Epidemiological Prevalence Of Iron Deficiency

Case Study 1: Iron Deficiency
Marie Sophia Joseph
Institution
Case Study 1: Iron Deficiency
Disorder Depicted in Case One
The disorder depicted in case one is the iron deficiency disorder. Iron deficiency disorder is one of the most common hematological conditions prevalent in the society today. Today, Anemia has placed at risk more than three million lives in the United States, and many people are still at risk of this disorder because of iron deficiency. Iron is a key ingredient needed to make hemoglobin, and a deficiency of iron will cause anemia. The purpose of this paper is to analyze Iron deficiency which is curable, to explore the prevalence of iron deficiency, its diagnosis, signs and symptoms, treatment, and strategies for preventing it in the society.
Epidemiological Prevalence of Iron Deficiency
Iron Deficiency is one of the most prevalent hematological disorders in the world today. According to Casmachella (2015), Iron Deficiency affects more than 30% of the world population. In the United States, the disorder affects more than three million people, and it is the common cause of anemia. The hematological disorder arises when the blood lacks enough red blood cells to carry and distribute oxygen throughout the body. According to case one, the patient felt fatigued for three months, and he develops weakness when walking or climbing stairs. This is an indication of insufficient supply of oxygen to the muscles, making him fatigue. Women are at the highest risk of developing an iron deficiency disorder because they lose much blood during menstruation (Madu & Ughasoro, 2015).
Risk Factors for Iron Deficiency
According to the research article by Sanchez, Castillo, and Penaffel (2015), the main risk factors for iron deficiency are the loss of blood from the body, inadequate iron intake through poor nutrition, infants born prematurely, and pregnancy or women of childbearing age. Iron deficiency occurs in all populations, but the mentioned risk factors above are the leading risk factors. People that rely on green vegetables without considering replacing with iron-rich foods are at a higher risk of developing anemia. In women, blood loss can occur from menstruation or during giving birth. Among men, too much alcohol consumption and use of drugs can also place them at risk of developing iron deficiency. There are also high chances of developing this condition if a person's blood cannot manufacture enough red blood cells, leading to reduced oxygen absorption. Infants and children born prematurely are at a higher risk because their blood has not developed the ability to store iron from the food they consume.
Clinical Manifestations of Iron Deficiency (Signs and Symptoms)
Casmachella (2015) explains that the daily intake of iron is 15 mg, but only one to two mg of the total consumption is absorbed. The loss of iron from nutrients is equal to its absorption, but menstruation or blood loss due to accident adds about 30 mg to the average of iron from the body. This indicates that women are at the highest risk of this condition due to menstruation. The most common signs and symptoms of iron deficiency are extreme fatigue, pale skin, and blood in the stool. Blood in stool is a result of wearing out of gastroi...