Iron Deficiency Symptoms

Iron is one of the most important nutrients for humans. It helps in regulating cellular respiration, and it provides the main source of energy for various types of cells in the body, for them to function at optimum levels. It is also one of the major components of red blood cells, which take oxygen to all the parts of the body, while returning carbon dioxide to the lungs, from where it is eliminated via expiration. Iron also helps in storing oxygen in muscle cells.

Deficiency in this essential nutrient is very common, especially in women. In fact, it is so common, that it is estimated about 5 percent of women between the ages of 20 and 49 are afflicted with it accompanied by anemia, while 11 percent have it without anemia.

What is not so well known is that iron is not only important in the transport and delivery system of oxygen in the body, but it also plays a key role in regulating metabolism. Iron is also required for synthesizing important substances like the neurotransmitter, dopamine, white blood cells, and DNA. Hence, apart from causing anemia, iron deficiency can do far more harm, which can have extensive effects – from weakening resistance to infection to impairing the ability to think.

The most well-known and critical symptom of iron deficiency is iron deficiency anemia, wherein the lack of iron in bone marrow affects its ability to produce hemoglobin, which is required in healthy red blood cells. Hence, the bone marrow of an individual afflicted with iron deficiency anemia produces smaller and fewer red blood cells compared to a healthy person. In time, this results in reducing the supply of oxygen to the organs, leading to failure of the organs and even death.

Iron deficiency can result from various causes such as insufficient intake of iron, excessive bleeding, or a medical problem or diet that hampers the body’s ability to absorb it. Women are ten times more susceptible to developing this condition than men because of the blood loss that occurs during menstruation. While iron deficiency anemia is the last stage of iron deficiency, however, problematical symptoms usually occur before the anemia kicks in.

Some of the symptoms of iron deficiency are: general lethargy; fatigue; muscle weakness; light-headedness; irritability; unusual paleness; pica, which is an eating disorder wherein the individual craves for non-food items like chalk or clay; pagophagia, a compulsive craving for ice; cognitive problems wherein there may be impairment in learning ability; and spoon nails, wherein the fingernails become concave and thin. Plus, apart from these symptoms, if there is anemia, it can lead to shortness of breath, hair loss, constipation, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations, sensations of burning or numbness, visual hallucinations, and sometimes even sleep apnea.

If you have any of these symptoms, you need to consult your doctor as soon as you can. Symptoms like these should never be neglected because iron-deficiency anemia has the potential of being life-threatening and can be prevented if treated early.