Consequences Of Iron Deficiency
The most important sign of iron deficiency is anemia. However, this problem has several consequences that are worth knowing about. If you think you may be eating less of this nutrient, we recommend that you monitor the following symptoms. Find out the consequences of iron deficiency below!
Iron deficiency is a global problem
Millions of people suffer from this nutritional deficiency in both developed and undeveloped countries due to inefficient consumption. No one should ignore iron deficiency, because the consequences of iron deficiency are harmful to our health.
Among the many functions, iron allows hemoglobin to function properly and provides oxygen to all cells. It is important for health. Also, since iron is found in small amounts in our body, it is necessary to get it through food and above all through a balanced and varied diet.
There are two types of iron:
- The first is heme iron, found in meat. It is easily absorbed.
- The other is non-heme iron, which is found in vegetables and is not easily absorbed by the body. This is why many vegetarians and vegans suffer from anemia.
In addition, iron will:
- Participates in the production of substances from the blood,
- Participates in DNA synthesis,
- Is part of the cellular respiration process,
- Helps maintain the immune system.
As if all this were not enough, iron also participates in many chemical reactions and is crucial for the production and release of energy.
Your iron levels
You can have your blood tested to find out if you have iron deficiency:
- Normal values in adult men are 80 to 180 ug / dl.
- In adult women they are 60 to 160 ug / dl.
- For children it varies from 50 to 120 ug / dl.
- In infants under 1 year of age, the values should be between 100 and 250 ug / dl.
If the iron levels are higher than average, this may be due to diseases such as:
- Hemochromatosis
- Hepatitis
- Hemolytic anemia
- Iron poisoning
Similarly, your iron levels may drop under certain conditions, such as:
- Pregnancy
- Malnutrition
- Cancer
- Chronic blood loss
- Chronic hypermenorrhea
Consequences of iron deficiency
Pay attention to certain signs that your body sends to tell us that it lacks this essential nutrient. These are consequences of iron deficiency.
If you have several of these symptoms, you may want to consult a doctor and have a blood test:
Weakness and fatigue
No matter how many hours you sleep or the number of times you rest during the day, you always feel lethargic and lack strength. It’s hard for you to get up in the morning and you fall asleep anywhere.
Other than your daily requirements, this weakness or fatigue may also be due to a lack of iron.
Since this nutrient allows oxygen to be transported to the cells, if it is lacking, the tissue does not receive “fuel” and it stops working.
Therefore, less vitality and extreme fatigue after completing light activities may be related to iron deficiency.
Poor performance and bad mood
The lack of nutrients has a direct impact on our emotional states. Therefore, it is normal for us to be very irritable, depressed or in a bad mood when we lack iron.
In addition, if we add fatigue to this, the consequences are understandable: problems with performing at work, with studies or carrying out everyday tasks.
Be aware if everything has gone wrong lately and you can not concentrate on your activities.
Furthermore, consequences of iron deficiency have a negative impact on memory and attention. You need twice as much effort to do everything you try to do. You will also lose motivation quickly, even with attempts to perform tasks that you enjoy.
Paleness
When you have anemia, it is likely that your skin will be paler or whiter than usual.
This is because both the dermis and mucosal tissue do not get enough oxygen.
Some people may have whitish color under their eyes (where the eyelashes start).
4. Dizziness and nausea
Consequences of iron deficiency and a deficit in the amount of oxygen that the cells receive is to feel continuously dizzy. In addition, you may experience the feeling of lack of air when trying to breathe. You can also inhale faster and more frequently (polypnea).
In more severe cases, people who do not eat adequate amounts of nutrients can faint at any time of the day. They may also experience ringing in the ears or suffering from lipodystrophies.
5. Palpitations
The rapid heartbeats that occur when you do not push yourself or exercise may be related to iron deficiency. When your blood is not circulating well, the heart system must make a greater effort to pump it back to each organ.
Tachycardia, arrhythmias and even acute myocardial infarction may occur.
6. Fragile nails and hair loss
When your nails break easily, are thin or have white marks on them near the cuticle, this may be due to a lack of iron. In the case of hair loss, this is because the blood reaches the head with little oxygen, which does not nourish the hair follicles.
