These symptoms occur because without sufficient hemoglobin in the red blood cells, all parts of the body, including the brain, are starved for oxygen. And the heart tries to compensate by pumping more blood more often, explains Paul Stander, M.D., a doctor of quality management and director of medical education at Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix. Doctors can usually diagnose anemia by examining red blood cells under a microscope to determine their shape, size and number and by tests that measure levels of different blood components. Here's what studies show. We've all heard about iron -poor blood, and for good reason.
Iron deficiency is by far the most common cause of anemia.
Up to 58 percent of healthy young women may be short on iron , although not always to the point of anemia. The problem is that many women don't consume enough iron each day to make up for the 2.5 milligrams or so they lose each month during menstruation. Pregnant women need even more iron . Teens and women nearing menopause also often come up short. Studies show that women ages 18 to 24 get about 10.7 milligrams a day, which is nowhere near the Daily Value of 18 milligrams.