Adolescent Health Clinic: Anemia

Article Translations: (Spanish)

What is anemia?

Anemia is when the number of red blood cells in the body gets too low. Red blood cells (RBCs) carry hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. When you don’t have enough RBCs or the amount of hemoglobin in your blood is low, your body doesn’t get all the oxygen it needs. As a result, you may feel tired or have other symptoms.  

What causes anemia?

The most common type of anemia in teens is iron deficiency anemia. This occurs when someone doesn’t have enough iron in their diet, or when there is large blood loss (like when females have heavy menstrual periods or if there is bleeding in the digestive system).

What are the signs & symptoms of anemia?

Some people with anemia don’t have any symptoms. Someone who does have symptoms might:

• Look pale
• Seem moody
• Be very tired
• Feel dizzy or lightheaded
• Have a fast heartbeat
• Have jaundice (yellow skin and eyes), an enlarged spleen, and dark tea-colored pee (in hemolytic anemias)

How is anemia treated?

Treatment for anemia depends on the cause. Teens with anemia might need:

• Medicines
• Changes in their diet
• Blood transfusions
• Treatment of another underlying disease
• To see doctors (hematologists) who specialize in anemia and other blood problems

The good news is that for most teens, anemia is easily treated!

If you have iron-deficiency anemia, your provider might prescribe an iron supplement. They may do a follow-up blood test after you’ve been taking the supplement for a while. Even if the tests show that the anemia has improved, you might have to keep taking iron for several months to build up your body’s iron stores.

If your anemia is caused by another medical condition, providers will work to treat the cause. Certain types of anemia will need a hematologist (a doctor who specializes in blood disorders) visit who can provide the right medical care. If blood is lost through menstrual cycles, your doctor may suggest treatments or medicines that can help periods be lighter.

To make sure you get enough iron, eat a balanced diet every day: see below for ideas.

Nutrition suggestions:

• There are two different types of iron that can be obtained from food: heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is found in animal products such as meat, fish, and poultry. Non-heme iron is found in plant foods such as grains, vegetables, and fruits.
• Heme iron (from animal products) is more easily absorbed in the body but non-heme iron also offers benefits.
• It is best to eat both types of iron-rich foods such as red meat, seafood, beans, eggs, dark leafy green vegetables (like kale and spinach), dried fruit, iron-fortified cereals, breads, and pastas.
• You can improve your body’s absorption of iron-containing foods by pairing them with a source of Vitamin C. Examples of this are citrus fruits, broccoli, kiwi, leafy greens, and tomatoes.
• Some foods can prevent iron consumption, like caseins from milk, calcium, and compounds in tea, coffee, and cocoa.
• Teens should get 11-15mg of iron each day.

Food	Serving Size	Milligrams (mg) of iron
Ground beef	1 patty	2
Pork loin	3 oz	0.7
Chicken	1 cup diced	1.8
Ground turkey	1 patty	1.2
Tuna	2 oz (½ small can)	0.9
Salmon	½ fillet	0.7
Egg	1	0.6
Whole wheat bread	1 slice	0.7
Quinoa	½ cup cooked	1.4
Oatmeal	½ cup dry	3
Beans	½ cup	2
Beets	½ cup	0.5
Peas	½ cup	1
Broccoli	1 cup	0.7
Kale	1 cup	1
Chard	1 cup	0.6
Prunes	5 prunes	0.5
Molasses	1 tbsp	0.9
Iron fortified cereal, such as Life cereal	1 cup	11
Tofu	½ cup	6.6

Questions?

This information is not specific to your child but provides general information. If you have any questions, please call your clinic.

Revewed 7/2023

Back To Top