INDIANAPOLIS (WISH)– Iron deficiency anemia, a common nutritional deficiency, often goes undiagnosed due to its vague symptoms, according to Dr. Mukul Singal from Innovative Hematology.
Dr. Singal explains that symptoms such as fatigue, concentration issues and mood changes can easily be mistaken for stress, leading to a lack of proper diagnosis and treatment.
“Iron deficiency initially may not be associated with anemia,” Dr. Singal noted, emphasizing the subtlety of early symptoms.
As iron deficiency worsens, individuals may experience more severe symptoms, including shortness of breath, heart palpitations and even fainting, particularly during physical activities.
Dr. Singal points out that the U.S. guidelines for testing iron deficiency are not as stringent as international recommendations, which contributes to the issue of underdiagnosis, especially in women.
He highlights that the current U.S. cutoff for ferritin levels is 30 nanograms per milliliter, but many hematologists now recommend a higher cut off of 50 ng/mL as a higher cutoff seems more appropriate for women. Guidelines do not reflect this yet.
Dr. Singal, who works with patients at the Indiana Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, often sees individuals with severe anemia due to underlying bleeding disorders, which exacerbate iron loss.
Addressing iron deficiency anemia requires awareness of its subtle signs and advocacy for more comprehensive testing guidelines, particularly for high-risk groups.
