dried fruit, such as dried apricots, prunes and raisins.dark-green leafy vegetables, such as watercress and curly kale.Increasing the amount of iron in your diet may also be recommended. The underlying cause will need to be treated so you don't get anaemia again. You'll need to be monitored every few months to check the treatment is working and your iron levels have returned to normal. This is usually effective, and the condition rarely causes long-term problems. Treatment for iron deficiency anaemia involves taking iron supplements to boost the low levels of iron in your body. Read more about the causes of iron deficiency anaemia How iron deficiency anaemia is treated However, if you do lack dietary iron, it may mean you're more likely to develop anaemia than if you have one of the problems mentioned above. Unless you're pregnant, it's rare for iron deficiency anaemia to be caused just by a lack of iron in your diet. In women of reproductive age, heavy periods and pregnancy are the most common causes of iron deficiency anaemia as your body needs extra iron for your baby during pregnancy. This can be caused by a stomach ulcer, stomach cancer, bowel cancer, or by taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). In men and post-menopausal women, the most common cause is bleeding in the stomach and intestines. There are many things that can lead to a lack of iron in the body.

Read more about diagnosing iron deficiency anaemia What causes iron deficiency anaemia? They should be able to diagnose the condition using a simple blood test. See your GP if you experience symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia.

painful open sores (ulcers) on the corners of your mouth.

a desire to eat non-food items, such as ice, paper or clay (pica).

hearing sounds that come from inside the body, rather than from an outside source (tinnitus).

noticeable heartbeats (heart palpitations).

tiredness and lack of energy (lethargy).

You may notice symptoms immediately, or they may develop gradually if your anaemia is caused by a long-term problem, such as a stomach ulcer. The severity of the symptoms largely depends on how quickly anaemia develops. Many people with iron deficiency anaemia only have a few symptoms.

Other types of anaemia can be caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate in the body – read more about vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common type. There are several different types of anaemia, and each one has a different cause. If you have fewer red blood cells than is normal, your organs and tissues won't get as much oxygen as they usually would. Iron is used to produce red blood cells, which help store and carry oxygen in the blood. Iron deficiency anaemia is a condition where a lack of iron in the body leads to a reduction in the number of red blood cells.

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