The main reasons for iron deficiency in the elderly are insufficient intake, absorption obstacles and excessive loss.
1. Insufficient intake: the activity of the elderly is reduced compared with that of the young, coupled with the loosening and loss of teeth, etc., the intake of lean meat, eggs and milk is likely to be insufficient, and if they do not pay attention to supplementation, it is likely to result in insufficient intake of iron.
2. Absorption obstacles: the elderly gastrointestinal function is weakened, there may be chronic enteritis, atrophic gastritis and other diseases, which will lead to reduced absorption of iron. Postoperative gastric cancer and short bowel syndrome can cause iron absorption disorder.
3. Excessive loss: the elderly may have hemorrhoids, duodenal ulcer bleeding, esophagogastric fundus varices rupture bleeding and other reasons, resulting in chronic blood loss in the digestive tract and excessive iron loss.
4. Other: such as long-term use of drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; anti-tumor drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, etc., can cause chronic iron deficiency anemia.
The causes of iron deficiency in the elderly are more, patients should consult the doctor in time to clarify the cause of the disease and early treatment.