Bruce Springsteen Says 'monster' Peptic Ulcer Disease Is 'rocking My Internal World'
The Boss is not in charge of his aching body these days.
Bruce Springsteen, 74, introduced himself Tuesday on his SiriusXM E Street Radio show "From My Home to Your" as "your favorite rock star with a bitch of a bellyache" as the "Glory Days" singer continues to deal with peptic ulcer disease.
Springsteen & The E Street Band were forced to postpone the remainder of their 2023 tour dates due to his illness last month, and in his latest update, Springsteen got candid about how it's affected his life.
"Let me take a moment and thank my fans affected by our postponed shows for their understanding," he said. "I am deeply sorry but this belly thing, despite my ability to laugh at it, has been a monster and is still unfortunately rocking my internal world."
The Boss and the band announced 16 rescheduled tour dates last week that will take them all over North America from March through September next year.
Bruce Springsteen performs with The E Street Band at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on July 25 in Monza, Italy. Corbis via Getty ImagesSpringsteen first revealed he was being treated for symptoms of peptic ulcer disease on Sept. 6 when he postponed three shows.
The main symptom of a peptic ulcer is a sharp, burning pain in the stomach, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Having an empty stomach can aggravate the pain, as can eating spicy or acidic foods.
Springsteen and the band perform live at Olympiastadion on July 23 in Munich, Germany.Getty ImagesIn severe cases, symptoms can include vomiting or vomiting blood, dark blood in stools, stools that are black or tarry, trouble breathing, feeling faint, nausea or vomiting, unexplained weight loss and changes in appetite.
Springsteen never divulged which symptoms he was experiencing.
Springsteen and co. Are set to hit the road next year.Corbis via Getty Images"Over here on E Street, we're heartbroken to have to postpone these shows," a statement on his Instagram said at the time.
"We've been having a blast at our US shows and we're looking forward to more great times. We'll be back soon. Love and God bless all, Bruce."
What To Know About Iron Deficiency Anemia And Aging
Iron deficiency Anemia is common among older adults, with possible causes including nutritional deficiencies, blood loss, taking certain medications, and poor absorption.
The body uses iron in the production of red blood cells (RBCs), which transport oxygen around the body. Without sufficient iron, a person may not be able to produce enough healthy RBCs to satisfy the body's needs. The result may be iron deficiency anemia, which can cause symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath.
A person typically receives iron from their diet. However, a dietary deficiency or the body's inability to use iron correctly can lead to iron deficiency anemia. This condition is common among older adults due to multiple contributing factors that can affect how the body gets or uses dietary iron.
In this article, we discuss the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in older adults and explain how to treat and manage the condition.
Iron deficiency anemia is relatively common in aging populations. Research from 2018 notes that depending on the population in question, 12–47% of older adults will develop some form of anemia.
Other evidence notes that anemia is most frequent in older age, potentially affecting about 17% of the population over the age of 65 years. Research also suggests that iron deficiency anemia, specifically, accounts for about one-third of anemia cases in older adults.
Although some cases of iron deficiency anemia may be mild, anemia in older adults can contribute to a number of adverse outcomes, including longer hospital stays and even mortality. As a result, doctors will work to diagnose and treat even mild cases of anemia.
Multiple underlying factors can play a role in iron deficiency anemia, more than one of which may contribute to a person's diagnosis. These can include:
Dietary intakeLower dietary intake of iron may cause symptoms if the body does not get enough iron to replenish healthy RBCs. People who follow certain diets, such as vegans, or those who do not consciously eat enough iron-rich foods may have an increased risk of anemia.
Learn about diet plans for iron deficiency.
Other vitamin deficienciesEven with a diet high in iron, a person lacking other important vitamins may still be at risk of developing iron deficiency anemia. Deficiencies in B vitamins — such as vitamin B12 or vitamin B9, which is also called folic acid or folate — are also quite common and may affect iron absorption.
MalabsorptionIf the body cannot use iron properly — for example, due to a gastrointestinal disorder — even a high intake of iron may not be sufficient to balance iron levels. Health issues that affect iron absorption may, therefore, cause iron deficiency anemia as a secondary issue.
Low erythropoietinErythropoietin (EPO) is a hormone that the kidneys produce. EPO helps stimulate the production and repair of RBCs. Conditions that could affect EPO levels may also lead to iron deficiency anemia. These conditions include those affecting the kidneys and hormone-related disorders.
BleedingBleeding may cause a person to lose enough healthy RBCs that they develop anemia. External bleeding may occur as the skin ages and becomes thinner, making cuts and scrapes more likely. These cuts and scrapes may also take longer to heal.
Conditions that cause internal bleeding, such as ulcers or issues in the stomach or intestines, may reduce the number of healthy RBCs in the body and lead to iron deficiency anemia. Trauma or injury can also sometimes cause hidden internal bleeding, leading to blood loss.
Some medications or combinations of medications may also increase the risk of internal bleeding, particularly with prolonged use. People in medical care who need regular testing may undergo very frequent blood draws, which could contribute to the issue.
Altogether, bleeding may be a contributing factor to RBC loss and anemia in many people. Research from 2018 notes that bleeding from medications and underlying conditions is the most frequent cause of iron deficiency anemia in older people.
MedicationsSeveral medications can potentially alter the RBC count. Medications that affect the kidneys or hormones may cause imbalances in key compounds and impair the creation of RBCs.
Medications that affect digestive absorption may make it difficult for the body to process iron or other important vitamins, such as B vitamins. Some drugs, including chemotherapy drugs, can affect the bone marrow, which is responsible for making healthy RBCs. Combinations of some drugs may also have unknown effects that could alter how the body makes or uses RBCs.
