People often dismiss problems like fatigue, weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath as normal, but sometimes these small changes in the body can be a sign of a lack of essential nutrients. Iron is a vital mineral; its deficiency can lead to not only weakness but also serious illness. Iron deficiency can occur at any age, and if left untreated, it can affect body function. Let’s explore the serious illnesses that iron deficiency can cause.
Prolonged iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency affects hemoglobin production. Iron is essential for hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen from the lungs to various parts of the body. When the body doesn’t have enough iron, the formation of healthy red blood cells can be affected, and the body’s ability to transport oxygen is reduced. This increases the risk of iron-deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency can occur for many reasons. The most common cause is an inadequate intake of an iron-rich diet. Furthermore, children, menstruating women, pregnant women, and breastfeeding women require more iron, which can increase the risk of deficiency. Some people may experience reduced iron absorption due to celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or abdominal surgery. Heavy periods, bleeding in the stomach or intestines, frequent blood donations, or blood loss during surgery can also cause iron deficiency.
Iron deficiency doesn’t always have obvious symptoms initially. A person may experience persistent fatigue, weakness, and lethargy. Apart from this, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, difficulty in concentrating and reduced working capacity can also be its symptoms. Some people may also experience yellowing of the skin, hair loss, brittle nails, coldness or numbness in the hands and feet, and problems related to the mouth or tongue.
To diagnose iron deficiency, the doctor may take health and dietary information along with recommending blood tests. This may include tests like CBC, serum iron, TIBC and ferritin. If necessary, other tests related to the digestive system may also be done to find out the cause of iron deficiency.