You could be iron deficient and not even know it.
A recent study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that 29% of US adults are affected by absolute or functional iron deficiency – and nearly one in three Americans may have an undiagnosed iron deficiency.
An absolute iron deficiency affects women, children, vegetarians and vegans and occurs due to a severe reduction or lack of iron “stores,” according to the American Society of Hematology. Meanwhile, functional iron deficiency, which affects both women and men, occurs when there are sufficient iron stores but insufficient iron availability.
The study looked at “participants who were noninstitutionalized, civilian women and men aged 18 years or older who had measurements of serum ferritin, iron, and unsaturated iron-binding capacity available,” the study said.
Iron deficiency anemia can develop because the body struggles to absorb iron, you don’t eat enough iron-rich foods, your body wants more iron than the average person, or you lose more blood than your body can replace.
Other factors, such as biological sex, lifestyle, underlying health conditions and age can make people more prone to iron deficiency.
There are several ways to tell if you have an iron deficiency, and symptoms such as headaches or the urge to eat ice or even non-edible clay can be a sign. However,
these are not the only side effects associated with iron deficiency.
Extreme fatigue or weakness
If you constantly feel tired or extremely weak, this could be a sign that you have an iron deficiency.
This feeling develops when there isn’t enough iron, so your body doesn’t make red blood cells, making your bloodstream less able to carry oxygen. The lack of oxygen being transported to where it needs to go makes you feel tired.
“Tens of millions of people in the U.S. are basically running on fumes either because there’s not enough fuel in the tank or because the tank isn’t properly connected to the engine,” Dr. Andrew Eisenberger, a hematologist and associate professor of medicine at Columbia University, who was not involved in the new research, told NBC News. “In our society we tend to be at peak performance. With this incredible prevalence of iron deficiency, so many people can’t do their best.”
Breast problems
People with low iron levels may experience chest pain, rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath, Healthline explained. The discomfort they endure may also be related to minimal oxygen being carried throughout the bloodstream.
Headache, dizziness and lightheadedness
Terrible headaches can occur when your body is deficient in iron, as your brain receives less oxygen. Other cognitive impairments such as dizziness, headaches and migraines may develop, the health site added.
Cold hands and feet
Iron deficiency affects blood circulation, which carries oxygen around your body. However, due to the lack of circulation, it also makes your hands and feet cold.
Desire for non-nutritive objects
Strange cravings that have no nutritional value or even consideration for consumption. An extreme level of iron deficiency can cause people to develop a condition known as pica, an eating disorder in which a person eats things that are not normally considered food, according to KidsHealth.
People diagnosed with pizza crave ice, soil, paper, and even clay.
Poor appetite
If you have minimal appetite or don’t feel hungry at all, this can also be an indicator of low iron levels.
Pale skin
When your iron is low, you may notice that your skin looks pale. The lack of melanin comes from a lack of iron that leads to fewer red blood cells.
Medical experts suggest including more iron in your diet to prevent iron deficiency.
One of the ways people can increase their iron intake is by adding red meat, poultry, pork, beans, peas, seafood, dark leafy vegetables, raisins, apricots, dried fruits, nuts and starches. iron-fortified foods like pasta and cereal, Mayo advised. Clinic.
If adding iron-rich foods to your diet is a challenge, the Cleveland Clinic suggests taking an oral iron supplement or multivitamin. These substitutes can help increase or maintain your iron levels.
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