Did you know that Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world?
Your body needs a sufficient source of iron to produce hemoglobin, the blood component
responsible for transporting oxygen to the different parts of the body.
When there is iron deficiency, it suffers from a condition called Anemia.
There is a general lack of awareness about Iron Deficiency.
Because of this, many people are oblivious to the signs and symptoms that indicate the
deficiency of iron in the body.
Furthermore, mild cases easily go unnoticed because their symptoms are not that alarming.
In today’s video we will tell you the signs and symptoms that may indicate you are suffering
from an Iron Deficiency.
From Fatigue, Hair Loss, Cold Hands and Feet to shortness of breath and many more, keep
watching till the end to find out all of them.
Fatigue: If you feel exhausted all the time, even after proper rest, it may be a sign that
you are anemic.
This is the most common symptom of iron deficiency, but also possibly the most difficult one to
detect.
We are so used to our frenetic lives and feeling tired that we dismiss exhaustion as a part
of our daily lives.
However, iron deficiency causes less oxygen to reach your tissues, so your body is deprived
of the energy it needs.
If your normal fatigue is coupled with you feeling weak, irritable, or unable to focus,
iron (or a lack thereof) might have something to do with it.
After all, there's a reason people whose iron deficiency progresses into anemia are said
to have tired blood.
Frequent Infections: Iron plays a key role in a healthy immune system, so lower levels
of the mineral can make you more susceptible to infections.
Red blood cells help to transport oxygen to the spleen, which is one place where infections
can be fought off.
Without enough oxygen, the spleen is not able to function properly.
Red blood cells also carry oxygen to the lymph nodes, which house infection-fighting white
blood cells.
When you have an iron deficiency, your white blood cells aren’t being produced as they
should be.
This can make you weak because you’re not getting enough oxygen, making you more susceptible
to infections.
Pale Skin: Pale skin and pale coloring of the inside of the lower eyelids is another
common sign of iron deficiency.
The hemoglobin in red blood cells gives blood its red color, so low levels during iron deficiency
makes your blood less red.
That’s why your skin can lose its healthy, rosy color if you have iron deficiency.
This paleness can appear all over the body, or it can be limited to one area, such as
your face, gums, inside of the lips or lower eyelids and even your nails.
This is often one of the first things doctors will look for as a sign of iron deficiency.
Paleness is more commonly seen in moderate or severe cases of anemia.
If you pull your lower eyelid down, the inside layer should be a vibrant red color.
If it is a very pale pink or yellow color, this may indicate that you have iron deficiency.
Chewing Ice: Yes, this may sound unusual but another symptom of an iron deficiency is an
intense craving for ice.
This condition, called pagophagia, is a form of pica—an eating disorder that causes people
to eat substances that have no nutritional value.
People with pagophagia eat several cups or pounds of ice every day.
One study suggests that eating ice may give a boost of energy to those suffering from
an iron deficiency.
Hair Loss: Iron deficiency, especially when it develops into anemia, can cause hair loss.
When hair follicles don’t get enough oxygen, they go into a resting stage, and hair falls
out and doesn’t grow back until anemia is improved.
It is normal to lose about 100 strands of hair per day.
However, if you notice your hair loss is excessive and it is not growing back, this may be a
sign of iron deficiency.
Heavy Periods in Women: In women, the number-one cause of iron deficiency is too-heavy periods.
They lose too much blood, replace about half of it, and then lose too much again the following
month.
It's like filling up a car with a small hold in the tank.
Your period should only fill two to three tablespoons each month.
You can try this tampon test to check if you are losing too much blood: If you have to
change your tampon more frequently than every two hours, it is time you went to your gynaecologist.
Shortness of Breath: Hemoglobin enables your red blood cells to carry oxygen around the
body.
When hemoglobin is low in your body during iron deficiency, oxygen levels will also be
low.
This means your muscles won’t get enough oxygen to do normal activities, such as walking.
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 in people with iron deficiency.
If you find yourself out of breath doing normal, daily tasks that you used to find easy, such
as walking, climbing stairs or working out, iron deficiency could be to blame.
Heart Palpitations: Noticeable heartbeats, also known as heart palpitations, can be another
symptom of iron-deficiency anemia.
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen around your body.
In iron deficiency, low levels of hemoglobin mean that your heart has to work extra hard
to carry oxygen.
This can lead to irregular heartbeats, or the feeling that your heart is beating abnormally
fast.
In extreme cases, it can lead to an enlarged heart, heart murmur or even heart failure.
However, these symptoms tend to be a lot less common.
You would have to suffer from iron deficiency for a long time to experience them.
Cold Hands and Feet: If your Fingers and toes are constantly cold, it could be a sign that
you have iron deficiency.
When you don’t get enough iron, your body experiences reduced oxygenation of your blood.
As a result, it pulls blood away from your extremities and instead sends it to more essential
organs, such as your brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs.
Less blood flow to your fingers and toes means they’ll feel colder.
Restless Leg Syndrome: Iron deficiency has been linked to restless leg syndrome.
Restless leg syndrome is a strong urge to move your legs at rest.
It can also cause unpleasant and strange crawling or itchy sensations in the feet and legs.
It is usually worse at night, meaning that sufferers may struggle to get much sleep.
The causes of restless leg syndrome are not fully understood.
However, up to 25% of people with restless leg syndrome are thought to have iron-deficiency
anemia, and the lower the iron levels, the worse the symptoms.
So what Really Causes Iron Deficiency?
Now that you know about all the symptoms of Iron deficiency, let’s tell you a little
about why they happen in the first place.
Poor diet: Diets that lack iron are a leading cause of iron deficiency.
Foods rich in iron, such as eggs and meat, supply your body with much of the iron it
needs to produce hemoglobin.
If you do not eat enough iron through your diet to maintain your iron supply, an iron
deficiency can develop.
Blood loss: Iron is found primarily in the blood, as it is stored in red blood cells.
An iron deficiency may result if you lose a lot of blood from an injury, giving birth,
or heavy menstruation.
In some cases, slow loss of blood from chronic diseases or some cancers can also lead to
an iron deficiency.
Decreased ability to absorb iron: Some people are not able to absorb enough iron from the
food they eat.
This may be due to a problem with the small intestine due to diseases such as celiac disease
or Crohn’s disease, or if a portion of the small intestine has been removed.
Pregnancy: Low iron levels are a common problem for pregnant women.
The growing fetus needs a lot of iron, which can lead to an iron deficiency.
Also, a pregnant woman has an increased amount of blood in her body.
This larger volume of blood demands more iron to meet its needs.
Is there any way you can prevent Iron Deficiency?
Yes there are certain steps that you can take to prevent iron deficiency from happening:
Treat the cause of blood loss: Talk to your doctor if you have heavy menstrual periods
or if you have digestive system problems, such as frequent diarrhea or blood in your
stool.
Eat foods rich in iron.
Good sources of iron include lean meat and chicken, dark, leafy vegetables, and beans.
Eat and drink foods that help your body absorb iron, like orange juice, strawberries, broccoli,
or other fruits and vegetables with vitamin C.
Make healthy food choices: Most people who make healthy, balanced food choices get the
iron and vitamins their bodies need from the foods they eat.
Avoid drinking coffee or tea with meals.
These drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron.
Talk to your doctor if you take calcium pills: Calcium can make it harder for your body to
absorb iron.
If you have a hard time getting enough iron, talk to your doctor about the best way to
also get enough calcium.
Have you felt any of these symptoms?
Do you know of anyone who is iron deficient?
Let us know in the comments section below!