Evaluating and Treating Active Patients for Anemia

In Brief: Anemia affects many active patients, from young female recreational athletes to elite male competitors. The treatment may simply be iron supplementation, but the causes of iron-deficiency anemia are many, including poor nutrition, exercise-induced hemoglobinuria or hematuria, gastritis, hemorrhoids, peptic ulcer disease, angiodysplasia, and adenocarcinoma. Therefore, physicians need to do a thorough evaluation that includes a medical history, family medical history, drug history, physical exam, and referral to a gastroenterologist if necessary.

Unequivocally, an athlete with iron deficiency will not perform as well as an athlete with normal iron stores and red blood cell indices. Thus, it is surprising that so many of today's athletes have iron-deficiency anemia. But, as the case below illustrates, it is not enough to simply diagnose anemia and prescribe iron supplements. Physicians must also meticulously search for the cause of the deficiency.

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Mr. Jan B. Wade
Blood Management Consultant
Enhance Outcomes - Control Cost
For Information Call - 360 296-1807
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