Iron deficiency is a fairly common issue that can leave people feeling fatigued and even short of breath. However, new research finds that there’s one group who’s particularly vulnerable to developing iron deficiency and anemia and they are young, menstruating women.
Researchers who conducted the study and published their findings in JAMA discovered that, between 2003 and 2020, almost 40% of women and girls were iron deficient and 6% actually had iron-deficiency anemia.
Though the study didn’t look at why this population has low iron levels, there are some theories. One is that bleeding during a menstrual cycle contributes to loss of iron and another is that we’re simply not getting enough iron in our collective diet these days. But whatever the reason is, many in the medical field find the discovery “startling” and hope doctors take a larger role in seeing that their patients – especially the young female ones – are getting the iron they need.
Source: Yahoo
Scott's Thoughts:
- Do you or anyone you know have iron-deficiency symptoms and are only making the connection now?
- Since meat is a great source of iron, what kind of foods do you supplement with if you're a vegetarian?
- Have you ever felt blown off by your doctor in the past when you brought up these types of concerns?