Abstract
Do you feel exhausted every day and assume it’s normal or just due to daily effort?
In reality, 1 in 3 women in Saudi Arabia suffers from iron deficiency anemia, which is a major cause of this persistent fatigue; the problem is that many women are unaware of the real cause and often don’t discover it until symptoms worsen and the condition progresses.
Chronic fatigue, hair loss, and pale skin may seem like normal parts of daily life, but in many cases, they are clear signs of low iron levels in the body, especially when absorption issues are involved.
Although some women take oral iron supplements daily, they may not experience real improvement; this raises important questions:
Is the issue with the supplement itself? The dosage? Or is the body simply not absorbing it effectively?
In this article, we’ll explore what iron deficiency anemia is, its causes, symptoms, who is most at risk, and how it can be treated.
Introduction
Why is anemia often not detected early in many women?
Iron deficiency anemia is often not detected early in many women because the symptoms in the initial stages are mild and easily misinterpreted as everyday fatigue or life stress.
Common signs such as tiredness, slight dizziness, and poor concentration are often considered normal and therefore overlooked.
As a result, many women delay getting tested to identify the underlying cause, which allows the condition to worsen over time.
Iron levels gradually decline without proper treatment, and even blood tests may not reveal the issue in its early stages because anemia develops in phases before becoming clearly detectable.
Initially, anemia affects the body’s iron stores; after that, hemoglobin levels begin to decrease and only then does the condition become visible in blood test results.
This is why relying on symptoms alone is not sufficient, and accurate diagnosis requires proper medical evaluation and laboratory testing.
Main Topic
What Is Iron Deficiency Anemia?
Iron deficiency anemia is a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce hemoglobin, the essential protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
According to Mayo Clinic, low iron levels lead to reduced hemoglobin production, which affects the blood’s ability to deliver sufficient oxygen to tissues, symptoms such as fatigue, poor concentration, and shortness of breath can appear even with minimal effort.
As mentioned earlier, anemia does not develop suddenly; it often begins silently and progresses gradually until it reaches a more advanced stage.
Iron is an essential nutrient that the body cannot produce on its own; it must be obtained from external sources such as diet, oral supplements, or intravenous therapy; the health of the digestive system plays a key role in how effectively iron is absorbed.
Early and Late Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia vary depending on the severity of the condition and how long the body has been lacking iron.
These symptoms can be categorized into early and late stages, and there are also common symptoms experienced by many individuals.
Early Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Early symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can appear in a mild form, to the point that many people may not notice them; they occur due to the reduced ability of the blood to deliver oxygen to the body’s cells.
These symptoms include:
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Feeling tired and fatigued
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Dizziness or lightheadedness
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Poor concentration
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Frequent mild headaches
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Cold hands and feet
Skin and Hair Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
Iron deficiency anemia can affect the health and appearance of the skin and hair, leading to symptoms such as:
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Pale skin
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Dry skin
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Hair loss
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Brittle or weak nails
Late Symptoms of Iron Deficiency Anemia
When iron deficiency anemia progresses without treatment, symptoms become more severe and begin to significantly affect daily functioning.
These include:
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Shortness of breath, especially with minimal exertion
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Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
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Chest pain or discomfort
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Severe fatigue and low energy levels
Why are women of reproductive age more prone to iron deficiency anemia?
Women in reproductive age are more likely to develop iron deficiency anemia due to several physiological and lifestyle-related factors that increase iron demand or lead to continuous iron loss.
The most important causes include:
Iron Loss During Menstruation
During menstruation, women lose varying amounts of blood, which can gradually affect iron levels in the body, especially in cases of heavy menstrual bleeding.
This continuous loss makes it difficult for the body to compensate, leading to a gradual decline in iron stores over time.
In addition, women may experience significant blood loss during childbirth, which further depletes iron levels; during pregnancy, the body also requires higher amounts of iron to support fetal growth, placenta development, and the increase in maternal blood volume.
If these increased needs are not adequately met, iron levels can drop, increasing the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia.
Inadequate dietary iron intake among women
Some women may follow dietary patterns that do not provide sufficient iron to compensate for ongoing losses or increased bodily needs.
This is especially common in diets low in iron-rich foods or in poorly planned vegetarian or plant-based diets that lack adequate alternative iron sources.
As a result, long-term insufficient iron intake can gradually deplete the body’s iron stores, increasing the risk of iron deficiency anemia if not properly addressed through balanced nutrition or supplementation.
