Since iron deficiency is all about a lack of iron, one of the first things a doctor will prescribe is an iron supplement of some kind. Tablets are the most common form. In some cases, you may be sent to hospital in order to have iron inserted into your body more directly via an I.V (intravenous).

Iron supplements come in the aforementioned tablet form, as well as liquid forms. Depending on your case, your doctor will suggest one form or the other to suit your body. Dosages will all depend on the individual aspects of your case. After a few weeks of taking supplements, you will have a blood test to check that your iron levels are rising.

However, even when your blood becomes healthy again, your doctor will probably recommend that you continue taking the tablets for another few months. This is done to help you build up an excess or iron, allowing it to be stored in the liver for future use. You will also probably have to have regular blood tests for the rest of your life to keep an eye on the quality of your blood.

Certain side effects may arise with iron supplements, including nausea and stomach problems like constipation or diarrhea. If you struggle with any side effects, you should immediately alert your doctor. They may be able to provide an alternative form to treat iron deficiency or some additional medication to ease your symptoms. Here are a few tips and tricks for dealing with side effects:
• Take lower doses. You will need to prolong your treatment to get the required stores of iron in your body, but lower doses may help with nausea and other issues.
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep yourself hydrated. This will particularly help with problems like constipation.
• For non-organic forms of iron, take your supplements at mealtimes.
The presence of other elements in your gut will help to ease the passage of the iron and reduce your side effects. Click the link for more information on organic and non-organic iron.

In extreme cases, transfusions are used to treat iron deficiency anemia. If you are suffering from severe symptoms associated with iron deficiency anemia like respiratory trouble, fatigue or chest pain, you may require a transfusion. These are used to replenish your supply of healthy red blood cells.

Unfortunately, the relief provided by transfusions is only temporary, so you will still need to identify the cause of your problem and increase the amount of iron you ingest to cure yourself of the problem.

Iron supplements are great for improving your health, but you can also make some dietary changes to get more iron in your blood. Follow the the link for iron rich foods.