HomeLifestyleHealth & FitnessIron deficiency can make you tired and powerless: 11 signs to keep...

Iron deficiency can make you tired and powerless: 11 signs to keep track of

Published on

Fatigue can be a lack of iron

Are you often tired and powerless? Do you feel dizzy and have difficulty focusing?

Then you may have suffered from iron deficiency.

Here is more information on what symptoms you should be aware of.

If you have iron deficiency, it means that your body has difficulty producing hemoglobin, which is a protein that transports oxygen around the body. Iron is an important substance for the body to be able to produce hemoglobin and in normal cases you have an extra layer of iron in the liver, spleen and bone marrow, as a reserve if, for example, you should start bleeding heavily. 

But if the body for some reason has run out of reserves and can not produce enough hemoglobin, the blood value drops, something called iron deficiency anemia, or you have a low blood value due to iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency often makes you feel tired and lacking in energy. The causes of iron deficiency are many, for example that you have lost a lot of blood or that you do not absorb iron from food properly. 

Iron deficiency is usually harmless and can be treated, but it may be helpful to pay attention to the symptoms and see a doctor if you are worried.

Symptoms of iron deficiency

If you have iron deficiency, the body has difficulty producing hemoglobin, which means that it is more difficult for the body to transport oxygen around the body and oxygenate all important functions. This manifests itself in different ways and the symptoms you can keep track of are:

  • You feel tired and powerless
  • You have difficulty concentrating
  • You feel dizzy
  • You become pale and get dry skin
  • You become short of breath more easily than before
  • You get palpitations
  • The hair becomes dry and you get hair loss
  • You have a headache
  • You feel anxious and unstable in your legs
  • You get tinnitus
  • You feel depressed and anxious

Why do you get iron deficiency?

There are many different causes of iron deficiency, such as heavy nosebleeds, blood donation, pregnancy or if you simply do not get enough iron, due to, for example, vegan diet or anorexia.

There are also various stomach diseases that can reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron in the intestine, for example:

  • Gluten intolerance
  • Intestinal Disease (Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis)
  • Age-related gastritis (atrophic gastritis)

In addition to these, iron deficiency can also be caused by:

  • Chronic heart failure
  • Cancer
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Obesity
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

There are also various medicines that make you bleed more easily, such as blood-thinning medicines or stomach acid-suppressing medicines. These can cause bleeding in the intestines, which can lead to iron deficiency.

How to treat iron deficiency?

If you eat a good and varied diet, you will get enough iron. If you have previously had problems with low iron levels, it is good if you try to eat foods that are high in iron, such as meat, fish, eggs, intestinal foods and other blood foods. Iron is also found in whole grain products, potatoes, beans, nuts, spinach and lentils.

Coffee and tea can make it harder for the body to absorb iron from the food you have just eaten, while fruits and vegetables can help the body absorb iron.

If you have been diagnosed with iron deficiency, you often need treatment with medication. However, you should not eat iron supplements only if you feel tired or suspect that you may be iron deficient. Always check your values ​​first and then consult a doctor before taking any medicine.

Latest articles

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...

Science Shock: Salmon’s Food Choices Better at Reducing Risk of Heart Disease and Stroke

Salmon: Rich in Health Benefits, Yet May Offer Less Nutritional Value - This is...

More like this

Here’s How and When Mount Everest-sized ‘Devil Comet’ Can Be Seen With Naked Eye

Mount Everest sized Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, also known as "devil comet" which is making its...

Something Fascinating Happened When a Giant Quantum Vortex was Created in Superfluid Helium

Scientists created a giant swirling vortex within superfluid helium that is chilled to the...

The Science of Middle-aged Brain and the Best Thing You Can Do to Keep it Healthy, Revealed

Middle age: It is an important period in brain aging, characterized by unique biological...