Patient education: Low iron in adults – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — 

Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

Why do I need iron? — 

The body needs iron to make certain proteins. The main one is called "hemoglobin." This helps red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body.

If the body does not have enough iron, it is called "iron deficiency." It can lead to problems, including "iron deficiency anemia." Anemia is when there is too little hemoglobin in the blood, so the body might not get all the oxygen it needs.

You might not have enough iron if:

●You lost a large amount of blood – This can happen slowly over time, or all of a sudden. It is the most common cause of iron deficiency anemia.

Menstrual periods and pregnancy are common reasons to lose blood. Pregnancy also uses a lot of iron to support the developing fetus. Intense athletic activity can also cause you to lose blood, and you can lose iron through sweating.

Bleeding from the digestive tract is also common. In older people, tumors in the intestine can bleed. Sometimes, bleeding happens so slowly you do not see the blood in your bowel movements.

●Your body cannot absorb enough iron from food – This can happen if you had surgery on your stomach or intestines. It can also happen if you have a condition like celiac disease that affects your intestines.

●You do not get enough iron in your food – For example, this can happen in parts of the world where people do not get enough iron in their diet.

It is very important to learn what is causing your low iron. Many of the causes are serious conditions that can be treated. You might need blood tests or other tests to learn the cause.

How do I care for myself at home? — 

Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take extra iron only as instructed by your doctor. If your doctor prescribed iron pills, make sure you know the strength and how often to take them. The best way to take iron is once a day, once every other day, or Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week. Keep track of when to take the iron. You might have to take the pills for a few months. Do not take more iron pills than your doctor says to. Large amounts of iron can be harmful. Iron works better (and faster) if you take it no more than once a day.

●Take iron on an empty stomach. Some foods might make iron pills not work as well. These include eggs, whole-grain bread, cereal, dairy products, coffee, and tea. Vitamin C from supplements or orange juice can make iron pills work better.

●Store your iron pills safely. Make sure children cannot get them. A child can get seriously poisoned if they take iron pills by accident. If a child swallows iron pills, call a poison center right away.

●Be aware that it can take a few weeks until you start to feel better. You might need to rest more often until your red blood cell counts increase. Symptoms of anemia can include feeling tired or short of breath. You might also have other symptoms, like having very little energy, restless legs, hair loss, or craving ice.

●Talk to your doctor if you take medicine for heartburn (also called "acid reflux"). These medicines can limit how much iron your body takes in.

Iron pills often cause side effects such as nausea and constipation. They can also cause bowel movements to turn black, green, or tar colored.

To help prevent constipation from iron pills, you should:

●Eat high-fiber foods. These include whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

●Drink plenty of water and other fluids each day. This helps to keep your bowel movements soft.

●Set a regular schedule to try and have a bowel movement. Do not ignore the urge to have a bowel movement.

●Give yourself plenty of time to have a bowel movement.

●Get regular physical activity.

If you have side effects, or cannot get enough iron from pills, there are things you can do to reduce these side effects. Your doctor might switch you to IV iron. (An IV is a thin tube that goes into a vein.)

What follow-up care do I need? — 

Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure you know when and where to go. You might need to have more blood tests to check if your iron levels are normal and you no longer have anemia.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:

●Get chest pain or severe trouble breathing

●Vomit blood or something that looks like coffee grounds

●Pass out

Call your doctor or nurse for advice if you:

●Cannot take your iron because it makes you too nauseous or constipated

●Feel weak

More on this topic

Patient education: Low iron (The Basics)
Patient education: Anemia overview (The Basics)
Patient education: Good food sources of iron (The Basics)
Patient education: Ferritin test (The Basics)
Patient education: Iron studies panel (The Basics)
Patient education: Hemoglobin and hematocrit tests (The Basics)
Patient education: Restless legs syndrome (The Basics)
Patient education: Heavy periods (The Basics)

Patient education: Anemia caused by low iron in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Heavy periods (Beyond the Basics)