Teenagers are at a higher risk for iron deficiency anemia due the rapid rate at which they are growing during these years. As the body grows, it requires larger amounts of nutrients, including iron, which it receives from the blood. If the blood is not replenished with iron, anemia can set in. So combine teenage growth spurts with a diet lacking iron-rich foods and you could have a case of teenage anemia to deal with. There are other risk factors for teenage anemia mostly targeting teenage girls. Teen girls are at a higher risk for anemia since the body loses iron during menstruation and girls usually do not compensate for that loss by eating more iron-rich foods. Anemia is more likely to develop in teen girls who become pregnant also. Lastly, becoming a vegetarian or dieting to lose weight can cause anemia to develop since the present of red meat, which is a prime source of iron, is lacking in these lifestyles.
Symptoms Of Iron Deficiency Anemia
The symptoms of iron deficiency anemia can be mild and hard to notice. Often, if the anemia is mild, there may be no symptoms at all. Even when there are noticeable symptoms, frequently they are dismissed as a bug or even just due to the fact that teens often don’t eat as well as they should or sleep as much as they should. The most common symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are fatigue or weakness, pale skin color caused by fewer red blood cells in the blood, and trouble concentrating or remembering most likely caused by less oxygen in the blood flowing to the brain. As you can see, many normal teens without anemia can display these symptoms for any number of reasons. Other, more noticeable, symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia in teens are a faster pulse caused by the heart beating harder to pump more oxygen into the blood, shortness of breath when running or climbing stairs (or any type of exertion), and frequent or severe headaches. The most disturbing symptoms can be sudden severe nosebleeds that may or may not accompany the headaches. Unfortunately, many of these symptoms can also be explained by other causes. The best advice is to watch your teen. If you notice a combination of these symptoms lasting for more than a couple of days, you should schedule a visit with your teen’s doctor. The doctor will ask a series of questions to determine whether or not your teen should be tested for anemia. Luckily, a simple blood test is all that is needed to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia.
Treatment For Iron Deficiency Anemia
If your teen is diagnosed as having iron-deficiency anemia, an iron supplement will most likely be prescribed once or twice a day for a time depending on how severe the anemia is. Your doctor may also recommend, and it is a good idea to, making some lifestyle changes involving a healthier diet consisting of dark green vegetables, legumes and small amounts of red meat as well. Your teen should also try hard to get at least eight hours of sleep a night, which is the minimum amount recommended for children growing at the speed that adolescents are. With the proper diet and sleep, as well as the iron supplements, the anemia should subside within a couple of weeks.
