Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) occurs when your body doesn't have enough iron to produce healthy red blood cells. Iron is a key component of hemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without enough iron, you may experience fatigue, weakness, and difficulty breathing.
Symptoms of IDA often develop slowly and can be overlooked at first. Look for:
Iron levels can drop for a variety of reasons, including:
At GastroDoxs, our Houston-based team specializes in iron deficiency anemia, offering comprehensive diagnostics-from detailed iron panels and TIBC studies to advanced ferritin testing-and personalized treatment plans that include oral supplements, IV iron therapy, and targeted diet guidance. Under the care of our board-certified gastroenterologist, you'll receive compassionate, patient-centered support to address the root cause of your anemia and restore your energy. Don’t wait to feel like yourself again-book your appointment today and start your journey to better health.
We've successfully treated more than 5.1K 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 primary code for iron deficiency anemia is D50.9. Specific causes are further detailed by codes D50.0 through D50.8 (e.g., iron loss, poor absorption).
Yes. You may have depleted iron stores (low ferritin or high TIBC) while hemoglobin remains in the normal range, indicating iron deficiency without full anemia.
Chronically low iron can lead to koilonychia, or "spoon-shaped" nails, as well as brittleness and ridging due to impaired nail formation.
Many patients notice increased energy within 2-4 weeks of starting oral iron supplements. Complete recovery of iron stores and hemoglobin often takes 3-6 months.
Mild cases may improve with dietary changes-eating lean meats, beans, spinach plus vitamin C. However, most people need supplemental iron to fully restore levels.
In IDA, ferritin is low and TIBC is high. In anemia of chronic disease, ferritin is normal or high (iron trapped in storage) and TIBC is low to normal.
Your liver produces more transferrin to boost iron transport when stores are low. This raises total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) in iron deficiency.
IV iron is recommended if you cannot tolerate or absorb oral iron, if you don't respond adequately, or if you require rapid replenishment due to severe anemia.
Yes. Toddlers who consume excessive cow's milk or have a poor diet are at risk, as are adolescents with heavy menstrual bleeding or growth spurts.
Consult a gastroenterologist if you have signs of GI bleeding, chronic gut issues (e.g., Crohn's or celiac), unexplained low iron, or if oral supplements aren't effective.
