What is iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency happens when your blood doesn’t have enough iron. Iron is a mineral that helps carry oxygen through your body, giving you energy. Without enough iron, your body can’t work as well, and you may feel tired and weak. Iron Deficiency Anaemia is when iron deficiency becomes severe enough to have fewer red blood cells.
What causes iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency happens when your body doesn’t get enough iron. This can happen because:
- You don’t eat enough iron-rich foods.
- Your body loses too much blood (e.g., heavy periods, injuries, rectal bleeding).
- Your body doesn’t absorb iron well (e.g., due to illness or medicines).
How did I get iron deficiency?
Some common reasons include:
- Not eating enough foods like meat, chicken, or green vegetables.
- Losing blood during periods or from internal bleeding.
- Growth spurts during childhood or pregnancy, which use up more iron.
- Giving babies cow’s milk before they are 1 year old.
Hookworm infection.