Iron deficiency causes anemia. It usually occurs when the body doesn’t have enough of the mineral iron which is needed to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that enables them to carry oxygen around the body. As a result, our tissues and muscles do not receive enough oxygen to work properly.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency.
Extreme Fatigue And Irritation
One of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency is the feeling of being exhausted and drained out. Yes, it’s just okay to feel exhausted from tie to time. However, if what we felt makes us irritated and seems to affect our ability to think clearly or focus, we must consider it a red flag and have an ample amount of rest.
Dry, Damaged Hair And Skin
Our body directs its limited oxygen to more important functions, such as organs and other bodily tissues, when it is iron deficient.
Once our skin and hair are deprived of oxygen, it can become dry and weak.
Skin Lacks Color
Due to iron deficiency, a person’s skin begins to look pale and loses its rosy hue. Also, the inside of the bottom eyelids, lips, gums, and nails may also appear paler than usual.
Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath is a common symptom.
Hemoglobin is the one that enables red blood cells to carry oxygen around the body. However, when hemoglobin is low in the body during iron deficiency oxygen levels will also become low. This scenario shows that our muscles won’t be able to get enough oxygen to do normal activities (such as walking, climbing stairs, and working out) thus resulting in an increased breathing rate as the body tries to get more oxygen.
Heart Palpitations
When a person has iron deficiency, his heart has to work extra hard to carry the oxygen due to low levels of hemoglobin. This can lead to irregular heartbeats or the feeling that the heart is beating abnormally fast, according to a study.
Restless Leg Syndrome
This condition causes an uncontrollable urge to move our legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It can also cause unpleasant and strange crawling or itchy sensations in the feet and legs. It usually happens during nighttime hours when a person is sitting or lying down. Usually, the lower the iron level, the worse the symptoms. This affects our ability to get a sound sleep.
Headaches and Dizziness
Iron deficiency causes headaches that are often coupled with dizziness or lightheadedness.
Due to the low levels of hemoglobin in red blood cells during iron deficiency, there is no enough oxygen reaching the brain. This leads to the swelling of blood vessels in the brain thus causing headaches and pressures.
