Number of anaemic people in the world is increasing, which classifies anaemia a global health problem that affects even industrialized countries. The numbers are staggering, and they say that about 2 billion people (more than 30% of world’s population) are affected by some form of anemia. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 50% of all anaemia cases are caused by iron deficiency in the body. It can occur as a result of insufficient food intake, increased loss from the body, and incomplete absorption in the intestinal tract.
The most vulnerable populations are children of preschool and school-age, women of childbearing age, and the elderly. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) symptoms are non-specific and the condition itself usually develops slowly, therefore it can easily go unrecognized for quite some time. During this time the disease progresses unnoticed.
What are the signs that we should pay attention on, and that could potentially indicate anaemia?
Milder symptoms include fatigue, paleness of the skin, weakness, lightheadedness, drowsiness and shortness of breath. They are typically followed by more severe symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, gastrointestinal disorders (such as constipation), impaired psychomotor and cognitive function (that can lead to reduced intellectual abilities in children), frequent infections, rapid heartbeat and even hair loss. Iron deficiency anemia should only be diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on a medical history, physical exam and laboratory tests, which most commonly include evaluation of iron levels in the blood and depots, as well as hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
How is iron deficiency anaemia treated?
It is treated by restoring the iron body levels through the intake of medicines and iron dietary supplements, as well as by eliminating the causes that led to the development of the disease (if known).
Iron dietary supplements are used to increase iron levels in the blood and tissue tank, and they must be continuously administered from 3 to 6 months along with an iron rich diet. They are recommended with an increased intake of vitamin C, which has a positive effect on iron absorption, providing better efficacy of the product.
Eko -Fe ++ is a unique product in our portfolio, designed to maintain iron blood levels in the body. It is a combination of high bioavailable iron, folic acid and vitamin C. The main advantage of the product is good tolerance thanks to the pharmaceutical form – film coated tablet. They should be administered orally with a glass of liquid, without chewing. They do not affect the tooth enamel, nor leave a metal aftertaste in mouth. Gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea and constipation, are minimized due to the film coat over the tablet. This allows patients to persist in their therapy, which could last from 3 up to 6 months.
Eko-Fe ++ film tablets can be purchased in all better supplied pharmacies in Serbia.
Fatigue, exhaustion, apathy, shortness of breath, impaired immunity are all difficulties of modern life that we experience more often. We attribute them to the urban, fast lifestyle, excessive work duties, nervous tension, irregular diet, and spending time indoors, not knowing that they often have quite another cause – the lack of iron in the body.