It is advisable for people to check the possible side effects of a drug and discuss the possibility of a drug causing symptoms of iron deficiency anemia with a doctor.
H. Pylori infectionSome infections may cause issues with how the body uses iron. Research from 2019 notes that Helicobacter pylori infections are common in aging populations, affecting up to 50% of those aged over 60 years. Complications from H. Pylori infections can include anemia.
Chronic diseasesChronic conditions may cause various issues in the body, potentially affecting RBCs or other systems involved in making or using RBCs. Some examples include:
Doctors will consider possible underlying conditions when making a diagnosis.
Inflammatory conditionsSome conditions may cause chronic inflammation in the body. Depending on the type and area of the inflammation, it may interfere with bodily functions, such as making RBCs. Anyone with a chronic inflammatory condition or other issue leading to long lasting inflammation may wish to consider contacting a doctor to discuss their risk.
The symptoms of anemia vary among individuals, but some common symptoms include:
People with light skin tones may also notice their skin becoming paler or slightly yellow.
Doctors will diagnose anemia using blood tests.
A complete blood count (CBC) test can help measure the different types of blood cells and other components of the blood, such as hemoglobin, which is a protein that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin count may indicate a low RBC count and anemia.
Doctors may also administer a packed cell volume (PCV) test to measure hematocrit levels. The hematocrit level is the percentage of RBCs in the blood. A PCV test may help show that a person has too few RBCs, which may indicate anemia.
In addition to blood tests, doctors may use follow-up tests to check for other important factors related to anemia. They may perform a C-reactive protein test to look for inflammation markers or a reticulocyte count to evaluate bone marrow production. In addition, they may check for:
Doctors may recommend different methods for treating anemia depending on its underlying cause and severity. The treatment can vary in each case, as multiple factors may be contributing to the condition.
A doctor may start the person on supplementary iron, in the form of medicines, dietary iron, or intravenous iron, to increase their iron levels.
If an underlying condition is responsible for anemia, the doctor will look to treat this condition. This may resolve the anemia or help them find any other underlying causes.
If the doctor suspects that a medication or combination of medications is causing anemia, they may recommend alternative drugs, if available. Alternatively, they might suggest other ways to manage anemia until the person can get off the medication.
A person with iron deficiency anemia will need to ensure that they get sufficient iron and other key nutrients in their diet.
Tips for doing this include:
Any older adults who are experiencing symptoms that may indicate iron deficiency anemia, such as fatigue and shortness of breath, should consider contacting a doctor for a diagnosis.
Individuals with underlying conditions that can affect iron absorption may wish to discuss with their doctor how to reduce their risk of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency anemia is common in older populations, and multiple factors can play a role in its development. Potential causes of iron deficiency anemia in this age group include blood loss, nutritional deficiencies, medications, underlying conditions, and malabsorption.
Individuals experiencing symptoms of iron deficiency anemia should consider contacting a doctor for a diagnosis. The doctor should be able to advise how to increase dietary iron intake or treat underlying conditions that may affect iron absorption.
What Is Anemia? Symptoms, Causes And Treatment
Anemia treatments vary depending on the type, cause and severity of anemia.
For some people, dietary changes are effective in boosting moderately low hemoglobin levels. Eating iron-rich foods and foods high in vitamin C, which helps the body absorb iron, can help treat and stave off mild anemia.
Avoiding certain foods that inhibit iron absorption, such as bran, tea, coffee, cocoa and calcium-rich foods may also help address mild anemia.
Iron supplements are commonly used to treat iron-deficiency anemia, but aren't necessarily appropriate for other types of anemia that are not related to iron-deficiency. Ingesting too much iron can damage the body's organs, potentially leading to inflammation of the stomach lining and ulcers. Speak with a health care provider to determine whether iron supplements are appropriate for a specific type of anemia, as well as dosage instructions.
Blood transfusions are another common way to treat anemia and may be performed regularly for certain people, such as in those with heavy menstrual cycles due to conditions like endometriosis or uterine polyps. The procedure, which transfers healthy blood through an IV line that has been inserted into one of your blood vessels, takes one to four hours to complete and is considered very safe. People with heavy menstrual bleeding may need an infusion once a month or once every few months until menopause, after which transfusions tend to become less frequent or cease, explains Dr. Khan.
For severe types of anemia, such as hemolytic anemia, genetic anemia and aplastic anemia, immune system suppressants or bone marrow transplants may be required, says Dr. Vukasinov. A bone marrow transplant replaces failing bone marrow stem cells with healthy cells, giving the patient a constant new source of blood cells.
Healthy stem cells can either be derived from your own body, which is known as autologous transplant, or from a donor, which is known as an allogeneic transplant.
While bone marrow transplants can be an effective treatment for applicable types of anemia, allogeneic procedures can cause complications, such as graft-versus-host disease (in which the donated stem cells attack the recipient's body) or graft failure (in which the recipient's body rejects the donor stem cells after the transplant). In some cases, autologous transplants can also fail.
When to See a DoctorAnemia can occur on its own, but it may also indicate an underlying medical condition.
If you suspect you have symptoms of anemia, see your primary care provider to not only rule out other potential causes, but also initiate a treatment plan for anemia if needed.
Health care providers use bloodwork gathered during a person's annual physical to inform a potential anemia diagnosis.. "If your primary care physician finds your hemoglobin is low, the next step would be [a referral] to a hematologist to find the exact [root cause] of the anemia," says Dr. Khan.
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