Iron-deficient anemia in men is rare and can often go undiagnosed for long periods of time. If you are a man who has recently experienced any type of blood loss (including hemorrhoids and ulcers) or symptoms of anemia (like fatigue or headaches) talk to your doctor to find out if you are suffering from iron deficient anemia. Once you have been diagnosed through blood testing or other methods, treatment will often require a great deal of trial and error.
Instructions
1. Identify the cause of iron deficiency and treat it. Many men suffering from iron-deficient anemia do not have the cause of their anemia treated properly. Failing to properly treat the initial cause of the anemia will make future efforts to treat the anemia useless.
2. Begin eating iron-rich foods. Increasing the amount of iron in your diet will help restore your iron levels to normal. Red meats, leafy green vegetables, beans, and lentils eaten in large quantities will help restore iron in men. Increasing fiber by eating whole grains and fresh fruits can also help return iron levels to normal.
3. Take over-the-counter iron supplements. Iron-rich vitamins or supplements can be used to treat iron-deficient anemia if consuming iron-rich foods is not treating iron deficiency fast enough. If the anemia is not too severe, taking vitamins with extra iron will often be enough to treat iron-deficient anemia. These iron supplements and iron-rich vitamins can be purchased at any pharmacy without a prescription.
4. Receive an IV iron infusion from a physician or clinic. IV infusions are used when iron deficient anemia cannot be effectively treated with diet and supplements. This often occurs when a man has stomach problems or when the iron deficiency has become so severe that the body cannot absorb iron fast enough through usual methods.
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