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Iron deficiency anemia is the most common cause of anemia worldwide, it affects 20% of adult women and 50% of pregnant women (Cash et al., 2023). Iron deficiency anemia is a microcytic, hypochromic anemia, meaning the red blood cells (RBCs) are small and pale and can be characterized by lab values reflecting a depleting iron storage, such as hematocrit (Hct) < 41% in males, and < 37% in females, hemoglobin (Hgb) <13.5 g/dL in males, and <12 g/dL in females (Cash et al., 2023). Predisposing factors to iron deficiency anemia include heavy menses, GI blood loss, family history of anemia, excessive cow milk intake, and poor diet or diet not including iron rich foods (Cash et al., 2023). Common complaints of those with iron deficiency anemia are fatigue, heart racing sensation, shortness of breath on exertion, loss of appetite, headache, weakness, and dizziness (Cash et al., 2023). Treatment includes nonpharmacological therapies such as dietary changes: increase intake of high iron foods and compliment it with vitamin C rich foods to increase absorption, decrease tea or milk intake as it decreases iron absorption, and smoking cessation (Cash et al., 2023). Pharmaceutical therapy includes oral iron replacement – for adults: Ferrous sulfate 300-325mg TID before meals (Cash et al., 2023). Thalassemia on the other hand is an inherited disease passed down from parent to child which causes a lack of production of hemoglobin within the body (CDC, 2022). Hemoglobin is an essential protein component of red blood cells that is comprised of alpha and beta proteins (CDC, 2022). Thalassemia directly affects either the alpha or beta protein, which then can lead to alpha or beta thalassemia, both of which causes functional errors in the hemoglobin that lead to shorter lifespan of the red blood cell (CDC, 2022). Anemia of Chronic Diseases an anemia that occurs due to the progression of a an autoimmune or acquired disease or illness that persists long enough that it results in a depletion of red blood cells (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). The depletion of RBCs is due to the chronic inflammation in occurs in illness, this chronic inflammation reduces red blood cell production and can lead to anemia (Cleveland Clinic, n.d.). References Cash, J. C., Glass, C. A., & Mullen, J. (2023). Family practice guidelines. Springer Publishing. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). What is thalassemia? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 8, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/thalassemia/facts.html Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.) Anemia of chronic disease: Symptoms, treatment & causes. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14477-anemia-of-chronic-disease#:~:text=Anemia%20of%20chronic%20disease%20happens,have%20enough%20red%20blood%20cells.
