Many people go about their daily lives completely unaware of the fact that they have iron deficiency anaemia. Anaemia occurs when your body contains a low level of red blood cells. The reason for this is because there is a sufficient lack of iron in your system. Iron creates these same red blood cells, which are used to carry oxygen throughout your body. Without iron, there are not enough red blood cells to properly disperse oxygen to where your body needs it most.
There are a variety of signs and symptoms that could point to a possible iron deficiency. Anaemia is most common in women who experience menstruation or pregnancy. The loss of iron in the blood can lead to different symptoms and health issues. However, iron deficiency anaemia can occur in many different people, but perhaps is most commonly found in children, teenagers, athletes and people over 50.
Here are 5 common signs that you may have iron deficiency anaemia:
- Fatigue
Experiencing tiredness and fatigue is one of the first symptoms you will probably notice if you have low levels of iron in your system. It can be easy to dismiss tiredness as the result of a tiresome day, however, many people are actually experiencing this tiredness due to a lack of oxygen being carried around the body.
- Shortness of Breath
According to the NHS, shortness of breath is one of the most common signs of iron deficiency anaemia. You may experience this during the simplest of tasks. You may wish to make an appointment with your GP to discuss your options.
- Heavy Periods
Those who suffer from heavy periods are more likely to experience an increased loss of iron, which is why it is a good idea to take an iron supplement such as blue iron. This will help restore the iron that has been lost during menstruation.
- Dizziness
If you are low on iron, it is likely that you may experience a few too many “dizzy spells”. You may feel the need to quickly sit down until you regain your strength. Another sign is weakness. If you feel physically weak and unable to carry out every-day tasks as well as you could in the past, it may be due to an iron deficiency.
- Pale Skin
Is your skin a lot paler than usual? Red blood cells give your skin a healthy hue, hence the rosy red cheeks that come to life after exercising or following a simple walk in the park etc. However, it can be difficult to differentiate the difference of skin tone if you already have a pale complexion. According to Health.com, the best way to discern this is to check the colour of your gums, the colour on the inside your lips and along the bottom of your eyelids. If they are paler than usual, it is a clear sign of anaemia.
