Are you suffering from iron deficiency? Look for these 5 signs and symptoms – Times of India, The Times of India

Last updated on – Jan , , IST

close / 6 Five most common symptoms of iron deficiency
Iron deficiency is a very common nutritional deficiency, especially in the women of childbearing age and people having a diet low in iron. This deficiency causes anemia. It usually occurs when your body does not have enough iron to make haemoglobin.

For the uninitiated, haemoglobin is the protein in your RBCs (red blood cells) which carries oxygen to the tissues. As a result, your tissues and muscles do not receive enough oxygen to work properly.

Even though iron deficiency is the most common type of anemia, its symptoms vary depending on its severity. If a person is suffering from moderate iron deficiency, the symptoms become even harder to detect. 5 most common symptoms of iron deficiency include:

readmore

/ 6

Extreme fatigue and irritation

Feeling exhausted and drained out is one of the most common symptoms of iron deficiency. While it is okay to feel exhausted from time to time, if the fatigue seems to impact your ability to focus or think clearly and makes you more irritated and groggy, consider it a red flag. If you feel more wiped out than usual and the exhaustion does not go away with the required amount of rest, maybe it is time to get a blood test done.

readmore

/ 6 Your skin lacks color

If your skin looks washed out or has a yellow sallow color, you might have an iron deficiency. Yes, if you have low levels of iron in your RBCs (red blood cells), your skin begins to look pale and loses its rosy hue. For more clarity, check the inside of your bottom eyelids, gums, lips and even your nails and see if they appear paler than usual (pale pink or yellow). It may be a sign of iron deficiency.

readmore

/ 6 Shortness of breath

This symptom is easier to spot. Notice if you get short of breath when you are simply climbing a flight of stairs or doing some low-intensity movements. As a rule of thumb, if you feel out of air doing any activity that did not use to bother you before, it is something that you should take note of.
readmore

/ 6

Heart palpitations

If you can feel that your heart is pounding or beating abnormally fast, it can be a sign of iron deficiency. When you have iron deficiency, your heart has to work extra hard to carry the oxygen due to low levels of haemoglobin. However, you have to suffer from iron deficiency anemia for quite some time for this symptom to surface.

readmore

/ 6 Restless leg syndrome

If you cannot stop fidgeting at night or during late hours, especially while laying down, you may have developed a restless leg syndrome. It is a strong urge to move your legs to do away with the uncomfortable crawling sensation. It affects your ability to get a sound sleep. Usually, the lower the iron levels, the worse the symptoms.
readmore

)

(Read More)