Thread by @TobyRichardsUWA

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency is a disease that effects 1in7 'healthy women TODAY and more than half of women in their lifespan. Average duration of symptoms = 8 years (2-13) some posts on the disease in women (1/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency is just as common in top athletes and can effect physical performance. Correcting iron deficiency can result in a 5% increase in VO2max - the equivalent to 3 months of high intensity gym work! (2/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency can impact mental health. 'Brain Fog' is the top symptom reported after fatigue - 'Mummy brain' is not normal - In a series of 9000 women receiving iron 17% had been medicated for depression. (3/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency can cause a range of symptoms but asking women give different results tot eh 'text book': Air hunger, brain fog, achey legs, headaches, hair loss, waking up tired, insomnia, loss of sex drive, anxiety (4/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency occours before anaemia. Only when your body is empty of iron does the bone marrow fail to produce red cells. The symptoms women report are of iron deficiency that happen independent of anaemia. So your doctor needs to test for IRON (5/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency is diagnosed by a blood test for FERRITIN the iron storage protein, testing the blood count is not relevant! (6/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency is treated by iron. supplement - minimum 65mg elemental iron daily. Popeye was wrong -Plant iron is V bady absorbed you would need 2kg spinach a day! Meat (haem) iron in fish, chicken and red meat is 10x better absorbed (7/8)

#IWD2021 #IWD #Irondeficiency can be treated by an iron infusion if tablets fail or nor tolerated. Modern iron infusions are safe and well tolerated and have revolutionised health and well being for women.