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Iron Deficiency and Anemia May Be More Common Than We Know

Iron Deficiency and Anemia May Be More Common Than We Know

60-Second Science vor 1 Jahr

Underdiagnosed iron deficiency and anemia could be leaving people without affordable fixes for their concerns.

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Low iron levels can cause fatigue and impact mental health, but
doctors often miss cases of iron deficiency and anemia. Pediatric
hematologist Angela Weyand, a clinical associate professor at the
University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, points to one
population that could be at a higher risk—young women with heavy
menstrual bleeding. In one study from a national database, nearly
40 percent of otherwise healthy adolescent women were
iron-deficient, and 6 percent were additionally anemic. Awareness
and self-advocacy could help people receive accessible and
inexpensive treatments for low iron levels. Recommended reading:
“Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron-Deficiency Anemia in US
Females Aged 12–21 Years, 2003–2020,” by Angela C. Weyand et al.,
in JAMA, Vol. 329, No. 24; June 27, 2023 What Is Implicit Bias, and
How Might It Affect Your Next Medical Visit? E-mail us at
sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or
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produced by Rachel Feltman, Fonda Mwangi, Kelso Harper, Madison
Goldberg and Jeff DelViscio. This episode was hosted by Rachel
Feltman. Our show is edited by Fonda Mwangi, with fact-checking by
Shayna Posses and Aaron Shattuck. The theme music was composed by
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