Iron Infusions in Kelowna: Who Might Benefit?

Feeling exhausted, lightheaded, short of breath, or noticing increased hair shedding? Low iron could be one possible explanation.

Iron deficiency is common, particularly in people who menstruate, but it can affect anyone. While oral iron supplements are typically the first treatment considered, they do not work well for everyone. For some people, an iron infusion, also known as intravenous or IV iron, may be an option.

If you are looking for iron infusions in Kelowna, here is what you should know about iron deficiency, when IV iron may be considered, and what the process involves.

What Is Iron Deficiency?

Iron is an essential mineral that your body needs to produce hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body.

When iron stores become depleted, symptoms can develop even before someone meets the criteria for anemia. This is why looking at iron status involves more than simply determining whether hemoglobin is within the normal range.

Ferritin is one of the most useful blood tests for assessing the body's iron stores. However, ferritin should always be interpreted in the context of your symptoms, medical history, other bloodwork, and potential causes of iron loss.

What Are the Symptoms of Low Iron?

Iron deficiency can look different from person to person. Some people have very few symptoms, while others notice a significant change in how they feel.

Possible symptoms of low iron include:

• Fatigue or low energy

• Reduced exercise tolerance

• Shortness of breath with activity

• Dizziness or lightheadedness

• Headaches

• Difficulty concentrating or "brain fog"

• Weakness

• Heart palpitations or a faster heartbeat

• Hair shedding or hair loss

• Brittle nails

• Feeling cold

• Restless legs

• Pale skin

• Craving ice or other non-food substances, known as pica

These symptoms are not specific to iron deficiency, so appropriate bloodwork is important before assuming that iron is the cause.

Can You Have Low Iron Without Being Anemic?

Yes. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are not the same thing.

Iron deficiency occurs when the body's iron stores are depleted. Iron deficiency anemia develops when iron deficiency progresses to the point that the body can no longer produce adequate hemoglobin.

This means it is possible to have a normal hemoglobin level while still having low iron stores and experiencing symptoms.

In British Columbia, clinical guidelines recognize that iron deficiency itself can cause symptoms even in the absence of anemia and warrants appropriate investigation and treatment.

What Causes Low Iron?

One of the most important parts of treating iron deficiency is figuring out why your iron is low in the first place.

Common causes can include:

Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding

Heavy periods are a common cause of iron deficiency in menstruating women. Losing more blood each month means losing more iron, and over time it can become difficult to replace those losses through diet alone.

This can be particularly relevant for people experiencing changes in menstrual bleeding during perimenopause.

Pregnancy and postpartum

Iron requirements increase substantially during pregnancy. Blood loss during delivery can further reduce iron stores, making pregnancy and the postpartum period common times for iron deficiency to develop.

Low dietary iron intake

People who eat little or no meat may have a harder time meeting their iron requirements, although a well-planned vegetarian or vegan diet can still provide adequate iron.

Difficulty absorbing iron

Certain gastrointestinal conditions can interfere with iron absorption. Examples include celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease.

Previous gastrointestinal surgery and some medications may also affect the body's ability to absorb iron.

Gastrointestinal blood loss

Bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract is another possible cause of iron deficiency and can occur without visible blood in the stool.

For this reason, unexplained iron deficiency, particularly in men and postmenopausal women, should be appropriately investigated rather than simply treated with iron.

How Is Iron Deficiency Usually Treated?

For most people, oral iron is the first-line treatment.

There are many forms of oral iron available, and sometimes changing the formulation, dose, or dosing schedule can make it much easier to tolerate.

However, rebuilding iron stores with oral supplements takes time. Depending on the severity of the deficiency, it may take several months to replenish iron stores.

Some people also experience significant gastrointestinal side effects from oral iron, including:

• Constipation

• Nausea

• Abdominal discomfort

• Diarrhea

• Indigestion

For others, oral iron simply does not raise their iron levels adequately.

This is where an iron infusion may be considered.

What Is an Iron Infusion?

An iron infusion delivers iron intravenously, meaning the iron is administered directly into a vein through an IV.

Because the iron does not have to pass through the digestive system, an iron infusion bypasses the intestinal absorption process.

