Being anemic isn't likely to affect your bowels. However, this condition is rare. Problems with your bowels could be the reason behind your anemic condition.
It is not uncommon for an iron deficiency to present alongside uncomfortable gut symptoms like gas and bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. And while there is no evidence that supports that low iron levels directly cause GI symptoms, iron deficiency can often result from digestive disorders.
You may notice the presence of black, tarry or maroon stools when you have a bowel movement. This may mean that your blood loss is coming from higher up in the intestinal tract, causing iron deficiency. You may have stomach pain or abdominal cramping with your bowel movements.
Taking iron tablets can turn the stool a dark, almost black color (actually dark green). This is normal, and does not mean that the iron tablets are causing GI bleeding. Children are at particular risk of iron poisoning (overdose), making it very important to store iron tablets out of the reach of children.
Symptoms of the conditions (associated with bleeding) that cause iron deficiency anemia include: Dark, tar-colored stools or blood in the stool.
Left untreated, however, iron-deficiency anemia can make you feel tired and weak. You may notice pale skin and cold hands and feet. Iron-deficiency anemia can also cause you to feel dizzy or lightheaded. Occasionally, it can cause chest pain, a fast heartbeat and shortness of breath.
Iron pills may cause stomach problems, such as heartburn, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and cramps. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids and eat fruits, vegetables, and fibre each day. Iron pills can change the colour of your stool to a greenish or grayish black.
It is a well-known fact that iron supplements cause in addition to stomach pain and nausea (more seldom) constipation – the most likely side effect. Why does iron cause constipation? Iron supplements cause constipation because the absorption of iron is weak – from food as well as from supplements.
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.
Not having enough folic acid — one of the B vitamins, also known as folate — in your diet may lead to this type of anemia. Symptoms unique to this anemia include irritability, diarrhea, and a smooth tongue. Hemolytic anemia.
Severe iron deficiency anaemia may increase your risk of developing complications that affect the heart or lungs, such as an abnormally fast heartbeat (tachycardia) or heart failure, where your heart is unable to pump enough blood around your body at the right pressure.
Hosts and microbiota compete fiercely for iron. Iron deficiency not only causes anemia, but also causes a variety symptoms including dyspnea, general weakness. Also, iron deficiency impact gut microbial health.
IBD has been associated with numerous symptoms and complications, with the most common being iron deficiency anemia (IDA). Iron deficiency in IBD is caused by inadequate intake, malabsorption (including duodenal involvement and surgical removal), and chronic blood loss by mucosal ulcerations.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
If constipation becomes a problem, take a stool softener such as docusate sodium (Colace). Nausea and vomiting may occur with higher doses, but they can usually be controlled by taking the iron in smaller amounts.
Patients who receive iron treatment gain weight, if they do not make diet or have a metabolic disease. So, iron therapy increases serum ferritin levels accompanying with body weight.
Most people with iron deficiency have no symptoms, so taking iron pills may not result in any obvious changes to how they feel. A doctor can verify if the pills are working via a blood test. However, if a person does have anemia symptoms, they may notice they get better or go away entirely.
In general, patients with iron deficient anemia should manifest a response to iron with reticulocytosis in three to seven days, followed by an increase in hemoglobin in 2-4 weeks.
The amount of iron recommended will depend on your own individual levels and needs however for treatment for iron deficiency anemia in adults, 100 to 200 mg of iron supplements per day are the usual recommendation.
Lack of improvement most commonly is due to poor adherence with therapy, but alternative causes including malabsorption or ongoing bleeding should also be considered. It is important to assess for side effects of iron therapy, such as constipation, that may impede adherence.
A sudden lack of energy and chronic fatigue are warning signs that you might be lacking enough iron. In order for all of the cells in your body to function efficiently, oxygen needs to be able to travel freely around the body.
You have odd cravings for things that aren't food
While researchers are still trying to figure out why, people with severe iron deficiencies often crave non-food items like dirt, clay, cornstarch, paint chips, cardboard, and cleaning supplies, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Eye symptoms of low iron can include a pale coloring of the inside of the lower eyelids. In moderate or severe cases of iron deficiency anemia, the inside layer of the lower eyelid is very pale pink or yellow instead of red. Rather than low iron, one common cause of blurry vision is dry eye.