also supports preventative efforts against more severe problems that are connected with untreated deficiency, says Gala.
In addition to supplements, Gala emphasized the need to incorporate iron-rich foods like spinach, and lentils into daily diet to help replace iron levels naturally while also improving overall nutrition.