The amount of iron required and the number of infusions needed depend on several factors, including your bloodwork, body size, medical history, the type of IV iron being used, and the degree of iron deficiency.

Who Might Benefit From an Iron Infusion?

An iron infusion is not automatically the best treatment for everyone with low ferritin. However, IV iron may be considered in certain situations.

You may be a candidate for an iron infusion if:

• You have confirmed iron deficiency and cannot tolerate oral iron

• You have tried oral iron without an adequate improvement in your iron levels

• You have difficulty absorbing oral iron

• You have ongoing blood loss that makes it difficult to replenish iron stores

• You have significant iron deficiency and your healthcare provider determines that IV replacement is appropriate

• You have a medical condition where oral iron may not be sufficient or appropriate

The decision should be based on your individual situation rather than a single ferritin result.

Are Iron Infusions Only for People With Anemia?

Not necessarily.

Because iron deficiency can exist before anemia develops, hemoglobin is not the only factor considered when assessing whether iron replacement is appropriate.

Your healthcare provider may look at your:

• Ferritin

• Complete blood count (CBC)

• Hemoglobin

• Medical history

• Symptoms

• Menstrual history

• Gastrointestinal health

• Previous response to oral iron

• Possible sources of blood loss

Additional testing may be appropriate depending on the situation.

The goal is not simply to increase a number on your bloodwork. It is to determine whether iron deficiency is present, understand why it developed, and choose an appropriate way to correct it.

What Happens During an Iron Infusion?

Before an iron infusion, your healthcare provider will review your medical history and recent bloodwork to determine whether IV iron is appropriate.

During the appointment, an IV is inserted into a vein, usually in the arm or hand. The iron medication is then administered intravenously.

The length of the appointment depends on the specific iron preparation and dose being administered.

Patients are monitored during the infusion and for potential reactions. Most people tolerate IV iron well, but side effects and infusion reactions are possible, which is why iron infusions should be administered in an appropriate clinical setting with trained healthcare professionals.

Are There Risks or Side Effects From Iron Infusions?

As with any medical treatment, IV iron has potential risks and side effects.

These can include:

• Headache

• Nausea

• Flushing

• Dizziness

• Muscle or joint discomfort

• Changes in blood pressure

• IV-site discomfort

• Infusion reactions

Serious hypersensitivity reactions are uncommon but can occur.

Another potential complication is skin staining if iron leaks from the vein into the surrounding tissue. Careful IV placement and monitoring during the infusion are therefore important.

Your healthcare provider should discuss the benefits and risks of treatment with you before proceeding.

How Quickly Will I Feel Better After an Iron Infusion?

This varies considerably.

An iron infusion delivers iron directly into the bloodstream, but your body still needs time to use that iron. Improvement is therefore not necessarily immediate.

Some people notice changes in symptoms over the following days or weeks, while for others it takes longer. Your response can also depend on whether iron deficiency was actually responsible for the symptoms you were experiencing.

Follow-up bloodwork can be used to assess your response to treatment.

Do Iron Infusions Fix Low Iron Permanently?

An iron infusion replaces iron, but it does not automatically correct the reason that the iron became low.

For example, if heavy menstrual bleeding is causing ongoing iron loss, iron stores may eventually decline again unless the bleeding is also addressed.

The same applies to gastrointestinal blood loss, inadequate dietary intake, or problems with iron absorption.

Iron Infusions in Kelowna, BC

At Momentum Health in Kelowna, we offer iron deficiency assessment and iron infusions for appropriate patients.

The first step is determining whether iron deficiency is actually present and whether an iron infusion is the right treatment for you. This may include reviewing your symptoms, menstrual history, diet, gastrointestinal health, previous iron supplementation, and recent bloodwork.

If IV iron is appropriate, we can discuss what the infusion process involves, potential risks and benefits, and follow-up testing.

If you have been struggling with low ferritin, iron deficiency, or difficulty tolerating oral iron, an assessment can help determine your next step.

Looking for an iron infusion in Kelowna? Book an appointment with Dr. Brittany Jeffries, ND at Momentum Health to review your bloodwork and discuss whether IV iron may be appropriate for you.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Iron deficiency should be appropriately investigated to determine the underlying cause before treatment.