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The most common nutrient deficiency is low iron. It is especially common among women because iron is lost by menstrual bleeding and pregnancies. As a result, women are expected to have a lower hemoglobin, on average, than men.
It has been estimated that 25% of women aged 18-50 have low iron. This causes fatigue, impaired concentration, decreased exercise tolerance, and poor sleep quality. A recent editorial by hematologist Dr. Angela Weyand, published in The Lancet medical journal, suggests that iron deficiency accounts for a major source of gender inequality.
For many years, it has been assumed that anemia during pregnancy is “normal.” Recently, it has become clear that iron deficiency is the main cause of this anemia, occurring in as many as 25% of all pregnancies. Importantly, children born to iron-deficient mothers have been shown to have impaired cognitive, motor, social, and emotional development.
The way to solve these problems is to identify and treat all women who have iron deficiency. This public health mission has been challenging because of lack of awareness among women and their physicians, as well as poor understanding of the iron tests.
Another problem has been the difficulty women face when trying to find a hematologist to provide iron treatment. Historically, the practice of hematology has been combined with oncology. Because iron deficiency is a “benign” blood condition, it has been a low priority for oncology doctors.
Recently, Heme Onc Call, the country’s first telemedicine-based hematology practice, was created to reform the way women’s health hematology is practiced. Women no longer need to visit an oncologist for low iron. Instead, they schedule a next-day online appointment as their “digital entry” into a women’s health hematology practice.
After a careful assessment of a woman’s situation and review of her iron test results, we set up iron infusions in a comfortable outpatient clinic.
The mission of Heme Onc Call is to identify and treat every woman who has iron deficiency: pregnant women, those who have heavy menstrual bleeding, and those who do not absorb iron well (e.g. after weight-loss surgery).
Ask your doctor about testing your iron level, and contact Heme Onc Call for a televisit appointment, or contact us for a free iron screening consultation.
