I find it interesting, a site with tagline “Improving the live of people with anemia“. It serves many usefull information about anemia. I know there are still sites or organization who serve the same, National Anemia Action Council is just one of it. I copy some information which frequently asked by women above

Are some types of anemia inherited?

Yes, some types of anemia are due to inherited or genetic defects. Sickle cell anemia occurs most frequently in people of African, African-American, and Mediterranean descent. Thalassemia (or Cooley’s anemia) is found in people of Mediterranean and Southeast Asian descent. These types of anemia are extremely common. Another inherited anemia is Fanconi anemia, but this is very rare.

I heard that heavy menstrual periods can cause anemia. Is there anything I can do to prevent the anemia?

Heavy menstrual bleeding, also known as menorrhagia, is one common cause of iron deficiency anemia for women. Heavy menstrual bleeding has been reported in approximately 10-15% of all women at some point during their life. Among these women, as many as 20% will go on to develop iron deficiency anemia.⁹ You can begin to replace the iron lost from blood loss by eating more iron-rich foods, but supplemental oral iron medications may be required. Discuss your concerns with your doctor or gynecologist.

What is the relationship between uterine fibroid tumors and anemia in women?

Anemia in women can be caused by the increased menstrual blood loss associated with uterine fibroid tumors. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. They almost never lead to cancer, and are not linked to any increased risk of cancer. Along with a healthy diet, iron supplementation may be required to prevent iron deficiency anemia from developing.

What causes anemia during pregnancy?

Pregnancy places major demands on the body because the mother must meet the needs of both her body and her growing baby. The mother’s body needs enough iron and folate to make the right amount of red blood cells. Most anemia during pregnancy results from this increased need for iron. It is estimated that women will need approximately 50% more iron during pregnancy, increasing from 18 to 27 milligrams (mg) per day. Even a well-balanced diet can only provide about 12-14 mg of iron per day, well short of the iron a pregnant woman requires.

In order to prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy, it is often necessary for pregnant women to take iron supplements. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all pregnant women should take a daily supplement of 30mg of elemental iron. The expectant mother should also stay in close contact with her doctor and gynecologist, and be sure to eat a diet that includes foods rich in iron and folate, like liver and dark green leafy vegetables.

Can childbirth cause anemia? What is postpartum anemia?

Approximately 10% of women will suffer from anemia within the first six months after delivering their baby and 4% of women will have anemia lasting up to twelve months. Anemia experienced by mothers during this time following childbirth is called postpartum anemia and is usually caused by iron deficiency. Mothers suffering from postpartum anemia most likely lost a large amount of blood during childbirth, had twins or other multiple births, or were anemic during the third trimester of pregnancy. In any case, losing large amounts of blood or having low iron levels leaves the mother at risk for developing anemia.

Following childbirth, the mother’s body needs to start making new red blood cells. To do so, she will need enough iron to make hemoglobin, the part of the red blood cell that carries oxygen throughout the body. If she has anemia and there is not enough stored iron, her body will be unable to raise hemoglobin levels and reverse the anemia. Low iron levels before and after childbirth may require treatment. Close communication with your doctor and gynecologist will help him or her provide the best care to prevent anemia prior to child birth and treat postpartum anemia.

Hopes it is usefull for you!

Ferrous and ferric : Those are two general types of iron supplements. Lets talk first about ferrous form of iron. Ferrous iron is the best absorbed form of iron supplements. Most available iron pills contain ferrous iron. There are three types of ferrous iron supplements commonly found: ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, and ferrous gluconate. While all three come in a 325 mg tablet size, each one contains a different amount of the form of iron used by your body, called “elemental iron”. When choosing an iron supplement, it is important to remember to look at the amount of “elemental iron” in each tablet, instead of the size of the tablet.

Iron supplements are available in regular tablets and capsules, liquid, drops, and coated or extended release tablets and capsules. Regular tablets and capsules are the best absorbed iron pill and are usually the most economical. Liquid and drop iron supplements are necessary for young children and people with problems swallowing pills, but may temporarily stain your teeth. Iron from coated or delayed-release preparations may have fewer side effects, but are not as well absorbed and not usually recommended. If your doctor recommends an iron supplement, consider the type of iron and pill, as well as the cost.

For your information that iron supplements should be taken between meals with Vitamin C, while manganese, copper, molybdenum, vitamin A and the B group are also beneficial. Iron in a supplement should be almost balanced with zinc. If you want to a better absorption of iron supplements, try to cut out tea and coffee. Oxalic acid found in that drinks is negatively affected iron supplements absorptions.

Have you heard about ADHD? What is ADHD? Yes, ADHD is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is usually considered to be a neurobehavioral developmental disorder. It affects about 3-5% of school aged children with symptoms starting before seven years of age. It is characterized by a persistent pattern of impulsiveness and inattention, with or without a component of hyperactivity.

ADHD occurs twice as commonly in boys as in girls. ADHD is generally a chronic disorder with 10 to 40% of individuals diagnosed in childhood continuing to meet diagnostic criteria in adulthood. As they mature, adolescents and adults with ADHD are likely to develop coping mechanisms to compensate for their impairment.

Iron supplements are sometimes recommended as a treatment for ADHD. Studies have found that children with ADHD are more likely to have low levels of iron than children without ADHD, and iron deficiency seems to correlate with the severity of ADHD symptoms.

Iron is needed by the body to make the neurotransmitters involved with ADHD, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. There is not enough scientific evidence to recommend iron supplements to all children with ADHD. However, there are a few early studies, which have not been confirmed by additional research, suggesting improvement in ADHD symptoms, as well as learning problems, in children low in iron.

The recommended dose of iron sulfate is 5 mg/kg/day. Remember, high doses of iron are toxic, and rarely lethal.