By Cathryn Peter, Madelon Smith, Martha Timmons
BSN Students
Iron Deficiency
Iron is an element that is found in red blood cells and is essential for the transport of oxygen from the lungs to the body. Humans are unable to make their own iron. People must consume iron-rich foods or iron supplements to meet body requirements. If a person has an insufficient amount of iron they can develop a disorder called iron deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA is very common in older adults. According to Lindblad, Cotton, and Allan (2015), more than 10% of adults over the age of 65 have IDA. This number increases to 20% in adults over the age of 85.