The 16 Symptoms of Iron Deficiency!
Iron is an important mineral that participates in several processes in our body and its deficiency causes anemia. this can occur from infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, elderly, pregnancy and lactation.
Iron is essential for the production of red blood cells, when its levels are low, they compromise the entire red blood cell production cascade. inside red blood cells there is a protein called hemoglobin which has in its biochemical structure the presence of iron and cobalt molecules.
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Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting the oxygen we breathe to every cell in the human body. Because, when there is a decrease in hemoglobin, oxygen transport is compromised and several harmful consequences will be triggered. Women and children are much more likely to be iron deficient , but men are not immune to the deficiency. So, check out the list of 16 Symptoms of Iron Deficiency .
1. Fatigue: Let’s be honest, we’re all tired, right? This is a tricky symptom to resolve. Are you tired because you need more iron to help your blood carry oxygen, or are you tired because your baby woke up three times last night? Fatigue alone may not point to iron deficiency, but along with the other symptoms on this list, it is a warning sign.
2. Headaches: Sure, we all get headaches from time to time, but if you’re experiencing frequent headaches along with many of these other symptoms, you may be iron deficient . Iron deficiency causes swelling in the arteries of the brain.
3. Anxiety: Iron deficiency deprives the sympathetic nervous system of oxygen, which can make you feel anxious for no reason.
4. Pale Skin: Some people are naturally pale, but combined with other symptoms on this list, pallor can point to iron deficiency.
5. Difficulty Getting Your Breath Back: As I mentioned above, you need iron to help your blood carry oxygen to your cells. Iron deficiency can make you feel short or irregular.
6. Irregular Heartbeat: Long-term iron deficiency anemiacan cause irregular heartbeat and other heart complications. It can also be the beginning of worse heart problems. If you have heart problems, your doctor should check your iron regularly.
8. Pica: Have you ever heard that the urge to chew ice is a sign of iron deficiency? This is called pica, and it’s actually the urge to eat a bunch of non-food items. People with iron deficiency may want to eat clay, chalk or paper.
9. Hair Loss: Hair loss is a symptom of severe iron deficiency, when your body is working hard to conserve oxygen. Losing a little hair every day is nothing to worry about, but be careful.
10. Hypothyroidism: Hypothyroidism is one of the symptoms of iron deficiency . Fatigue, weight gain, and a lower body temperature can all point to an underactive thyroid. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing these problems.
11. Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the amount of blood in your body increases until you have almost 50 percent more blood than usual. therefore, it is recommended that you take a pregnancy test.
12. Swelling or Flat Tongue: Your tongue is a really good barometer for your health, and it can speak volumes about iron deficiency . A sore, swollen, or unusually tender tongue sore may point to iron deficiency.
13. Celiac disease or an inflammatory bowel disease: These diseases can make it difficult for you to absorb some nutrients, including iron . You may need to eat more iron or take a supplement to maintain healthy levels.
Other Symptoms of Iron Deficiency:
- 14. Frequent infections due to low immunity.
- 15. Lack of appetite.
- 16. Dizziness and feeling faint.
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The treatment for iron deficiency is very simple, the principle is to replace the body’s immediate need for iron. through food or supplements. however, the lack of iron in the blood can be related to poor diet, that is, a diet low in iron or the loss of large amounts of blood. which can be through heavy flow during menstruation or bleeding. Check out iron-rich foods !