Iron-Deficiency Anemia - Screening and Prevention - Screening and Prevention

To screen for iron-deficiency anemia, your doctor may order a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to see if you have lower than normal red blood cell counts, hemoglobin or Hematocrit levels, or mean corpuscular volume (MCV) that would suggest anemia.

If you have certain risk factors, such as if you are following a vegetarian eating pattern, your doctor may recommend changes to help you meet the recommended daily amount of iron. If you have other medical conditions that cause iron-deficiency anemia, such as bleeding in the digestive or urinary tract or heavy menstrual bleeding, your doctor will want to control these other conditions to prevent you from developing iron-deficiency anemia.

• Foods that are good sources of iron include dried beans, dried fruits, eggs, lean red meat, salmon, iron-fortified breads and cereals, peas, tofu, dried fruits, and dark green leafy vegetables.
• Foods rich in vitamin C, such as oranges, strawberries, and tomatoes, may help increase your absorption of iron.

If you are pregnant, talk to your doctor about delayed clamping of your newborn’s umbilical cord at the time of delivery. This may help prevent iron-deficiency anemia in your newborn for both full-term and preterm infants.

• Diagnosis will explain tests and procedures that your doctor may use to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia.
• Living With will discuss what your doctor may recommend to prevent your iron-deficiency anemia from recurring, getting worse, or causing complications.
• Research for Your Health will explain how we are using current research and advancing research to prevent iron-deficiency anemia.
• Participate in NHLBI Clinical Trials will explain our ongoing clinical studies that are investigating prevention strategies for iron-deficiency anemia.