Anemia And Iron Deficiency: Is It The Same?

Although people tend to confuse the terms “anemia” and “iron deficiency”, the fact is that they are not the same. Yes, it is true that there is a link between a particular type of anemia and iron deficiency, but they cannot be used as synonyms.

In fact, anemia is a heterogeneous disease which can have various causes. Although iron deficiency is one of them, there are other types that are caused by malfunctions in the production of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

It is important to know that iron is part of hemoglobin in red blood cells. It helps to make it possible to transport oxygen to all the cells in your body that need it to be able to perform its vital functions.

Both situations are associated in some cases, but not all types of anemia have iron deficiency. In this article, we will explain why anemia and iron deficiency are not the same and how to distinguish them from each other.

How to distinguish between anemia and iron deficiency?

In order to distinguish between anemia and iron deficiency, it is important to know what they are and why they occur. We have already mentioned that iron is an essential component of red blood cells to be able to transport oxygen.

You get iron from your diet and some foods obviously contain more iron than others. This means that certain diets, such as being a vegetarian, can cause iron deficiency.

This is because red meat and fish are foods rich in iron. Another reason is that one may have a problem absorbing iron. Certain disorders that affect the digestive tract, such as celiac disease, alter the process of absorbing nutrients.

We now need to talk about anemia. Anemia is defined as a decrease in red blood cell count, decreased hemoglobin concentration, or low hematocrit value.

It is therefore important to mention that anemia can have many causes. Iron deficiency is one of those that affects the concentration of hemoglobin. However, you cannot use these terms as synonyms.

Types of anemia

As we have seen,  anemia and iron deficiency are associated with a particular type of anemia: iron deficiency anemia. It is the most common type of anemia and mainly affects women of puberty.

It is a disease characterized by low iron levels, which affects the proper production of hemoglobin by the bone marrow. This loss can be caused by various things, such as:

• Blood loss. It is more common in women due to menstruation. It can also stem from a bleed due to an injury.

• Digestive problems  such as a stomach ulcer or diseases that affect the absorption in the intestines.
• Colon cancer. Although it is a rare cause, it is important to be aware of it. Colon cancer causes blood loss that hides in the stool. The first symptom is anemia and iron deficiency.

On the other hand, it is important to know that there are many other types of anemia. Aplastic anemia, for example, is when the body is unable to produce enough red blood cells. It may be caused by a change in the bone marrow, an infection or certain medicines.

Other types of anemia

Deficiency of certain vitamins, such as vitamin B12, can alter the production of red blood cells. It is a common condition in people with chronic alcoholism. Another common cause is suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition, anemia can also be the result of a carcinogenic process that affects the blood, such as leukemia. It can even be hemolytic anemia, where the problem lies in the fact that the body destroys the red blood cells faster than it creates them.

In conclusion, anemia and iron deficiency are not the same

The idea is to understand that although these states tend to be used as synonyms, they are not the same state. Only one type of anemia, iron deficiency anemia, the most common, is associated with iron deficiency.

Likewise, many other types of anemia are the result of other processes. The important thing is to get a diagnosis in order to begin the appropriate treatment. Not all anemic conditions get better by taking iron supplements. A healthcare professional must therefore decide which steps each patient should take.