Hey there, viewers!
Worried if you have low hemoglobin levels?
Wondering if you have iron deficiency?
Your red blood cells contain an iron-rich protein called haemoglobin.
It’s responsible for transporting oxygen to the tissues in your body.
This means having low haemoglobin levels would bring an array of issues.
In today’s video, we will discuss symptoms of low haemoglobin.
Shortness of breath, constant fatigue, restless legs, dry hair.
We’ll be talking about all of this AND more...
Shortness of breath
Do you run out of breath easily?
Does a simple walk or climb up the stairs send your lungs into a frenzy?
Shortness of breath is often a tell-tale sign of low haemoglobin levels and anemia.
The primary function of haemoglobin is to carry oxygen to different body parts with
the help of red blood cells.
If you are suffering from iron deficiency, your haemoglobin count will be low.
Lower hemoglobin means you have fewer red blood cells to carry it, which leads to low
oxygen supply to the cells and tissues.
This means your muscles won’t be able to get the normal amount of oxygen required for
regular activities like walking.
All this results in shortness of breath, and is seen as a common symptom of haemoglobin
deficiency.
Worldwide, iron deficiency has become a significant health issue, affecting maternal and infant
mortality, physical performance and several chronic diseases.
So the next time you find yourself gasping for air during normal activities, it’s time
you get your blood tested and check for low haemoglobin.
Constant Fatigue
Are you feeling tired more than usual these days?
Is it happening without even doing much work?
Beware!
You might be suffering from a low haemoglobin count.
Low haemoglobin levels indicate that your body is facing a shortage of oxygen.
This means your blood is carrying a lesser amount to your tissues and muscles.
As a result, they lack the required energy to perform daily activities.
It also creates undue pressure on your heart, making it work harder and faster to pump the
oxygen-rich blood to every part of your body.
This is another reason why you feel exhausted 24/7.
Constant fatigue is never good.
It might seem like a minor problem but raises issues like mood swings, weakness, and lack
of concentration.
It affects your overall quality of life.
That hiking trip you have to cancel, the long walk by the woods, the parties you give up…
It’s all because you feel you no longer have the strength to do these things.
All of this can be turned around if your haemoglobin levels improve.
Are you finding the list useful so far?
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Dry and damaged hair and skin
Do you have dry and damaged hair?
Do you feel your skin is constantly dry?
As if your skin appears thirsty even after applying moisturizers and skin butters?
All these signs can be attributed to low haemoglobin levels.
In fact, dry damaged skin and hair are one of the most common symptoms of Iron deficiency.
When your body is deprived of the required oxygen, it tries to use whatever is available
by directing it to critical organs.
The result is your skin and hair being deprived of their normal oxygen requirements, which
makes them dry and brittle.
In fact, severe hair loss is directly linked with iron deficiency.
Several studies have clearly established a relation between hair loss and iron deficiency.
This is also the reason why a lot of hair loss supplements feature iron along with biotin
to prevent hair loss and boost their health.
Now you know why grannies insist so much on eating green, leafy veggies like spinach.
They’re rich in iron!
Make soup.
Eat it with salad, or make spinach omelette.
Your hair certainly will thank you later.
Restless legs
Oh that uncontrollable urge to move your legs!
Especially when you’re tired or resting.
Even if you don’t have it, you must have seen people moving their legs uncontrollably
while sitting or sleeping.
That’s restless leg syndrome, often associated with low haemoglobin and iron deficiency.
You’ll be surprised to know that almost 3% of the US population suffers from this.
Women in particular get restless leg syndrome more often than their male counterparts.
It is another common symptom of haemoglobin deficiency.
This syndrome is nothing but a strong, overwhelming urge to move your legs while resting or sleeping.
Most people experiencing it report increased leg activity at night.
Sometimes, it is accompanied by a tingling or itchy sensation in the legs, which results
in sleepless nights.
People with restless leg syndrome are often advised to take iron supplements along with
a healthy balanced diet.
