Iron
Iron is an essential mineral.The major reason we need it is that it helps to transport oxygen throughout the body.Iron is important for the proper functioning of all cells in our bodies. The main role of iron in the body is in the red blood cells where it helps carry oxygen to the body’s cells and tissues.In the red blood cells, iron combines with a protein called haemoglobin.Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to transport it throughout your body. Hemoglobin represents about two-thirds of the body’s iron. When we breathe in, oxygen in our lungs is attracted to the iron in haemoglobin, and combines with it to form oxyhaemoglobin. Oxygen can then be transported around the body by red blood cells, and released wherever it is needed.
Iron deficiency
Not having enough iron in the body is known as iron deficiency. Because iron helps the cells in your body use oxygen to convert carbohydrates (sugars) into energy, it is easy to see how iron deficiency can cause a general lack of energy and tiredness.Iron deficiency can also cause poor concentration, memory and behaviour problems. This is particularly important in children. Those with an iron deficiency have been shown to have poor attention spans and poorer academic performance than their classmates.Iron deficiency can lead to Iron deficiency anaemia in adults. Iron deficiency anaemia occurs when the body’s iron stores get so low that there is not enough iron to make adequate amounts of haemoglobin.Anemia is a decrease in the total amount of red blood cells (RBCs) or hemoglobin in the blood, or a lowered ability of the blood to carry oxygen. When anemia comes on slowly, the symptoms are often vague and may include feeling tired, weakness, shortness of breath, and a poor ability to exercise.
Diagnosis & Treatment
If your doctor suspects you have iron deficiency, the diagnosis can be confirmed by blood tests.Following Tests will help you to Diagnosis and Treat the iron deficiency issues.
Iron Panel - Serum measurements are useful in the diagnosis of iron deficiency and hemochromatosis.
Iron, Total and Total Iron Binding Capacity - Serum iron quantification is useful in confirming the diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia or hemochromatosis. The measurement of total iron binding in the same specimen may facilitate the clinician's ability to distinguish between low serum iron levels caused by iron deficiency from those related to inflammatory neoplastic disorders. The assay for iron measures the amount of iron which is bound to transferrin. The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) measures the amount of iron that would appear in blood if all the transferrin were saturated with iron. It is an indirect measurement of transferrin concentrations but expressed as an iron measurement. To obtain the percent saturation, the serum iron is divided by the TIBC which gives the actual amount of saturated transferrin. The percent saturation is low in iron deficiency and high in iron storage diseases.Looking for the nearest quest diagnostics?. Use Tuhealthy App to walk in labs near.
