9 Things You Didn’t Know About Iron Deficiency Anemia

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) is more common than you may realize. Here's what you need to know about it to start a discussion with your doctor — especially if you experience heavy uterine bleeding (HUB).

IDA, which is the most common form of anemia, is a condition that interferes with the formation and function of red blood cells.

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Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that helps carry oxygen from your lungs to your cells. When there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry enough oxygen to the rest of your cells, you can get anemia.

The more you know about IDA, the easier it is to recognize. Here are nine things you might not have known about the condition:

1. Around 6.5 million Americans have IDA and some might not even know it.

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2. Approximately 20% of women in the United States who are 16 to 49 years old (childbearing age) have IDA.

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3. Fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath are all common symptoms of IDA.

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4. Pica, which is the craving of nonfood items such as ice or dirt, can also be a symptom.

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5. However, not everyone with IDA has symptoms.

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The only way to know for sure is to get tested.

6. According to a Harris Poll study, 51% of women surveyed had experienced an IDA symptom within the past 12 months but 31% of these women hadn’t discussed it with a healthcare provider.*

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7. The same study found that 32% of the women who didn’t talk to a healthcare provider thought their symptoms weren’t serious enough to bring up.*

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Another 30% attributed their symptoms to something else.*

8. Having a family history of IDA does not mean that you’re more likely to develop IDA.

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Risk for IDA is increased in women, infants, children, vegetarians, and frequent blood donors.

9. But IDA can be caused by HUB, which affects approximately 1 in 4 women.

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Long or abnormal periods may cause low iron levels due to increased blood loss. And when you lose more blood, you lose more iron. Having HUB for 6 months or more may lead to IDA.

If you have HUB and think you might also have IDA, you should talk to your healthcare provider. You can learn more about the connection between HUB and IDA at imayhaveida.com.

All facts provided by Daiichi-Sankyo.

*This study was conducted online by the Harris Poll on behalf of Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. between July 6 and July 24, 2020, among 1,000 US women aged 18–65 and an over sample of 152 women 18–65 diagnosed with IDA for a total of 200 women diagnosed with IDA. For more information, please see https://daiichisankyo.us/press-releases/-/article/364091/11688035.

© 2022 Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

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