Iron deficiency happens when your body doesn't have enough iron to make healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen to your tissues. It's the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide. In early stages, you may have low iron stores without yet showing full anemia on your bloodwork.
Symptoms often appear before anemia sets in. Look out for:
Iron levels can fall for several reasons:
With a focus on patient-centered iron deficiency care and comprehensive digestive health solutions, GastroDoxs provides expert diagnostics and personalized treatment plans to restore your energy and well-being. Our board-certified gastroenterologists offer on-site testing, clear explanations, and compassionate support every step of the way. Don't let low iron slow you down- book an appointment today and start feeling better, faster.
We've successfully treated more than 575 patients, helping individuals improve their digestive health and overall well-being through expert, personalized care.
With over 20 years of experience, GastroDoxs has been a trusted provider of gastroenterology care, focusing on delivering the best outcomes for patients
Dr. Bharat Pothuri is a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist and Hepatologist. With extensive experience in digestive health, he specializes in advanced endoscopic procedures, chronic GI disorder management, and preventive care. Dr. Pothuri is dedicated to providing expert, patient-focused insights to help improve gut health and overall well-being.
The ICD-10 code for iron deficiency anemia is D50.9, used to classify general iron deficiency anemia when no further details are specified.
Yes. You can have low iron stores and experience symptoms like fatigue before your red blood cell count drops enough to qualify as anemia.
The three stages are: (1) depletion of iron stores, (2) reduced production of red blood cells, and (3) full development of iron deficiency anemia.
Many patients notice improved energy within 1-2 weeks of starting iron therapy, but full restoration of iron levels and symptoms may take 2-3 months.
We typically measure serum ferritin, serum iron, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and perform a complete blood count (CBC) to assess iron status.
Yes. Inadequate iron can disrupt the hair growth cycle, leading to increased shedding and thinning of hair.
In children, watch for persistent tiredness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, pica (craving non-food items), or slowed growth and development.
Yes. A gastroenterologist can identify underlying causes such as gastrointestinal bleeding, malabsorption, or dietary issues and guide appropriate treatment.
The quickest improvement often comes from the proper use of iron supplements (oral or IV) combined with treating any underlying bleeding or absorption problems.
In mild cases, increasing iron-rich foods (red meat, leafy greens, fortified cereals) may suffice, but most people with significant deficiency will need supplemental iron.
