5 weird signs of iron deficiency

Iron is a mineral that plays a vital role in health and well-being. Without it, many bodily functions would malfunction. “The primary role of iron is to carry oxygen in the blood to every cell in the body,” says Bethany Thayer, RDN, MS, director of the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Iron is an important component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs and transports it throughout the body. If your body doesn't have enough iron, it cannot produce enough healthy oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Women in their childbearing years are at higher risk for iron deficiency because of the loss of blood during menstruation. According to the Pregnant women should be consuming 27 mg per day. Adult men, on the other hand, only need about 8 mg of iron per day. “Women who are pregnant need the most amount of iron,” says Marilyn Murr, MD, assistant professor of family and community medicine at the School of Medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. “The developing baby acts as a parasite taking iron from the mother, and the mother increases her blood volume to circulate through the baby, creating the baby’s blood volume.” There are two types of iron: heme iron from animal sources and non-heme iron from plant sources. Heme iron is absorbed more readily by the blood. Foods rich in iron include beef, liver, oysters, beans, fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens l...

Iron deficiency is a common condition that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough iron. Iron is an essential nutrient that helps transport oxygen throughout the body, so when levels are low, it can lead to many health problems. Iron deficiency can affect people of all ages, but it is prevalent in women, especially those who are pregnant or have heavy periods. It can also affect people with gastrointestinal disorders, such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or those who have undergone weight loss surgery. If left untreated, iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a condition in which the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues and organs. Symptoms of iron deficiency can range from mild to severe including fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, pale skin, and brittle nails. In this article, we will discuss the 10 telltale signs of iron deficiency: 1. Fatigue and weakness: One of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency is feeling tired and weak. This is because, without enough iron, the body can’t produce enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the cells, leading to a lack of energy. 2. Shortness of breath: Iron deficiency can also cause shortness of breath, especially during physical activity. This is because the body’s tissues and muscles aren’t getting enough oxygen, leading to difficulty breathing. 3. Pale skin: Iron deficiency can cause the skin to appear pale or washed out. This is because the body ...

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. “Causes of an iron deficiency can range from poor diet to a serious illness,” says family medicine physician What are the symptoms of iron deficiency? Your body uses iron, a mineral, to make hemoglobin. This helps your If you show up at the doctor’s office looking pale, especially around the eyes, and complaining of constant chills and exhaustion, your doctor is likely to test for iron deficiency. Other symptoms include bruising, dry skin and a bloated feeling. Who is most at risk for iron deficiency anemia? Women. “By far, women are more at risk of iron deficiency, which can start with the onset of menstrual cycles,” Dr. Brill says. Women also are at a greater risk of auto immune disorders and hypothyroidism, which may cause anemia. Pregnant people may need iron supplements, as well as babies who are solely breast-fed after six months. Older adults. As you age, your appetite typically decreases. Your more meager meals may lack good sources of iron. Those taking certain medicines. Medicines and treatments that can rob the body of iron include: blood thinners, such as aspirin or prescription medicine, such as Coumadin® (Warfarin). Chemotherapy and other cancer-targeted therapies can also strip away iron. Those with a chronic illness. Illnesses that cause blood loss, such as ulcers and colon cancer, are some...

Iron-deficient anemia, as the name implies, is a condition that occurs when your body’s iron levels are too low. Quite a bit of your body’s iron is found in your blood’s hemoglobin, the protein that makes it appear red. However, this protein does more than just change the color of your blood. It’s also responsible for supplying your body with oxygen. But what do these two concepts have in common? Well, your body needs iron to make hemoglobin. If you can’t provide your body with iron through the food you eat, then you will eventually develop anemia. That said, you can also develop an iron deficiency by extreme blood loss (such as from ulcers or heavy menstrual periods). Still, there are some signs and symptoms you may not be aware of that may mean you have iron deficiency. You Always Feel Tired Feeling tired is one of the more common symptoms of iron-deficient anemia. Since hemoglobin provides you with oxygen, any change in your hemoglobin levels can trigger tiredness. If your body doesn’t receive adequate oxygen, then every organ in your body will have to work all the harder to help provide you with enough energy to make it through the day. That said, if you feel tired, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have iron-deficient anemia. There are other causes of fatigue, too. For instance, you may just be tired because of work. A physician can’t diagnose you with anemia just because you feel exhausted, but they may recommend some tests to rule it out. There are also other ways to ...

When your body is trying to tell you something—for example, that you're skimping on critical vitamins—it may go to some strange lengths. "With today's diet of processed foods, it's easy to become vitamin-deficient, either by not eating enough of the right foods or not absorbing them properly due to digestive issues," says Dr. Susan Blum, the founder of the Blum Center for Health and the author of the new book The Immune System Recovery Plan. "You may not get a disease, but you can end up with impaired functioning, because vitamins are cofactors for all the biochemical reactions in the body. We need them in order to function properly." That impaired functioning can sometimes manifest in mysterious ways. Here are five unusual warning signs that you may be vitamin-deficient. The good news: Most are fixable with dietary tweaks—all the more reason to make nutrition a top priority. But if food cures don't work, be sure to check in with your doctor. Body Cue No. 1: Cracks at the corners of your mouth. The Fix: Eat more poultry, salmon, tuna, eggs, oysters, clams, sun-dried tomatoes, Swiss chard, tahini, peanuts, and legumes like lentils. Iron absorption is enhanced by vitamin C, which also helps fight infection, so combine these foods with veggies like broccoli, red bell peppers, kale, and cauliflower. The Deficiency: Biotin (B7), known as the hair vitamin. While your body stores fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), it doesn't store most B vitamins, which are water-soluble. Body bu...