How to Identify an Iron Deficiency

Iron is present in all healthy cells in the human body, contributing to the transportation of oxygen from the lungs to the organs and other parts of the body. Anemia, a condition signifying insufficient iron absorption, requires identification of the cause and a controlled increase in the patient's iron levels.

Instructions

• 1

  Monitor your symptoms if you suffer from excessive bleeding during your menstrual periods. A slight iron deficiency may cause sleepiness, reduced appetitive and numbness or tingling in your fingers and toes. Over a period of a few months, the loss of blood from heavy menstrual period can result in anemia.

• 2

  Observe a child who is currently going through a rapid growth spurt. Children grow quickly for a couple of months and then slow down. However, during a period of intense growth, a child may suffer from an iron deficiency, resulting in fatigue, irritability, muscle weakness and brittle nails.

• 3

  Visit your family doctor if you have recently experienced bleeding from gastrointestinal tract disorders, hemorrhoids or ulcers or suffer from malabsorption, a condition where iron and other nutrients are not absorbed when eaten and they pass through your digestive system as waste.

• 4

  Schedule a full blood count to determine your iron level and other chemical imbalances that may contribute to an iron deficiency. In addition, your doctor may order a low serum ferritin test and a low serum iron test. If he suspects a bleeding ulcer, he may order a fecal occult blood test.

• 5

  Make a note of your daily intake of foods that contain iron. Beef, chicken and turkey are good sources but vegetarians can substitute oatmeal, beans, molasses, tofu, raisins and whole-wheat grains in their diet.