Heart disease normally occurs when heart muscle tissue is damaged by factors like cholesterol deposits. Living a healthy lifestyle and watching your diet can significantly increase your life expectancy, and sometimes in ways that you didn’t even think of. For instance, consuming iron-rich foods and keeping your hemoglobin levels optimal can also be beneficial for your heart’s health.
What is an iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency is a common type of anemia characterized by insufficient healthy red blood cells. These cells are responsible for supplying your body’s tissues with oxygen. When your body doesn’t have enough iron, it can’t produce enough hemoglobin (a substance that’s found in the red blood cells).
Causes and risk factors of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is the lack of sufficient iron in the body. This can be caused by a number of different things:
- A diet that lacks iron. Iron is normally obtained through a number of foods which needs to be included in a healthy diet. Some of the healthiest foods that are also rich in iron are shellfish, spinach, broccoli, legumes, red meat, quinoa, pumpkin seeds, tofu, and turkey meat.
- Blood loss. Iron is found inside the red blood cells, which are inside your bloodstream. When you experience blood loss, your iron levels will also decrease. This makes certain categories of people more susceptible to low iron levels, such as women during their menstrual cycles or people who donate blood on a regular basis.
- The body’s inability to absorb iron. While this problem is rare, it can occur in some cases. Your small intestine is the one that absorbs iron from your food intake. Those that suffer from an intestinal disorder will have difficulties in absorbing iron from their diet, which can lead to an iron deficiency.
Certain categories of that need to pay close attention to their iron levels, particularly:
- Pregnant women. Since hemoglobin is needed for both the expecting mother, as well as the developing fetus, pregnant women are more likely to have an iron deficiency if they don’t supplement it during this delicate period.
- Menstruating women. During their menstrual cycle, women can lose a lot of blood. This also puts them at a greater risk for iron-deficiency anemia.
- Vegetarians and vegans. One of the best sources of iron is meat. People who don't consume any meat at all have fewer sources of iron to include in their diet.
- Blood donors. People who donate blood on a regular basis are also more likely to end up having iron deficiency anemia. If you’re experiencing a low hemoglobin level and you are a frequent blood donor, talk to your doctor about eating more iron-rich foods. Consequently, if your iron levels don’t improve, you may not be allowed to donate more blood in the future.
- People with blood loss. Some people have chronic blood loss because of some other medical condition. For example, medical problems such as colorectal cancer, hiatal hernia, or peptic ulcer, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency and coronary artery disease
According to research published in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, the proper level of iron can protect the heart. The data investigated a number of almost 50,000 people in an attempt to determine what is the link between iron levels and heart health.
There is a human genetic variation that’s known as single nucleotide polymorphism, which was the specific focus of the study in question. Through a cross-combination and analysis, researchers have determined the fact that high levels of iron can protect people from developing coronary artery disease.
When you have an iron deficiency, you are more likely to develop irregular heartbeats or arrhythmia. When you are anemic, your blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen to supply your heart, which means that your heart has to work extra hard to pump more blood to compensate. Overworking the heart can enlarge it, but can also lead to heart failure.
Thankfully, iron deficiency is relatively easy to treat, as iron supplements are available without a prescription. A lot of doctors will recommend taking these supplements together with vitamin C tablets because this helps absorb iron better. You can also switch vitamin C tablets with citrus fruits. For instance, try drinking a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice a day.
If you do have iron deficiency anemia, you should consult a doctor instead of taking iron supplements without medical advice. Having too much iron in your blood can cause damage to the liver, as well as other health complications. Even so, the best way is to add iron-rich foods to your diet.
Conclusion
Take note that iron deficiency can’t be treated overnight. You might be required to follow a treatment over the course of a week or two, during which you will start to gradually feel better if you follow the course of treatment.