Poor iron absorption in the body
According to a review published on PMC, impaired iron absorption due to gastrointestinal disorders can lead to reduced iron stores in the body.
In addition, certain medications and treatments may also interfere with iron absorption, even when oral supplements are taken or iron-rich diets are followed.
Common causes of iron deficiency anemia in Saudi Arabia
There are several common causes of iron deficiency in Saudi Arabia that help explain the high rates of anemia among women and young people; these include:
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Low dietary intake of iron-rich foods
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Higher prevalence among women, especially those of reproductive age
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Malabsorption issues caused by medications or gastrointestinal disorders
Why doesn’t iron level increase despite taking iron tablets?
Oral iron tablets are one of the most common methods used to treat iron deficiency in the body; some individuals may not notice a clear improvement in hemoglobin levels or iron stores despite consistent daily use.
This may be due to several factors, including taking an insufficient dose that does not meet the body’s needs, or the presence of digestive system issues that reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron effectively.
Gut health problems or a lack of nutrients that support iron absorption, such as vitamin C, can also play a role.
In addition, certain daily habits may reduce the effectiveness of iron supplements, such as drinking tea or coffee immediately after meals, or not following the correct instructions regarding timing and food interactions when taking the supplement.
Moreover, ongoing iron loss in women can further lower iron levels, making it difficult for the body to compensate despite supplementation.
Some individuals may also experience gastrointestinal side effects from iron tablets, which can affect tolerance and lead to irregular use, ultimately reducing treatment effectiveness.
How Is Iron Deficiency Anemia Treated?
Treatment of iron deficiency anemia depends on addressing the underlying cause that led to the condition, as well as replenishing iron levels and restoring the body’s iron stores.
The severity of the condition and the body’s response to treatment are also key factors in determining the appropriate approach.
The main treatment options for iron deficiency anemia include:
Relying on an iron-rich diet
One of the first and most important steps in treating iron deficiency anemia is improving the diet by including foods rich in iron; this helps support the body’s natural production of hemoglobin and gradually restores iron levels.
Iron-rich foods include red meat, leafy green vegetables, legumes, and other nutrient-dense sources; it is also recommended to consume vitamin C alongside meals, as it enhances iron absorption in the body.
At the same time, it is advisable to avoid beverages such as tea and coffee close to meals or iron intake, as they can reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron effectively.
Oral Iron Supplements
Iron tablets are one of the most common treatments for anemia, as they help increase hemoglobin levels and restore iron stores when taken in doses that meet the body’s needs; their effectiveness largely depends on how well iron is absorbed in the digestive system.
In some cases, it may take a long period of consistent use—ranging from weeks to several months to achieve noticeable and stable improvement.
Iron IV Therapy
Intravenous iron infusion is considered an effective method in cases of severe iron deficiency anemia or when there are conditions that affect the body’s ability to absorb iron.
It is typically administered after performing certain laboratory tests to determine the appropriate dosage based on the body’s needs.
IV iron from evercare, IronBoost IV Drip, is considered an ideal solution for rapidly increasing hemoglobin levels and iron stores; it can provide quick results in a short period without causing gastrointestinal side effects, as may occur with oral supplements.
evercare also offers an IV iron solution and an ultra-iron infusion, where ferric carboxymaltose is used in a higher concentration to enhance the effectiveness of intravenous administration and achieve the desired results.
What Is IronBoost IV and Its Components?
evercare’s iron boost solution is an intravenous formulation that contains ferric carboxymaltose, which is used in the treatment of anemia and severe iron deficiency through direct infusion into the bloodstream for immediate delivery to the body.
The active ingredient, ferric carboxymaltose, helps increase hemoglobin levels faster than oral supplements; it also supports the restoration of iron stores in the body and improves the production of red blood cells.
In addition, it may help alleviate both early and advanced symptoms of iron deficiency anemia, such as fatigue and general weakness.
What are the required tests to diagnose anemia?
Since the common symptoms of anemia may be normal in some cases, they should not be relied on alone to treat iron deficiency.
Instead, some laboratory tests are required to determine hemoglobin and ferritin levels. The most important of these tests are:
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Complete Blood Count (CBC)
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Iron stores – Ferritin
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Serum iron level
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TIBC test – Total Iron Binding Capacity
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Transferrin saturation test
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19786204/
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240000124
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Iron-HealthProfessional/
