Why do doctors check iron levels?

Why do doctors check iron levels?

Iron is also an important part of hemoglobin, a protein in your blood that helps carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. An iron test can show if you have too much or too little of this mineral in your system. It can check for conditions like anemia, or iron overload (excess iron).

Why is iron level important?

Iron is essential for our bodies. Without a sufficient amount of iron, your body can’t produce enough hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells that makes it possible to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. If you do not have enough oxygen in your body, it will cause you to become tired and groggy.

What are the symptoms of lack of iron?

Iron deficiency anemia signs and symptoms may include:

• Extreme fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Pale skin.
• Chest pain, fast heartbeat or shortness of breath.
• Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Cold hands and feet.
• Inflammation or soreness of your tongue.
• Brittle nails.

What diseases cause low iron levels?

Some of the most common causes of iron deficiency anaemia are outlined below.

• Monthly periods. In women of reproductive age, periods are the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia.
• Pregnancy.
• Gastrointestinal blood loss.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Other causes.

What is a low iron level for a woman?

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey describes iron deficiency in women as a low concentration of ferritin (<12 ng/mL). Diagnosis prompts consideration of the cause of IDA (usually, bleeding). Women with obvious blood loss–menses–may require no further testing.

Is an iron level of 15 low?

Low levels of ferritin less than 15 μg/ml are diagnostic of iron deficiency. Levels higher than 40 μg/ml in a healthy person are considered optimal. Normal or high levels of ferritin do not exclude iron deficiency, because ferritin acts as an acute phase reactant.

What should iron level be?

Normal levels are generally between 35.5 and 44.9 percent for adult women and 38.3 to 48.6 percent for adult men. These values may change depending on your age. Hemoglobin. Lower than normal hemoglobin levels indicate anemia.

What is a good iron level?

The normal range for men is 13.5 to 17.5g/dL. For women, the normal range is 12.0 to 15.5g/dL. African American men and women will have a normal range that varies by 0.7g/dL at the low end of the range.

Can you test your iron levels at home?

The BIOSAFEAnemia Meter is the first FDA-approved, hand-held device that can be conveniently used at home to test hemoglobin levels (Figure 1). Low levels of hemoglobin may indicate anemia. Thus, the Anemia Meter may be used as an additional screening method. It is not recommended for use in patients younger than 18.

What is the ideal ferritin level for a woman?

The normal range for blood ferritin is: For men, 24 to 336 micrograms per liter. For women, 11 to 307 micrograms per liter.

What are the stages of anemia?

The Three Stages Of Iron Deficiency

• Part 1 – The Various Stages Of Iron Deficiency.
• Stage 1 – Storage Depletion – Lower than expected blood ferritin levels.
• Stage 2 – Mild Deficiency- During the second stage of iron deficiency, transport iron ( known as transferrin) decreases.

What happens when you are severely anemic?

If left untreated, iron-deficiency anemia can cause serious health problems. Having too little oxygen in the body can damage organs. With anemia, the heart must work harder to make up for the lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. This extra work can harm the heart.