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To diagnose iron deficiency anemia, your doctor may run tests to look for: Red blood cell size and color. With iron deficiency anemia, red blood cells are smaller and paler in color than normal. Hematocrit. This is the percentage of your blood volume made up by red blood cells.
Without enough iron, your body can't produce enough of a substance in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia may leave you tired and short of breath. You can usually correct iron deficiency anemia with iron supplementation.
Low levels of the protein in red blood cells that carry oxygen, called hemoglobin, is the main sign of anemia. Some people learn they have low hemoglobin when they donate blood. If you're told that you can't donate because of low hemoglobin, make a medical appointment.
Ferritin is a blood protein that contains iron. This test can be used to find out how much iron the body stores. If a ferritin test shows that the blood ferritin level is low, it means the body's iron stores are low. This is a condition called iron deficiency. Iron deficiency can cause anemia.
Hemochromatosis (he-moe-kroe-muh-TOE-sis) causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. Excess iron is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Too much iron can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver disease, heart problems and diabetes.
Iron deficiency anemia. Treatment for this form of anemia usually involves taking iron supplements and changing the diet. If the cause of iron deficiency is loss of blood, finding the source of the bleeding and stopping it is needed.
Blood tests. The two key tests to detect iron overload are: Serum transferrin saturation. This test measures the amount of iron bound to the protein transferrin that carries iron in your blood. Transferrin saturation values greater than 45% are considered too high. Serum ferritin. This test measures the amount of iron stored in your liver.
A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test. It's used to look at overall health and find a wide range of conditions, including anemia, infection and leukemia. A complete blood count test measures the following: Red blood cells, which carry oxygen. White blood cells, which fight infection. Hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood ...
Most often, an iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are found through blood tests. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants be tested for iron deficiency anemia starting between ages 9 months and 12 months.
If you're pregnant, you're at increased risk of iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a condition in which you don't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body's tissues. Find out why anemia during pregnancy occurs and what you can do to prevent it.