10 Telltale Signs of Iron Deficiency
Charles Combs
Charles Combs
Iron deficiency is a common health problem affecting millions of people globally. It occurs when the body doesn’t have enough iron, an essential mineral for red blood cell production. These cells are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout the body, so a lack of iron can lead to various issues, from fatigue to pale skin.
Knowing your risk of iron deficiency is the first step toward preventing it. Several telltale signs can alert you to a potential problem. Let’s explore the 10 most common symptoms to watch out for:
1. Fatigue
Fatigue, often described as an overwhelming lack of energy or feeling tired all the time, is the most noticeable symptom in most with a deficiency. This occurs as the body can no longer transport adequate oxygen causing fatigue, tiredness and weakness.
2. Paleness
Iron is essential for giving the red blood cells their color, which determines skin color. A deficiency leads to paleness in your skin, especially noticeable around the eyes, mouth, fingertips, and palm creases.
3. Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
When your body lacks iron it cannot carry sufficient oxygen throughout the body leading to shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, even at rest.
4. Chest pain
Iron-deficiency can lead to a diminished ability to carry adequate amounts of oxygen, in extreme circumstances this may require more energy from your heart and can manifest as pain or pressure in your chest.
5. Irregular Heartbeat (Arrhythmia)
A heart condition known as PICA may develop in those with a moderate to severe iron deficiency causing the heart to skip beats, or beat in an abnormal rhythm. This generally resolves once the deficiency is corrected.
6. Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
RLS is an unpleasant feeling of needing to move the legs. The condition tends to worsen in the late afternoon and evening and may cause difficulty falling and staying asleep. Research shows that iron may play a role with the transmission or dopamine in the brain which can influence movement, and in turn cause RLS.
7. Coldness in hands and feets.
When iron levels decrease, your blood may not circulate effectively and your extremities like the fingers or toes can feel cool or cold to the touch, even in a mild environment.
8. Increased infections
The immune function can be compromised by an iron deficienty leading to infections, such as colds and ear infections.
9. Tongue changes
The surface and texture of your tongue can be noticeably affected by a deficiency, in some individuals the tongue may be sore, pale and have an unsmooth appearance.
10. Hair thining or hair fall
Deficiencies may reduce blood supply to the hair follicles leading to dry and brittle hair and in severe deficiencies may contribute to hair fall.