your body needs iron to produce hemoglobina protein in red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen throughout the body.
If your body does not have enough hemoglobin, your tissues and muscles will not get enough oxygen to function effectively. This leads to a condition called anemia .
Related news
Although there are different types of anemia, iron deficiency anemia It is the most common in the world.
Common causes of iron deficiency include:
- Inadequate iron intake due to a diet that does not provide daily nutritional needs or is severely restricted
- inflammatory bowel disease
- Increased iron needs during pregnancy
- blood loss from heavy periods or internal bleeding
Iron deficiency can cause symptoms that can affect your quality of life.
These include shortness of breath, tiredness, and reduced concentration.
Signs and symptoms of iron deficiency vary depending on:
- The severity of the anemia
- how fast it develops
- Your age
- Your current health status
- In some cases, people do not experience symptoms.
Here are 10 signs and symptoms of iron deficiency, starting with the most common.
1. Unusual tiredness
feel very tired It is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency. This symptom is common in people who do not have enough iron.
This fatigue occurs because your body lacks the iron it needs to make a protein called hemoglobinwhich helps transport oxygen throughout the body.
Without enough hemoglobin, less oxygen reaches the tissues and muscles, depriving them of energy. your heart also has to work harder to move more oxygen-rich blood throughout your bodywhich can make you very tired.
Since tiredness is often considered a normal part of a busy modern life, it is difficult to diagnose iron deficiency with this symptom alone.
However, many people with iron deficiency experience low energy along with weakness, moodiness, or trouble concentrating.
2. Paleness
The pale skin or pale coloration of the inside of the lower eyelids are other common signs of iron deficiency.
Hemoglobin in red blood cells gives blood its red color, so low levels during iron deficiency make blood less red. This is why the skin can lose its healthy color or warmth in people with iron deficiency.
This paleness in people with iron deficiency can appear all over the body or it can be limited to a single area. This includes:
- expensive
- inside the lips or lower eyelids
- nail
This is often one of the first things doctors will look for as a sign of iron deficiency. However, this diagnosis must be confirmed with a blood test.
Paleness is seen more frequently in moderate or severe cases of anemia.
If you pull the lower lid down, the inner layer should be a vibrant red color. If it is a very pale pink or yellow color, this may indicate that you are deficient in iron. In people with darker skin tones, this may be the only area where it is noticeable.
3. Shortness of breath
Hemoglobin allows red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.
When hemoglobin levels are low during iron deficiency, oxygen levels will also be low. This means your muscles won’t get enough oxygen to do normal activities, like walking, tidying the house, or traveling to work.
As a result, your breathing rate will increase as your body tries to get more oxygen. This is why shortness of breath is a common symptom.
If you get short of breath when performing normal daily tasks that you used to find easy, such as walking, climbing stairs, or exercising, iron deficiency could be the cause.
4. Headaches and dizziness
Iron deficiency can cause headaches, especially in women.
This symptom seems to be less common than others and often occurs with lightheadedness or dizziness.
The link between iron deficiency and headaches is still unclear.
Headaches can occur because low levels of hemoglobin in red blood cells mean that not enough oxygen is getting to the brain. As a result, blood vessels in the brain can swell causing pressure and headaches.
Although there are many causes of headaches, frequent and recurring headaches and dizziness could be a sign of iron deficiency.
5. Heart palpitations
Noticeable heartbeats, also known as heart palpitations, can be another symptom of iron deficiency anemia.
The association between iron deficiency, anemia, and heart problems I still know is studyingbut may be related to oxygen supply.
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout the body. In iron deficiency, low hemoglobin levels mean the heart has to work harder to carry oxygen.
This can cause an irregular heartbeat or a feeling that your heart is beating abnormally fast.
In extreme cases, it can cause an enlarged heart, a heart murmur, or heart failure.
However, these symptoms tend to be much less common. you would need have iron deficiency for a long time to experience them.
