10
Common Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency That You Shouldn’t Ignore
Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency
Normally, iron deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t
have adequate iron. The resulting effect is that it leads to abnormally low
levels of red blood cells in the body.
This is because iron is an essential mineral in the
formation of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that is saddled with the
responsibility of transporting oxygen around the body.
If your body is running low on hemoglobin, your tissues
won’t get enough oxygen to carry out your normal day to day activity. This
subsequently results in a condition called anemia.
It is worthy of note that there are different types of
anemia, however, iron-deficiency anemia is the most prevalent.
Some of the most common causes of iron deficiency anemia
include inadequate iron intake either due to poor diet or restrictive diet,
increased requirements during pregnancy, inflammatory bowel disease, and excessive
blood loss through heavy periods or internal bleeding.
Reasons behind iron Deficiency
Reasons behind iron Deficiency
Whichever is the cause, iron deficiency is accompanied by
unpleasant symptoms that can affect your quality of life in general. Some of
them include, poor health, decreased work productivity, lack of concentration, etc.
However, signs and symptoms of iron deficiency vary
depending on the severity, age, how quick it develops and current health
status.
In some instances, people do not experience symptoms at
all.
That is why we bring you 10 common signs and symptoms of
iron deficiency. This will help you in early detection… Just sit tight and read
on.
1. Paleness
Pale skin and discoloration of the inside of the lower
eyelids are one of the most common signs of iron deficiency.
The hemoglobin present in red blood cell (RBC) gives
blood its red color, so low levels of iron in the blood makes the blood less
red. That explains why the skin can lose its rosy and radiating color in people
with iron deficiency.
This paleness in people suffering from iron deficiency
anemia can appear all over the body, or it can be limited to a particular area
such as the gums, face, lower eyelids, or inside of the lips and even the nails.
When you go for medical examination, this is one of the
first things your doctor will look out for. However, this physical examination
should be confirmed with a blood test.
Furthermore, paleness is more pronounced in moderate or
severe cases of anemia.
Do a mirror examination of yourself by pulling down your
lower eyelid; the inside should be a vibrant red. If it has a yellow or a very
pale pink color, this may be indicative of iron deficiency.
2. Unusual Tiredness
Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel
Unusual tiredness is one of the most common symptoms of
iron deficiency.
This happens because your body needs this essential
mineral for hemoglobin formation. As mentioned earlier in the introduction,
hemoglobin is responsible for the transport of oxygen around the body.
Now, when your body doesn’t have enough of this protein
(hemoglobin), less oxygen gets to your tissues and muscles, depriving them of
energy.
Additionally, your heart will be saddled with the
responsibility of pumping more oxygen-rich blood around your body, which can
make you tired.
However, tiredness is often considered as a normal part
of a busy and modern lifestyle, and as such, it is difficult to diagnose iron
deficiency with this symptom alone.
So, many people with iron deficiency experience low
energy alongside weakness, low work output, feeling cranky, and difficulty concentrating.
3. Headaches and Dizziness
Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel
Iron deficiency can cause a constant headache and
dizziness.
However, this symptom seems to be less common than others
and is accompanied by dizziness and lightheadedness.
Iron deficiency means low levels of hemoglobin in red
blood cells and that means that not enough oxygen can reach the brain cells.
The resulting effect is that the blood vessels in the brain can swell causing
pressure and headache.
It is worthy of note that there are many causes of a headache,
however, frequent headaches and dizziness could be a sign of iron deficiency.
4. Shortness of Breath
Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel
Shortness of breath is a common sign of iron deficiency.
In iron deficiency, hemoglobin level is low and
subsequently, oxygen levels will also below. This means that your muscle
tissues won’t get enough oxygen to do normal day to day activities, such as
walking and running, etc.
The resulting effect is that your breathing rate will
increase as your body tries to get more oxygen. This is the reason why
shortness of breath is a common symptom of iron deficiency.
If you find yourself out of breath doing your normal
daily task, that you are used to such as climbing stairs, walking and running,
iron deficiency could be the cause.
5. Dry and Damaged Hair and Skin
Dry and damaged skin and hair can be a sign of iron
deficiency.
This is because when your body does not have enough iron,
it directs its limited organ to more vital and important functions such as
organs.
When this occurs, the skin and hair will be deprived of
oxygen, and become dry and weak.
More severe cases of iron deficiency have been linked to
hair loss according to studies.
It is completely normal for some hair to fall out during
everyday washing and brushing, but if you are losing clumps or much more than
normal, it may be due to iron deficiency.
6. Heart Palpitations
Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel
Heart palpitations, also known as noticeable heartbeats
can be another symptom of iron deficiency.
As mentioned earlier, iron deficiency leads to low levels
of hemoglobin meaning the heart has to work extra hard to pump oxygenated blood
to other parts of the body.
This can lead to irregular and abnormal heartbeat.
In rare extreme cases, it can lead to an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly),
heart murmur or heart failure.
Note, these symptoms tend to be a lot less common and you
could suffer from iron deficiency for a long time before experiencing them.
7. Swelling and Soreness of the Tongue and Mouth
The swollen, inflamed, pale or strangely smooth tongue could
be a sign of iron deficiency.
And as such it is pertinent you do a mirror examination
by looking inside or around your mouth for an indication of iron-deficiency
anemia.
Iron deficiency leads to low hemoglobin which can cause
the tongue to become pale, while low levels of myoglobin can cause it to become
sore, swollen, and smooth.
Myoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein found in your
muscle cells (16).
Iron deficiency can also cause dry mouth, sore red cracks
at the corners of the mouth (Angular Cheilitis) or mouth ulcers.
8. Brittle or Spoon-Shaped Fingernails
Brittle or spoon-shaped fingernails, a condition known as
koilonychia are a less common symptom of iron deficiency.
It often starts with brittle nails that chip and cracks
easily. In later stages, spoon-shaped nails can occur where the middle of the
nail dips and edges are raised to give a rounded spoon-like appearance.
However, this symptom is very rare and usually seen in
severe cases of iron deficiency.
9. Restless Legs Syndrome
One of the symptoms of iron-deficiency is restless leg
syndrome.
It is a strong urge to move your legs at rest. Sometimes,
it can cause unpleasant and strange crawling or itchy sensations in the legs
and feet.
Worst scenarios are experienced at night, meaning that
sufferers may struggle to get much sleep.
For now, the causes of restless leg syndrome are not
fully understood.
10. Other Potential Signs and Symptoms
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| Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel |
Some of them include; feeling anxious, strange cravings,
frequent infections, cold hands, and feet
Possible Solutions to Iron-Deficiency
If you think you have iron-deficiency anemia, take note
of the following recommendations.
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| Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel |
a. Talk to Your Doctor
If you think you are showing some of these signs and
symptoms, the first point of call is to talk to your doctor. A blood test will
confirm or dispute these symptoms.
b. Eat Iron-Rich Foods
If it is confirmed by your doctor that your iron
deficiency is caused by a lack of iron in your diet, then you need to up your
iron intake by consuming more iron-rich foods such as
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| Symptoms-of-Iron-Deficiency-pexel |
- Red meat, pork, and poultry
- Dark green, leafy vegetables, such as spinach and kale
- Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
- Peas, beans, and other pulses
- Seafood
- Iron-fortified foods
- Seeds and nuts
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