Anemia is a serious medical condition where your body isn’t producing enough red blood cells to meet your body’s needs. Red blood cells are responsible for transporting oxygen and hemoglobin throughout your body. Therefore, if you don’t have enough red blood cells, your cells and tissues won’t have enough oxygen, which can cause a wide range of health problems. Today, we take a closer look at anemia lips discoloration – one of the potential signs that your body isn’t getting the oxygen it needs.
Get an Iron Infusion
Intravenous iron therapy is a convenient and effective method to restore normal iron levels in your body. Our team of medical professionals screens your lab results and determines the sufficient amount of treatments to normalize your iron levels. Our medical team will come to your location in the area and administer the Iron infusion.
Book Iron IVWhat is anemia?
As we touched on briefly, anemia is a health condition where your body isn’t producing enough red blood cells. Anemia often happens due to dietary or nutritional insufficiency because adequate amounts of iron, folic acid, and B12 are necessary to create red blood cells.
Lip discoloration and anemia
There are many types of anemia. However, you may notice changes in lip coloration with iron deficiency, folate deficiency, sickle cell, and B12 deficiency anemias.
The color of your lips can vary depending on the severity and type of anemia. For example, white or pale lips can signify a severe case of anemia and means that you are dangerously low on oxygen.
Iron deficiency anemia can cause discolored lips because your body does not have enough iron to stimulate the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. Vitamin B12 and B9 (folate) are critical for creating and distributing red blood cells and oxygen. Low levels of either of these vitamins can likewise cause lip color changes.
Sickle cell anemia is a genetic condition that causes blood cells to develop incorrectly, taking on a rigid, crescent shape. These ‘sickle-shaped’ cells can become lodged in small blood vessels, impeding the flow of oxygen throughout the body.
Other signs and symptoms of anemia
Regardless of what is causing your anemia, it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms that accompany it. Here are some of the most common signs of anemia:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Cold chills
- Cold extremities
- Fatigue
- Mind fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Pale skin
How to diagnose anemia
Diagnosing anemia is important because it is always caused by an underlying condition. It’s extremely important to determine what caused your anemia; otherwise, the problem will persist and potentially cause significant health issues.
Here are the tests your doctor will use to diagnose whether or not you are anemic and what’s causing it.
- CBC (complete blood count) test
- Hemoglobin test
- Hematocrit test
- Folate test
These tests will tell your doctor if and why you’re anemic by measuring your red blood cell count, red blood cell shape and size, and iron, folic acid, B12 levels, and more. Consulting a healthcare professional is critical for the proper diagnosis and treatment of anemia.
Final thoughts
If you are at a higher risk of developing anemia, knowing the signs and symptoms of this condition can help you know when to seek treatment. By being on the lookout for anemia lip discoloration and paleness, you can catch anemia before it causes serious health problems and seek medical assistance for diagnosis and treatment.
At-Home Iron Infusion With Drip Hydration
Iron IV therapy is an efficient and convenient way to increase your iron levels quickly and effectively. With Drip Hydration's at-home treatment option, our team will come to your location to administer the IV, whether that be your home or office. You will be able to relax and carry on with your daily activities, while we take care of the rest.
Contact Drip Hydration today and schedule your appointment, our experienced team is here to help you achieve optimal iron levels and improve your overall health.
Book Iron IVIron IV Infusion - Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iron infusion?
Iron IV Infusion is a therapy where an enriched saline bag with iron and other vitamins is intravenously administered.
Why would a patient need an iron infusion?
Patients typically need an iron infusion to correct low blood iron levels, although infusions may also be given in advance of a medical procedure. There are many potential reasons a patient might have low blood iron, including illness, certain medical conditions, side effects from other treatments, inability to absorb adequate iron from diet or supplements, and more.
What happens during an iron infusion?
A nurse will arrive at your location at your appointment time with the necessary equipment for your infusion. They will then administer a test dose via a needle and catheter to ensure that you do not have an allergic reaction to the ingredients in the infusion.
After your test dose, your infusion will begin. This process typically takes several hours. Following your infusion, you can resume activities as normal unless otherwise instructed.
How to prepare for an iron infusion
The most significant preparation required for an iron infusion is to ensure you set aside enough time for treatment. Unlike some procedures, there is no need to fast prior to this procedure.
- Iron infusions may take 3 or 4 hours, so bring a book, a game, music or podcasts, a computer, or sit near your TV so you can stay occupied during treatment.
- Eat breakfast, stay hydrated, and take your medication as normal unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. You may also want to consider having a blanket on hand if you get cold easily.
