D50.0: Iron deficiency anaemia secondary to blood loss (chronic)

You do not have enough iron in your body. This means you don’t have enough haemoglobin in your blood.

Blood is made up of blood plasma and blood cells. The blood cells also include red blood cells. They contain haemoglobin, the pigment that gives the blood its red color. This pigment is important for carrying oxygen in the blood. Haemoglobin needs various nutrients to be formed. These nutrients include various proteins, vitamins and iron, for example.

You do not have enough iron in your body. You have been losing blood for a long time. This can happen as a result of severe menstrual bleeding or bleeding from the stomach or bowel. Bleeding also causes you to lose iron.

This iron deficiency means your body cannot produce enough haemoglobin. If you don’t have enough haemoglobin, then the body can no longer transport as much oxygen. This can mean you’re exhausted more quickly or you have difficulty breathing.

Iron deficiency can cause you to have other symptoms. Iron deficiency can lead to cracks in the skin at the corner of the mouth or the tongue can burn. This happens because the lining in the mouth and throat area recedes. This can also lead to swallowing problems. Your hair and nails often also become brittle when you don’t have enough iron in the body.