Have you been feeling a little weak and lethargic lately? Then you probably don’t immediately think of a shortage of certain vitamins. However, a vitamin deficiency that is not properly addressed can have far-reaching consequences, including an iron deficiency.
Risk groups and factors
Especially pregnant women, breastfeeding women, vegetarians, young children and people with an unbalanced diet are more likely to develop an iron deficiency than others. An iron deficiency is not very common in Western countries; we often eat varied enough. Nevertheless, you can get an iron deficiency when you lose a lot of blood (due to a heavy menstruation) or because of a disorder in the absorption of iron in the intestine due to damage to the mucous membrane. Anemia can also occur with a chronic disease such as rheumatism, inflammation in the bone, a stomach ulcer, or with an acute infection of the respiratory tract, urinary tract or gastrointestinal tract.
Symptoms
So, even if you do not fall within the groups that have an increased risk, you can still develop an iron deficiency. However, it is difficult to recognize an iron deficiency, as many of the symptoms are unrelated and develop over time. In general, you can experience the following symptoms with an iron deficiency:
- Irregular heartbeat
- Pale skin and lips
- Fatigue
- Anxious feelings
- Thyroid problems
- Hair loss
- Feeling of weakness
- shortness of breath
- Headache
- Dizziness, possibly fainting
- Nosebleeds
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