Before we move ahead, here’s another video you might like.
You may be wondering what foods to eat when you have low haemoglobin.
Well watch this to learn about the best foods to eat in order to boost your iron intake.
Cold Hands and feet
Have your friends or partner ever told you how cold your hands feel?
Do you experience cold hands and feet often?
This might be a sign your body is lacking something important- OXYGEN!
Cold hands and feet are another fairly common symptom of low haemoglobin levels in your
blood.
When your body lacks the required amount of iron levels, your red blood cells face shortage
of haemoglobin.
This makes it hard to transport oxygen from your lungs to other parts of the body.
This results in cold fingers and toes.
Experts believe that women tend to get colder feet and toes, and are more prone to cold
injuries.
Headaches and Dizziness
Do you suffer from frequent headaches?
Dizziness or lightheadedness maybe?
Do you find yourself complaining about headaches often?
If yes, it’s time to get your haemoglobin levels checked.
Low haemoglobin levels in the blood, or the deficiency of iron can be the reason why you’re
having these constant bouts of headaches.
It means your brain is getting a lower supply of oxygen than it requires to function optimally.
Low haemoglobin means less oxygen supply to different parts of the body.
That includes your brain.
This lack of oxygen in the blood reaching up to your brain means that your brain vessels
will swell and create pressure.
It is this pressure that causes severe headaches or lightheadedness.
Prone to Infections
Do you feel you might have lower immunity?
Does your body get infected easily?
People falling sick due to frequent infections can be low on haemoglobin.
In fact, it is this lower level of haemoglobin making you an easy target for infections.
As we explained to you earlier, haemoglobin is an iron-rich protein present in red blood
cells and its low levels usually indicate anemic tendencies.
This means your body is struggling with the deficiency of iron, which is impacting your
immune system adversely.
Anemia also means you have blood loss caused by the poor absorption of iron.
Iron is an essential micronutrient vital for the growth of epithelial tissues and a strong
immune system.
Low levels of iron will weaken your immune system, making you prone to infections and
several other health issues.
Swelling or soreness of tongue and mouth
Do you find yourself struggling from a sore tongue or mouth every other morning?
Do you have swelling on your tongue?
Is it affecting how you chew and swallow food?
Chances are high you have low haemoglobin levels.
Your tongue may look small, but it is one of the strongest muscles in your body.
Especially when it comes to chewing and swallowing food.
Take a close look at your tongue.
A simple inspection of your mouth may reveal a lot about your health.
Since ancient times, physicians have been considering the color and texture of the tongue
as an essential indicator of our health.
If your tongue seems pale, dry, swollen, or inflamed, you may have low haemoglobin counts.
Even a strangely smooth tongue is an indicator!
While the pale texture of your tongue might be due to low haemoglobin, it is the myoglobin
that contributes to the sore, swollen, or smooth tongue.
Myoglobin is a protein in your red blood cells that supports muscles, even the ones that
make up our tongue.
Low haemoglobin is also responsible for dry mouth, as well as the frequent appearance
of mouth ulcers in corners of your mouth.
Brittle or spoon-shaped nails
Physicians have long been inspecting hair, skin and nails to diagnose general health
issues.
These often give away reasons behind your suffering.
Brittle or spoon-shaped nails are another not so common, but visible indicator of iron
deficiency in your body.
In the initial stages, nails turn soft and become fragile.
If left untreated, spoon nails can occur where the edges of the nail are raised, and the
mid part dips, giving it a spoon-shape.
Your nails will end up looking like they are scooped-out.
This can also happen due to a liver condition called hemochromatosis, when your body absorbs
too much iron from the food.
If you are experiencing brittle or spoon-shaped nails, and your liver is perfectly fine, you
are suffering from either iron deficiency or anemia.
It’s time to visit your healthcare service provider and get tested first.
Do you think you may have iron deficiency?
Have you noticed any of these symptoms?
Let us know in the comments below.
We would love to hear from you!