Is Your Body Deficient In Iron?

Do you think you get enough iron from your diet? This time we talk about why iron is a very important substance for the body and what happens when it is deficient.

Iron deficiency occurs in various symptoms. The most significant consequence of iron deficiency is anemia. However, there are other consequences to this problem that you should definitely be aware of.

If you suspect that you are getting less of this nutrient than you should, we recommend that you keep the following symptoms in mind.

Iron deficiency is a global problem

Millions of people suffer from inadequate access to this nutrient, and this affects both developed and developing countries. Iron is not always enough in the diet.

However, no one should miss iron, as this has detrimental consequences for the general well-being of man.

One of the many functions of iron is to allow good hemoglobin, as well as oxygen, to be transported to all cells.

This nutrient is vital for human health. In addition, since iron is present in the body only in small amounts, it is necessary to get it from food, and above all, the diet should be considered balanced and varied.

There are two types of iron:

The first is heme iron, which is found in animal meat. It is easily absorbed into the body.
The other is then non-heme iron, which is found in vegetables and is not as easily absorbed into the human body. That is why many vegetarians and vegans suffer from anemia.

In addition, iron has the following functions in the body:

It is involved in the production of substances from the blood.
It affects DNA synthesis.
It is part of the process of cellular respiration.
It assists in maintaining resistance.

If this doesn’t make you interested in iron intake yet, remember that in addition, iron is involved in many of the body’s chemical reactions and is a vital factor in energy production and release.

What are your own iron levels?

To find out your blood, test your body for iron deficiency:

Normal values in adult men are 80-180 ug / dl.
In adult women, these are 60-160 ug / dl.
In children, on the other hand, the correct level is 50-120 ug / dl.
For children under 1 year of age, values should be between 100-250 ug / dl.

If your iron levels are higher than normal, this may be due to the following types of illness:

Hemochromatosis
Hepatitis
Hemolytic anemia
Iron poisoning

It may also be the case that the amount of iron is reduced due to a special situation, such as in the following cases:

pregnancy
undernourishment
cancer
chronic decrease in blood
chronic hypermenorrhea

Iron deficiency and health consequences

Pay attention to the following signs, as your body sends them out when there is not enough of this vital nutrient.

If you have more than one of these symptoms, it is a good idea to contact your doctor and request a blood test.

1. Weakness and fatigue

No matter how many hours a night you sleep or how often you rest during the day, you will always feel sluggish and powerless. It’s hard to get out of bed in the mornings, and you could fall asleep just about anywhere.

In addition to the fact that this issue may be related to daily stress, such weakness or fatigue may also be the cause of iron deficiency.

Because this nutrient allows oxygen to be transported into cells, when it is too low, human tissues do not receive “fuel,” and thus are unable to continue to function.

Therefore, the decrease in vitality and extreme fatigue even after low-intensity activities may be due to iron deficiency.

2. Poor performance and bad mood

The symptoms of anemia can easily be confused with the fatigue caused by the hectic rhythm of life.

Inadequate intake of this nutrient has a direct effect on a person’s emotional life. Therefore, it is common for a person with an iron deficiency to be very irritated, depressed, or in a bad mood.

In addition, when fatigue is added to this, the consequences are predictable: problems in performing at work or study, as well as difficulties in dealing with everyday things.

So pay attention to the matter if everything has gone wrong recently and you haven’t been able to focus on your tasks.

Also, keep in mind that iron deficiency has a negative effect on a person’s memory and ability to concentrate. You need double the amount of effort in everything you try to do, and you’ll also lose your motivation more quickly, even for things you like.

3. Palletism

When a person has anemia, it is likely that their skin will become paler or whiter than normal. This is because the tissues of the skin and mucous membranes do not receive enough oxygen.

Some people may have a lighter color under their eyes (where the lashes start).

4. Dizziness and nausea

One of the deficiencies in iron intake and oxygen in cells is that a person constantly experiences dizziness.

In addition, there may be a feeling that there is not enough air to breathe properly. Likewise, breathing may be faster (polypnea).

In more severe cases, it happens that when a person does not get enough iron, he may faint at any point of the day. He may also experience ringing in his ears.

5. Palpitations

If you have a faster heartbeat when you are not straining yourself or exercising, this may be related to a lack of iron intake.

When your blood is not circulating properly, the cardiovascular system makes a greater effort to pump blood back to each organ.

Tachycardia, arrhythmia and even acute myocardial infarction can all be the consequences of this.

6. Fragile nails and hair loss

When your nails are prone to breakage, or if they are thin or have a white color near the cuticles, this may be related to an insufficient intake of iron.

As for hair loss, this is because blood enters the head when it is deficiently oxidized, resulting in a lack of nutrition in the scalp hair follicles.

Consider if you have any of the symptoms we describe, and if necessary, see your doctor to find out if iron deficiency is a problem affecting your own health.