Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
Learn to identify the signs and symptoms of iron deficiency.
What is iron deficiency?
Iron deficiency anemia can be defined as a reduction in the number of hemoglobin carrying red blood cells in the body due to a lack of iron. A number of factors contribute to and exacerbate the effects of iron deficiency, but it is ultimately a result of the body utilizing more iron than it is provided.
What are the symptoms of iron deficiency?
In nearly every instance of low iron and iron deficiency anemia, patients suffer from one or more of the following:
- Tiredness
- Insomnia
- Irritability or emotional mood swings
- Trouble sleeping
- Weakness
- Decreased appetite
- Headaches
- Low exercise tolerance
- Pronounced lack of energy
- Skin pigmentation decreased around the eyes, in the mouth and gums
- Fingernails may become thin and fragile, become white, and change shape
- Hair loss, or hair may become brittle, weak, and dull
- Inflammation of the structure of the mouth (cheeks, gums, tongue, lips, throat and roof or floor of the mouth)
- Pica (strong craving for non-food items such as soil, metal coins, or paint is present)
Changes in the physical appearance of iron deficient individuals are often accompanied by cardio-vascular symptoms.
Iron deficiency is quite common, with around 20% of the world’s population being affected by it at some point in their lives. Nicole Osinga is a registered dietician, read her story about being diagnosed with iron deficiency here.
Do you have signs of iron deficiency?
Use our free Symptom Checker to check for signs of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adults and Children.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Iron deficiency – United States, 1999–2000.MMWR 2002;51:897–899.
- US National Library of Medicine, NIH. Iron deficiency anemia. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ida/ida_whatis.html
- Office of Dietary Supplements, NIH. Dietary supplement fact sheet. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp
