Iron deficiency anemiaI. IntroductionIron deficiency anemia affects millions of individuals worldwide. This disease affects many more women than men and has harmful effects on all those who suffer from this deficiency which causes a decrease in oxygen carrying capacity. The causes may vary between different groups, but the aggravating symptoms remain constant. Much of the research into iron deficiency anemia focuses not only on the treatment of this disease, but also on its prevention. To better understand how to treat this problem, you need to clearly know what iron deficiency anemia means, what causes this disease, its effects and finally how to treat it.II. What is iron deficiency anemia? Iron is a mineral found in the hemoglobin of red blood cells. It facilitates the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Without this mineral, oxygen cannot be transported to its full capacity. 1 in 10 women and young children have an iron deficiency. Lack of iron causes lethargy and a weakened immune system. Children who do not get adequate iron intake put themselves at risk for intellectual development problems. However, a person deficient in iron is not necessarily anemic. 7.8 million women suffer from iron deficiency, while only 3.3 million women are anemic (http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9704/iron_def.htm). When the deficiency becomes so severe that circulating red blood cell counts and the minerals Ht, Hg, and Hem fall below normal, anemia occurs (see Figure 1). The androgen hormone causes men and women to have different normal hemogram values ​​(http://www.medstudents.com.br/hemat/hemat4.htm). Low ferritin (molecule that stores iron) and high TIBC (total...... middle of document ......"Improvement of iron deficiency anemia through ferric ammonium citrate and vitamin C therapy. " April 1991; 37 (2 ): 161-71.Yonezawa, K, Hokkaido Igaku Zasshi, "Effect of blood hemoglobin on concentration on the anaerobic threshold, July 1991" (4): pages 458-67.http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/9704/iron_def.htmhttp://www.ohsu.edu/som-hemonc/handouts/deloughery/printanemia.htmlhttp: //www.medstu dents.com.br/hemat/hemat4.htmhttp://www.healthy.net/library/books/healthyself/womens/anemia.htm(http://riceinfo.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/iron. html ) http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/sep_96/browned.htm http://www.mayohealth.org/mayo/pted/htm/iron.htm http://www.saonet.ucla.edu/health /healthed/handouts/iron.htmhttp://www.cariboo.bc.ca /schs/medtech/rice/IronDeficiency.htmlhttp://pages.prodigy.com/CA/nutrigenie/nsnfw35.html