Iron Deficiency Anemia Prevention: Blood Loss, Beverages, Calcium

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basic prevention methods for iron deficiency anemia. A potentially harmful condition where low iron levels lead to improper oxygen transportation throughout the blood and possibly several related complications, iron deficiency anemia can be prevented with the right approaches -- but these require diligence and detail in some cases.

At Pharmics Inc., we're proud to offer the very best iron supplements available, ensuring our clients who deal with low iron levels and conditions like iron deficiency anemia have the resources they need to combat these conditions. In addition to the areas we went over in part one, such as our iron supplements, what are some other ways to prevent iron deficiency anemia from taking place? Here are a few.

Treating Causes of Blood Loss

For some people who suffer from iron deficiency anemia, a major contributing factor to the condition is significant blood loss. This may be for women who have heavy menstrual periods, people with digestive health concerns, or those who have an ongoing issue with blood donation.

If you and your doctor have determined that blood loss is contributing to the low amounts of iron in your system, there are many cases where treating the causes of this blood loss can help. This might be as simple as changes to your diet, or it could involve surgery or other procedures such as laser therapy to stop the bleeding and strengthen the region involved.

In cases where you experience menorrhagia (heavy periods), there are a variety of treatment methods available -- from oral contraception to surgery for those with uterine fibroids. In cases where digestive concerns like hemorrhoids or gastritis are an issue, treating the underlying cause of the problem (such as through surgery for ulcerative colitis) can help to strengthen your system and improve iron levels in your blood.

Avoid Coffee or Tea With Meals

A theme we've talked about regularly in this series is iron absorption, and beverages like coffee or tea can actually have an impact on the amount of iron your body absorbs. These beverages are very acidic, and can impair absorption of other minerals in your stomach -- including iron. For this reason, we recommend limiting these beverages, especially when eating foods with high iron content that you want absorbed into your blood.

Talk to Your Doctor About Calcium Pills

While calcium pills can be highly beneficial for many people, calcium also can make it harder for the body to absorb iron. While this isn't a wide-ranging effect, it does have an impact that can be difficult to account for -- especially if you're taking over-the-counter calcium pills without the guidance of your doctor. In some cases, iron supplements and calcium pills can counteract one another, so ask your doctor about the best approach in determining how much of each of these you should take, and whether they can be taken simultaneously.

For more on how to prevent iron deficiency anemia, or to learn about any of our iron supplements or other products, speak to the staff at Pharmics Inc. today.

Note: Check with your physician before taking an iron supplement or giving an iron supplement to an infant or any child.

*WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep iron containing products out of the reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

Statements on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.