Susan Bonderov, a 51-year-old teacher and clinical counsellor in Vancouver, used to write 'iron deficiency' on her arm in Sharpie every day before leaving home. This was a precaution for paramedics in case she collapsed, a symptom of her chronic iron deficiency anemia that has plagued her for decades.
Widespread Problem in British Columbia
According to data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey, several hundred thousand British Columbians are estimated to be living with iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia. This condition limits the body's ability to produce enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen, leading to symptoms like exhaustion, brain fog, and dizziness that many dismiss as normal fatigue.
Dr. Wendy Davis and Dr. Hayley Merkeley, hematologists at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver, note that many women spend years with symptoms before receiving a proper diagnosis. 'I think 30 per cent of menstruating women are iron deficient, and many of those patients will also have anemia as well,' Davis said.
Health Impacts and Statistics
Health Canada reports that one in four women aged 14 to 50 have low iron. A 2023 Canadian study in The Journal of Nutrition found iron deficiency affected 16 per cent of premenopausal women, compared to four per cent of post-menopausal women and about three per cent of men. Low iron can affect fetal development during pregnancy and lead to developmental delays in young children. Severe iron deficiency anemia can also strain the heart as it struggles to move enough oxygen through the bloodstream.
Diagnosis depends on access to blood tests, follow-up care, and a doctor who can connect symptoms to iron deficiency anemia. However, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 5.4 million Canadian adults — 17 per cent — reported having no family doctor in 2023, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
Misconceptions and Treatment Challenges
Iron deficiency and anemia are often mistakenly treated as the same condition. 'Iron deficiency in and of itself can exist outside of anemia,' said Davis. Anemia is considered a more serious condition and can also be caused by genetic disorders, chronic illnesses, and inflammatory conditions.
Bonderov's fear changed how she moved through the world. When walking her dog, she would wrap his leash around her wrist in case she fainted. Her story highlights the mental and financial toll of this little-discussed health issue, which affects thousands in B.C. and across Canada.
