Iron Deficiency: 3 signs you might have low levels of iron

Iron is one of the compounds in our body that make up our blood. Lack of iron in the body means an iron deficiency, and here are three signs that a person may have this condition.

Having iron in the body is important because it is needed to make hemoglobin, the protein that produces red blood cells. The hemoglobin is also what allows the blood to carry oxygen all over the body, and so lack of iron means a lack of hemoglobin, which leads to the muscles and tissue not being able to work efficiently, resulting in the condition called anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in the world. It might be caused by an unhealthy diet, or even a very strict diet, internal bleeding, excessive blood loss during menstruation for women, or inflammatory bowel disease. The signs and symptoms can vary depending on the kind of anemia a person has, and these are three of them.

First is paleness. Because iron is needed to make hemoglobin, the protein that also gives red blood cells its color, being low in iron makes the blood less red and thus resulting in paler skin.

Second is unusual fatigue. There are many causes of unusual fatigue in a person. Some are unusually tired due to stress or due to mental illness. It can also be because of low levels of iron. Due to a deficiency in hemoglobin, less oxygen reaches the muscles and tissues. Therefore, the heart works even harder to produce the oxygen needed for the body and resulting in fatigue.

The third is chest pains, palpitations, or shortness of breath. Because hemoglobin is needed to carry oxygen throughout the body through the blood, low iron levels mean that oxygen is not being distributed effectively, even just by doing normal activities. Therefore the breathing rate increases, resulting in shortness of breath.

Fortunately, iron deficiency anemia can be treated in many ways. It is advised to consult a doctor first if you feel that you have low iron levels, so you can know how to manage it. Eating food that is rich in iron also helps correct the iron levels in the body.