6. Dry and damaged hair and skin
Dry and damaged skin and hair can be signs of iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency lowers the level of hemoglobin in the blood, which can reduce the amount of oxygen available to the cells that cause hair growth.
When skin and hair lack oxygen, they can become dry and weak.
iron deficiency is also associated with hair lossY some investigations suggest that it could be a cause.
It is completely normal for some hair to fall out during daily washing and brushing. However, if you are losing lumps or much more than normal, it may be related to iron deficiency.
7. Swelling and pain of tongue and mouth.
Sometimes just looking in or around your mouth can tell if you have iron deficiency anemia.
Signs include when your tongue becomes swollen, inflamed, pale, or unusually soft.
Iron deficiency can also cause other symptoms around the mouth. These include:
- Dry mouth
- A burning sensation in the mouth
- Painful red cracks at the corners of the mouth
- mouth ulcers
8. Restless legs
Iron deficiency has been linked to Restless Leg Syndrome.
Restless legs syndrome is a strong urge to move legs at rest. It can also cause a feeling of tingle either unpleasant itching and strange in the feet and legs.
It’s usually worse at night, which means you may have trouble sleeping.
The causes of restless legs syndrome are not fully understood.
However, about 25% of people with iron deficiency anemia have restless legs syndrome. The prevalence of restless legs syndrome is nine times higher in people with iron deficiency in comparison with the general population.
9. Brittle or spoon-shaped nails
A much less common symptom of iron deficiency is brittle or spoon-shaped nails. This condition is called koilonychia.
As usual, the first sign is brittle nails that chip and crack easily.
In later stages of iron deficiency, spoon-shaped nails may appear where the middle of the nail sinks in and the edges are raised to give a rounded, spoon-like appearance.
However, this is a rare side effect that occurs in only about 5% of people with iron deficiency. It is usually only seen in severe cases of iron deficiency anemia.
Brittle or spoon-shaped nails they may be an indicator of more severe iron deficiency anemia.
10. Other potential signs
There are several other signs that your iron level may be low. These tend to be less common and can be related to many conditions other than iron deficiency.
Other signs of iron deficiency anemia include:
Strange cravings. The craving for strange foods or non-food items is called «pica». Usually involves desire to eat ice, clay, earth, chalk or paper and could be a sign of iron deficiency. It can also occur during pregnancy.
Feeling depressed. Iron deficiency anemia may be associated with depression in adults. Pregnant women with iron deficiency may also have a higher chance of developing depression.
Cold hands and feet. Iron deficiency means that less oxygen is supplied to the hands and feet. Some people may feel cold more easily in general or have cold hands and feet.
Most frequent infections. Because iron is necessary for a healthy immune system, a lack of it can increase your risk of infections.
What to do if you think you have iron deficiency
If you think you have iron deficiency anemia, consider the following steps.
talk to your doctor
If you think you’re showing signs or symptoms of iron deficiency, you should make an appointment to see your doctor.
A simple blood test can confirm if you have iron deficiency anemia.
If the doctor confirms that you have iron deficiency, then you have a disease that is usually quite easy to treat. Your doctor will likely recommend increasing your iron intake in your diet or suggest iron supplements.
Try to make sure you get enough iron through foods in your diet. Only take supplements if your doctor recommends them.
The main goal of treatment is to restore hemoglobin levels to normal and replenish iron stores.
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs.
Eat foods rich in iron
If your doctor thinks your iron deficiency may be due to a lack of iron in your diet, consider eating more iron-rich foods, such as:
- Meat: such as beef (cow), pork, and poultry
- Vegetables dark green leaf: like the spinach and kale
- Nuts, such as raisins and apricots
- Peas, beans and other legumes
- Seafood
- Iron-fortified foods
- seeds and nuts
- Indoor meat such as corduroy (liver) or heart.
Helps your body to increase iron absorption
It is important to note that eating vitamin C It will help your body absorb iron better. Try to eat enough foods rich in vitamin C, such as fruits and vegetables.
You can too…